Welcome winter and celebrate the holidays with a festive ice-skating outing. Every year, seasonal rinks crop up through the Bay Area, in addition to several spots that are open for year-round skating fun. Little ones, or those less adept on slippery ice, can try out iceless or sock skating at a couple of venues.
Bay Area Discovery Museum Iceless Skating
NOV. 15-FEB. 8. Enjoy skating without the cold at the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s iceless skating rink. Included with admission of $23, under 1 FREE.
Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink
THROUGH JAN. 5. This seasonal rink offers 90-minute skating sessions. Birthday party tents and fire pits are available for rental. Price TBA. Purchase tickets online.
City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon
citycenterbishopranch.com/events/kristi-yamaguchi-holiday-ice-rink
Nazareth Ice Oasis
This indoor rink offers public skating sessions daily year-round, lessons, hockey and more. $22.
2202 Bridgepointe Parkway, San Mateo
Oakley on Ice
NOV. 21-JAN. 4. Take to the ice for 90-minute skate sessions at this seasonal rink. There’s also a snack bar with food and beverages. $15, $2 skate rentals.
3350 Main St., Oakley
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink
THROUGH JAN. 19. Get into the spirit of the season in Union Square by skating under the huge Christmas tree and enjoying special events from Flashback Fridays with ’80s music, Drag on Ice on Dec. 4, a silent disco on Dec. 11, Polar Bear Skate on Jan. 1 and more. There are also free hour-long skating lessons at 8am on Sat. and Sun., with entry by online lottery. Hour-long skate sessions start every 90 minutes. $22, $17 ages 8 and under; prices include skate rental, special events may have an additional charge.
Union Square, Geary and Powell streets, San Francisco
San Mateo on Ice
THROUGH JAN. 11. This outdoor rink features 11,000 square feet of real ice for skating in the sunshine or under the stars. Free community skate days are scheduled for Nov. 18 and Dec. 10 and 17. Tickets must be purchased online. Public skate sessions are $19-23.
Central Park, 50 E. Fifth Ave., San Mateo
Sharks Ice San Jose
The official practice facility of the San Jose Sharks offers public skating sessions, lessons, hockey, birthday parties and more. There are also locations in Oakland and Fremont. $17, $16 ages 12 and under; $8 skate rental.
1500 S. 10th St., San Jose
Snoopy’s Home Ice
Built in 1969 by “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz, this indoor rink near his eponymous museum evokes a Swiss alpine village. There are daily public skate sessions as well as Toddlers on Ice ($25) Wednesdays at 11am for ages 18 months-4 years old. $8-14 adults, $8-12 ages 11 and under; skate rental $2-4.
1667 West Steele Lane, Santa Rosa
The Tech Interactive Sock Skating Rink
DEC. 21-JAN. 4. No skates needed! As part of its Polar Play Days, The Tech is offering an iceless rink for sliding fun, a safe first skating experience for kids. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. $10 plus general admission of $28 and up.
The Tech Interactive, 201 S. Market St., San Jose
TriValley Ice
This indoor rink offers public skating year-round, as well as learn to skate programs, birthday parties and more. There is also a Livermore location. $12, $5 skate rental.
7212 San Ramon Road, Dublin
Walnut Creek on Ice
THROUGH JAN. 16. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of this seasonal outdoor rink. There is also an ice slide. 90-minute sessions are $20, including skate rental.
1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Winter Lodge
THROUGH APRIL 12. This seasonal outdoor ice-skating rink has been a tradition since 1956. Public sessions, classes and group rentals are available. $20, $6 skate rental.
3009 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Yerba Buena Ice Skating
This indoor rink is open daily year-round for public skating. “Skater Tots,” for kids up to age 5 and a caregiver, is held Mondays at 12pm for $20. Check website for pricing.
750 Folsom St., San Francisco
Janine DeFao is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent.
