Binghamton Pond Fest Youth Weekend Recap

Binghamton Pond Fest Youth Weekend Recap

If you’re looking for a fresh, fun twist on traditional hockey tournaments, Binghamton Pond Fest in New York is an experience that your team won’t want to miss. Held over three weekends each January in the breathtaking Chenango State Forest, this outdoor ice hockey festival is all about enjoying the crisp winter air, the beauty of nature, and—of course—playing hockey under the open sky.

What Makes Youth Weekend at Pond Fest Special

Each year, one of the three weekends at Pond Fest is reserved specifically for kids. Youth Weekend offers the opportunity for hockey players (ages 12U and under) to play several games on an outdoor rink.

At Pond Fest, the rink isn’t your everyday frozen pond—it’s a mechanically refrigerated, Olympic-sized ice rink that’s built just for the event and taken down at its conclusion. The rink is partitioned into four sections to host fast-paced 3v3 games. The format for Youth Weekend is super casual - no scorekeeping and no championship. Another Pond Fest rule is that there are no goalies (though goalies can skate out with their teams).

In 2025, the fee for one team slot was $500. We wanted to give each player the maximum amount of ice time, so our 12U team of 14 kids signed up for two slots, keeping it to 7 players per team. This setup ensured that every kid got a decent amount of playtime.

What’s Included (and What’s Not)

For our entry fee, our team enjoyed:

  • Four games per team (3 games were guaranteed)
  • Swag bags: Our kids scored a bag filled with stickers, a water bottle, a puck, a rubber duck, and more cool goodies.
  • Public skate times and a free skills competition
  • A spectacular fireworks show to cap off the weekend

While the fee covered most of the fun, there were a few extra costs like food, hotel, parking ($20 suggested donation for the weekend in 2025), and an optional shed rental. We opted for the shed rental at $500—it was the perfect meeting spot for our team, doubling as a secure place to store gear. We added a couple of battery-powered lanterns and a collapsible shelving unit for snacks. 

Our team chose to stay at the Double Tree in downtown Binghamton, a comfy hotel offering free on-site parking, a pool, and even a lower level lobby where the kids were allowed to play knee hockey. (VERY awesome of the hotel staff!)

What We Loved About Pond Fest

Pond Fest was a literal breath of fresh winter air compared to traditional indoor hockey events. It was a fun mid-season break from the usual grind.

Here’s what stood out for us:

  • A Unique Experience: The event wasn’t about tournaments and scorekeeping—it was purely about enjoying outdoor hockey in a relaxed setting.
  • Great Value: The entrance fee covered so much, and even the extras like arcade games and laser tag didn’t break the bank.
  • Yummy Food Options: Pond Fest had several food and drink vendors and food trucks to get meals and snacks from. The food that we had was good and the prices weren't obscene. (Check out my BBQ Poutine Fries!!)
  • Positive Vibes All Around: Everyone we met—from the Pond Fest staff to the state forest personnel—was incredibly kind and welcoming.
  • Stunning Backdrops: With the rink set against the state forest, we felt like we were in the middle of a Hallmark movie (especially when snowflakes started to fall!). 

  • Cozy Fire Pits: The fire pits next to each rink added a perfect touch of warmth and ambiance.

Our Recommendations

Even in a near-perfect event, there are always a couple of tweaks that could make things even better:

  • Age Groupings: Currently, Pond Fest merges 10U with 12U into one division. We experienced a few mismatches where the size difference was evident—imagine an 8-year-old going head-to-head with a 12-year-old! It might be best to keep these groups separate to ensure a safe playing environment. We played 2 10u teams and even though our kids were playing pretty restrained (compared to our typical league games), their sheer size was too much for the matchup.
  • Hot Chocolate Availability: While Batch Coffee Co. served up incredible hot chocolate during the day, there was a hiccup on Saturday night when the other vendor wasn’t allowed to sell it. In the freezing temperatures, hot chocolate is more than just a treat—it’s a necessity for those late-night games.

Final Thoughts

The overall consensus from our entire 12U team? We absolutely loved Pond Fest. It was a unique, laid-back, and fun-filled weekend that provided a refreshing alternative to the high-pressure atmosphere of traditional tournaments. Beyond the hockey, we appreciated the emphasis on mental health awareness and the simple joy of playing outdoors in a stunning natural setting. It’s clear that a lot of thoughtful planning went into every aspect of the event.

What to Pack for an Outdoor Hockey Tournament

To help you get the most out of your Pond Fest experience, here’s our must-have packing list:

Whether you’re a seasoned hockey family or a newcomer looking to embrace a unique winter experience, Pond Fest offers a perfect blend of sport, nature, and community spirit. We hope to head back in the future!

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