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8 Top SF Bay Area Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks 2025
By: Jill Loeffler • Updated: November 12, 2025
SF Bay Area outdoor ice skating rinks return each November, transforming plazas and downtown squares into sparkling winter playgrounds.
Discover my top 8 picks across San Francisco, the South Bay, East Bay, and North Bay.
Why is Outdoor Ice Skating in the SF Bay Area So Special? Because our winter temperatures are relatively mild compared to the rest of the country!
You'll still want to bundle up... but our average daytime highs in the 50s and 60s mean that you often get to skate under sunny skies and palm trees! Not to mention the engineering feat it is to keep these pop-up rinks frozen.
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San Francisco Outdoor Ice Rinks
1. Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square
Address: Union Square in downtown San Francisco
Dates: 11/5/25 - 1/19/26
Hours: 10 am to 11 pm
Price per Hour: $22 for adults, $17 for kids 18 and under, including rentals
Union Square Ice Skating is one of the most known, and most loved, of all the SF Bay Area outdoor ice skating rinks in the Bay Area. There are usually nine sessions each day from morning to evening.
While taking in the views of the towering Macy's Christmas Tree, the SF skyline, and the lit-up storefronts of Union Square, you can either skate freely or take lessons from professional skate instructors.
Some of the special events that you can enjoy here include Drag on Ice, Silent Skate with DJs, and the always-popular Polar Bear Skate.
Make sure to check dates and times in advance so you won't miss out on the fun!
>> Visit their site for tickets and additional details
>> What else there is to see and do in Union Square
2. Thrive City Winter Wonderland
Address: 1 Warriors Way in the Mission Bay district
Dates: 12/23 - 12/30 (except Christmas Day, 12/25)
Hours: 12 pm to 7 pm most days, except on 12/24 and 12/30 (11 am to 2 pm)
Price: FREE for 20-30 minutes (including skate rental, with a $5 suggested donation)
The vibrant area outside the Chase Center brings even more festive cheer this winter with the Bay Area's tallest Christmas tree, a Festival of Lights, and a synthetic outdoor skating rink. Celebrations here will also include Hannukah and Kwanzaa.
This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a fun holiday experience, as the short, 20- to 30-minute skating sessions are totally free. Donations are welcome, and benefit the Golden State Community Foundation supporting local education programs.
Since it's first-come, first-served, you can expect space to fill up. Eventbrite registrations will receive priority admission, and a limited amount of walk-ups may be available.
>> Get more details and reserve your spot on their website
South Bay
3. Winter Lodge in Palo Alto
Address: 3009 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (45 minutes southeast of SF)
Dates: 10/18/25 - 4/12/26; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day, New Year's Eve & Day
Price: $20 for all ages; $6 for skates
The Winter Lodge in Palo Alto has the longest skating season of any skating rink in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not only is it open most of the year, but it is also one of the best outdoor skating rinks in the USA, according to Outdoor Magazine.
So if you love skating, head down the SF Peninsula and check it out. The Winter Lodge skates rain or shine, so you can be sure that it will be open as much as possible during your skating season.
Hours: The rink is open every afternoon from 3 to 5 pm, Wednesday - Friday mornings from 8 - 10 am, and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 8 to 10 pm. There is also a family session on Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Please check the website in advance of your visit.
>> See more details on their site
East Bay
4. San Mateo on Ice
Address: Central Park at 50 E 5th Avenue, San Mateo
Dates: 11/14/25 - 1/11/26
Price: From $23 for ages 4+
This SF Bay Area outdoor ice skating rink features 11,000 square feet of real ice to skate on, right in San Mateo's charming Central Park.
Enjoy skating under the sun or under the stars in this quaint SF Peninsula town just half an hour south of San Francisco. Your ticket is good for 1.5 to 2 hours and includes the skate rental.
Hours: Generally, from Monday to Thursday, you'll find two afternoon sessions, at 3 pm and 6:30 pm. On Fridays, they offer three sessions, at 3, 5:30, and 8 pm. On weekends, there are four sessions, at 12, 2:30, 5, and 7:30 pm.
Check their calendar because every couple of weeks, you'll find a free community skate day where skating and rentals are free.
5. Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink in San Ramon
Address: 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon
Dates: 11/7/25 - 1/4/26
Price: Starts at $24 for all ages 3+
Located in the gorgeous City Center Bishop Ranch shopping center, going to this rink is a perfect way to get all your holiday shopping done and at the same time, have some skating fun!
Named for the Olympic gold medal winner Kristi Yamaguchi, this is a very popular skating rink in the East Bay. San Ramon is located about 1 hour east of San Francisco on the other side of the Oakland hills.
Tickets include a 90-minute skating session and the skate rental. You can purchase extras like s'more kits and the use of their cozy fire pits.
Hours: From Monday to Thursday, you'll find four afternoon sessions, at 1, 3, 5, and 7 pm. On weekends from Friday to Sunday, there are two additional sessions: 11 am, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 pm.
During certain dates that correspond with school holiday breaks, the rink opens daily from 11 am to 10:30 pm.
6. Ice at the Veranda
Address: 2001 Diamond Blvd at Willow Pass Road, Concord
Dates: 11/7/24 - 2/16/25
Price: 75-minute sessions are $20 for all ages, including skate rental
The Veranda is a beautiful shopping center in the East Bay city of Concord, about 50 minutes northeast of San Francisco.
Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended, as it can be very busy. Enjoy the music and holiday cheer as you glide across the ice, and then stick around to shop and dine.
Hours: Generally, you'll find the rink open Monday through Thursday from 4 pm to 9 pm, Fridays from 4 pm to 11 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 11 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 9 pm.
However, you'll want to check the schedule because on holidays and during school holiday breaks, hours will vary. They close on Thanksgiving Day, but remain open for Christmas and New Years.
In the case of heavy rain, you will be notified by email of temporary closures.
>> Get more information about Ice at the Veranda here
7. Walnut Creek on Ice
Address: Civic Park at 1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Dates: 11/21/25 - 1/19/26
Price: 90-minute sessions are $20 for all ages, including skate rental (cashless)
Located in the gorgeous East Bay city of Walnut Creek, this 80-foot by 80-foot winter wonderland is one of the few SF Bay Area outdoor ice skating rinks that is covered.
For 20 years, it's been a beloved tradition in the park for its ideal setting, perks you can purchase like rinkside fire pits, and—the most recent addition—a 90-foot ice slide that you can zoom down on an innertube!
If you feel like doing some holiday shopping when you finish skating, Broadway Plaza, a major shopping area, is just about half a mile away, and parking is usually easy.
Hours: Generally, the rink is open Monday through Thursday from 4 pm to 7:30 pm, Fridays from 4 pm to 10:30 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 10:30 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 6:30 pm.
However, you'll want to check their calendar as hours can vary on holidays and during school breaks.
>> Additional details about Walnut Creek on Ice
North Bay
8. Winter Lights in Downtown Santa Rosa
Address: Old Courthouse Square at 4th Street and Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa
Dates: TBD
Price: 45-minute sessions are $11 per person, with skate rental included
For those who want to venture a little farther north, there is a fantastic skating rink in the gorgeous city of Santa Rosa, about 1-hour 15-minutes north of SF.
Downtown Santa Rosa is a wonderland of shopping and sightseeing at the edge of wine country. The rink is at the center of it, located in historic Old Courthouse Square, where it feels like you've traveled back in time.
The Winter Lights rink is synthetic, which supposedly makes it easier to skate without as much effort. It's also 100% seamless.
Each session is 45 minutes long and there are only 44 people allowed on the ice at a time, so it is highly suggested you buy your tickets in advance. They also have skate aids for both kids and adults.
>> Find out more about Winter Lights and how to buy tickets here
(Stay Tuned) Boardwalk Holiday Ice
Address: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz
NOTE: Closed for the 2025 season
During the holiday season, the popular Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is home to a 40-foot by 60-foot ice rink made of real ice.
One of the reasons to visit the Boardwalk Holiday Ice Rink is that the whole area will be lit with holiday lights, and lots of holiday decorations will be set for all to see and enjoy.
Skate sessions are only 1 hour, so you will have plenty of time to check out the other attractions on the boardwalk, like the arcade, restaurants, and rides.
If it gets chilly, you can go indoors and play miniature golf, laser tag, or some of the other many attractions available to you at the boardwalk.
It's one of the best SF Bay Area outdoor ice skating rinks because there are so many other fun things to do around it too!
Hi, I’m Jill!
I’ve been sharing San Francisco travel advice since 2009 and have helped millions of people explore the city like a local. Whether you’re dreaming of sea lions, cable cars, or a great sourdough bread bowl, I’m here to help you plan an unforgettable trip with real tips from someone who actually lives here.
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