Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Parks Commissioner Antonia M. Pollak, and Frog Pond Foundation President Tom Kershaw will host this year's official opening of the Boston Common Frog Pond on Thursday, November 19, at 5:30 p.m.

The rink will open for the 2009/2010 season with a special Frog Pond Skating School exhibition featuring a dynamic and exciting assortment of the Boston area's top national and international figure skating competitors, local up-and-coming young skating stars, and Frog Pond Skating School students of all levels. The evening's Master of Ceremonies will be Ed Peduto, president of the NorthEast Ice Skating Managers Association.

Starring in this year's performance will be two of the highest-ranking singles figure skaters in the nation in 2009, both from the Boston area: Brittany Rizo, seven-time National Competitor, national and international medalist, and US Figure Skating Team member who placed seventh at the 2009 US National Figure Skating Championships; and Curran Oi, national and international medalist, Junior World Competitor and US Figure Skating Team member who placed sixth at the 2009 US National Figure Skating Championships. Both Rizo and Oi represent the Skating Club of Boston.

Other featured performers include the Hayden Recreation Center Ice Mates who are the 2009 US National Novice Synchronized Skating Silver Medalists and US Team Members, the Hayden Recreation Center Mini Mates, and other nationally-ranked local skaters including Rochelle and Isabelle Dost from Brookline, Mary Galstian from Boston, Ryan Donahue from Cape Cod, and Melissa Burrows from Lexington.

Opening night will feature raffles for season and night passes and more along with free admission for all following the skating demonstration with skate rentals at the regular price. Special guests will include mascots Frog Pond Freddie and Blades from the Boston Bruins with Bruins team representatives.

Additionally, this year's Frog Pond Grand Opening celebrates the release of the Walt Disney Animation Studios' musical "The Princess and the Frog" which opens nationwide on December 11. The event will take on a festive New Orleans flair complete with complimentary Mardi Gras masks and beads and a special musical performance by the Hot Tamale Brass Band, New England's favorite Dixieland jazz band, as well as complimentary movie passes and item giveaways.

The 2009-2010 Frog Pond hours of operation are Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (except Monday when the rink closes at 4 p.m.), Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, open Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., New Year's Eve 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and New Year's Day 12 noon to 5 p.m. On December 28, 2009, and February 15, 2010, the Frog Pond will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Admission fees are $4 for ages 14 and over and free for ages 13 and under. Skate rentals are $5 for children 13 and under, $8 for 14 and over, and lockers are available for one-dollar tokens from the cashier. Introduced last season, the Frog Pond continues freestyle skating on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. for $12 a session. Don't forget to bring your own skates, because there are no rentals during that time.

Individual season passes are available for $100, family passes with children ages 13 and under are $150, and lunch passes good Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (holidays excluded), are available for $60.

The Frog Pond Skating School has enhanced its skating lessons program this year and will be offering a variety of group and private skating lessons throughout the season for skaters of all levels and ages, from raw beginners to those aspiring to be figure skaters and hockey players.

The Frog Pond features concessions, skate rentals, rest rooms, and a warming area. For more information, please call the Frog Pond at (617) 635-2120 or visit www.bostoncommonfrogpond.org.