Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado is a holiday favorite!

California Holiday Ice Rinks - The Best of the West

Who would think you can skate at a warm Southern California beach? You can put yourself on the ice with the Pacific blue in view at one of the America's top rated beaches, next to Hotel del Coronado! Wow.

Ice rinks at the beach are one of the coolest experiences you'll ever try. But unfortunately they come with inherent challenges -- such as melting ice in the heat of a Southern California winter day hitting 85 degrees. These beloved winter venues also have expenses -- determining factors in whether a rink can come back for another season. If you're looking for the Best Seasonal Ice Skating in California, you've come to the right place. We've been tracking these events since 2012 and can point you to some really cool ice skating both at the beach and on the mountain high. Several of the companies bringing these experiences to cities that seldom see snow & ice outdoors include: IceAmerica (iceamerica.com), Special Ice (speicalice.net) and Willy Bietak Productions.

California Ice Skating

ALPINE: Viejas Casino Resort Ice Rink  November 1, 2024-January 5, 2025, 3-10 p.m. daily
Viejas Casino & Resort invites the public to enjoy Southern California's largest outdoor ice rink throughout the season!

ATWATER: Razzari Ice Skating Center November 15, 2024-January 5, 2025 
Old Town Atwater. Seasonal ice skating rink offers affordable holiday fun.

BRENTWOOD: Brentwood on Ice November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025

CHICO: Ice Rink in the Plaza November 15, 2024-January 12, 2025
City Plaza in the heart of Chico's Downtown

CLEARLAKE: City of Clearlake, CA Ice Fantasy Synthetic Ice Skating Rink November 22-December 1, 2024
Austin Park, 14077 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, CA
icefantasyskatingrink.tscheckout.com/
$16 includes 60 minute ice skating session and ice skate rental Bring your company, friends or family 

CONCORD: Rink at The Veranda November 9, 2024-February 2025

CORONADO: Skating by the Sea November 21, 2024-January 5, 2025, hours vary
Hotel del Coronado Overlooking the beautiful, blue Pacific

FOLSOM: Historic District Ice Rink Folsom Historic District Ice Rink November 8, 2024 -January 20, 2025
This real ice rink surface is ideal for both novice and pro skaters.

HANFORD: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink November 23, 2024- January 12, 2025

IRVINE: Irvine Spectrum Holiday Ice Rink November 1, 2024-January 5, 2025
Located at a shopping & dining destination, the rink is in the heart of it all where there's something for everyone!

LOS ANGELES: LA LIVE Ice Rink November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025
Entertainment complex features concerts, movies, shopping, dining, hotels and this seasonal holiday delight.

LOS ANGELES: Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square November 21, 2024-January 12, 2025
While Willy Bietak & his Productions discontinued the San Jose Downtown Ice, he's back at Pershing Square after its hiatus. He also operates Union Square Ice Rink in San Francisco this year.

MAMMOTH LAKES: Holiday Ice Rink November 11, 2024-March 2025 approx
Nothing says winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains better than an invigorating ice skating session after a day on the ski slopes.

MONTEREY: Ice Skating by the Bay November 22-December 31, 2024
There's no place more in the holiday spirit than Monterey Bay for this ice skating adventure surrounded by shops, dining, and the ever-close Pacific Ocean.

MOUNT SHASTA: Siskiyou Ice Rink November 16, 2024-February 23, 2025
If you're a local, you know that this is one fun hangout for winter entertainment.

NAPA: Ice Skating at Vista Colina November 18, 2024-January 11, 2025, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily 
Located at Meritage Resort, open to the public

OLYMPIC VALLEY: Ice Skating at Squaw Valley  Everline Resort Winter Ice Skating Rink November 29, 2024-March 2025

SACRAMENTO: Downtown Holiday Ice November 6, 2024-January 20, 2025 
The cool place to go, the Downtown Holiday Ice Rink combines a vibrant, urban scene with old-fashioned fun.

SAN DIEGO: Rady Children's Ice Rink at Liberty Station November 21, 2024-January 5, 2025 
A perfect San Diego setting combined with the glorious (mellow) winter weather makes for comfort & joy this holiday season.

SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Ice Rink November 6, 2024-January 20, 2025, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. daily   
Union Square is an iconic San Francisco hub, a gathering spot with access to the famous foods, drinks, shopping and transportation. There's no excuse not to check out the Ice Rink.

SAN JOSE: Downtown Ice November 15, 2024 - January 20, 2025
Downtown Ice is in the heart of it all and just a short walk to Christmas in the Park, a delight for kids big & small. A season roller rink is being installed instead.

SAN MATEO: Holiday on Ice November 15, 2024-January 12, 2025
Placed in the city's beloved Central Park, there's no better spot for ice skating to your heart's content.

SAN RAMON: Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink November 8, 2024-January 5, 2025
Open daily, including Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day
City Center Bishop Ranch

SANTA CLARA: California's Great America Holiday Ice Rink November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025  
Actual dates: November 29 & 30, 2024; December 1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 31, 2024; January 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, 2025

SANTA MONICA: ICE November 8, 2024-January 20, 2025
Sun-Thurs 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. 

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Heavenly Village Ice Rink November 9, 2024-March 2025
The Shops at Heavenly Village at the base of the mountain next to Gondolas, if you prefer skating or want to take in both ice skating and skiing, this location is great!

TEMECULA: Peltzer Farms & Winery Ice Rink November 9, 2024-Janaury 20, 2025

TEMECULA: Temecula on Ice December 12, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Draped in Grapes (lavender to purple at night for the Big Grape Drop New Year's Celebration)
Hours: Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Christmas Day December 25, 2024, 12-9:30 p.m.
New Year's Eve additional special skate December 31, 2024, 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (January 1, 2025)

TWAIN HARTE: Long Barn Lodge Outdoor Rink
Long Barn Lodge Ice Skating at its finest!

UKIAH: Holiday on Ice December 2, 2024-January 12, 2025, open daily
Next to Alex R. Thomas Plaza on School Street, this annual ice adventure is a festival of fun.

VACAVILLE: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink Year - round rink with special public skate dates

WALNUT CREEK: Walnut Creek on Ice November 22, 2024-January 12, 2025
 

NOT CONFIRMED FOR 2024:

VISALIA: Ice Skate Christmas at the Patch 
Ice Skate Visalia at Vossler Farms 

Let that winter sunshine and those 70-80 degree days blaze away this Christmas. Such warm weather doesn't stop outdoor ice rinks from being built. Los Angeles, Santa Monica and San Diego are among the cities that love ICE and have hosted these rinks for a decade or more. In colder climates (South Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, etc.) having an ice rink is really a matter of not "if" but when it's cold enough to sustain the annual rink.

Seasonal ice rinks in California are one of the trickiest attractions to feature because they are expensive to operate and unlike holiday tree lightings or parades, they often are introduced on a trial basis, never to return. They are wildly popular and sure, it's a little disappointing whey they don't come back for another season.

From San Francisco to San Jose, Los Angeles to San Diego's Coronado, the big 4 cities population-wise offer fantastic winter escapes providing old-fashioned ice skating in tourist destinations, minus the snow!  NOTE: San Jose has dropped their ice skating rink in 2022-2023 in favor of an outdoor roller rink.

Past and hopefully future ice rinks!

MARTINEZ: DC Solar Downtown Holiday Ice no dates 2021-2022

SAN FRANCISCO: Embarcadero Holiday Ice Rink
Come for the Building Lighting at Justin Herman Plaza
adjacent to Four Embarcadero Center, across from Ferry Building and stay for the skating in one of California's most romantic cities.

SAN FRANCISCO: Winter Park at Civic Center 
In addition to Union Square Ice Rink, Willy Bietak Productions introduced this Civic Center attraction last year. It bills itself as "The First Attraction of its Kind in the United States."

SANTA CRUZ: Beach Boardwalk Holiday Ice

SUNNYVALE: Holiday Ice Rink closed

 

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.