Outdoor ice skating rinks are opening across California, offering seasonal activities in both urban and resort settings. From Sacramento to San Diego, many locations feature themed nights, special events, and amenities such as fire pits and hot cocoa. Some rinks operate well into the new year.
In Sacramento, the Downtown Ice Rink at St. Rose of Lima Park near Golden 1 Center has expanded over time and offers themed days like Silent Disco Day, Princess and Superhero Day, Drag Queens on Ice, and an Ugly Sweater Party.
At the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego County, the annual “Skating by the Sea” event takes place next to the beach. The rink is open until late evening hours for guests and non-guests alike. “To go VIP-style, book a fire pit with lounge chairs in the Frostbite Lounge.”
Downtown Burbank’s rink is located behind City Hall and is close to local shops and restaurants. In previous years, skating lessons have been offered on Saturdays.
Los Angeles hosts its Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square downtown. DJs provide music on Wednesday evenings with different themes including Holiday Hits Night and Disco Night. Learn-to-curl clinics are also available on select Saturdays.
Santa Monica’s annual rink is situated at Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue along Third Street Promenade. The facility offers more than 8,000 square feet of ice plus a smaller area for children.
San Francisco’s Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square is recognized as one of the top rinks nationally. Events include December’s Drag on Ice as well as Lion King Simba Saturdays, ‘80s Flashback Fridays, Silent Skate nights, and a New Year’s Day Polar Bear skate where participants wear beachwear.
In McCloud within Siskiyou County near Mt. Shasta, the Siskiyou Skate Rink holds Santa meet-and-greets in December along with a pajama skating session on New Year’s Day. Victorian-themed holiday events take place every Saturday in downtown McCloud.
Mammoth Lakes features an indoor Olympic-sized rink through a partnership with the Los Angeles Kings hockey franchise. The facility supports hockey league play, pick-up games, curling, figure skating lessons, and other seasonal events.
Yosemite National Park provides two outdoor rinks: Curry Village Ice Skating Rink—dating back to 1928—and Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite’s rink near a sledding hill within Sierra National Forest. Both typically remain open until late March.
Folsom Historic District opens its rink from November 18 through January 19 with fire pits, s’mores kits, music, and themed nights such as Disco or Star Wars.
West Hollywood’s WeHo Winter Ice Rink operates December 1–21 at West Hollywood Park for ages three and up; admission includes skate rentals. Special nights include a Winter Market event as well as WeHo Wonderland featuring snow play areas.
