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 for over 10 years 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 (ice-america.com), Special Ice (speicalice.net) and Willy Bietak Productions.

California Ice Skating

ALPINE: Viejas Casino Resort Ice Rink 
Viejas Casino & Resort invites the public to enjoy Southern California's largest outdoor ice rink throughout the season!

ATWATER: Razzari Ice Skating Center 
Old Town Atwater. Seasonal ice skating rink offers affordable holiday fun.

BRENTWOOD: Brentwood on Ice 

CASTRO VALLEY:  3Crosses Christmas Village Ice Rink "Largest outdoor ice skating rink in Alameda County" open weekends November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025

CHESTER: Skating Rink November 29, 2025 opens in Chester Park, Chester, CA
Fridays open from Nov.29-Jan.3, 2025  4-8 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays Nov.30, 2025-Feb.23, 2026, 12-4 p.m.
$5 for 45-minute sessions cost including skate rental, lakealmanorarea.com/ ice-rink

CHICO: Ice Rink in the Plaza
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 

CORONADO: Skating by the Sea 
Hotel del Coronado Overlooking the beautiful, blue Pacific

FOLSOM: Historic District Ice Rink Folsom Historic District Ice Rink 
This real ice rink surface is ideal for both novice and pro skaters.

FRESNO:  Downtown Fresno Ice Rink 
It's back after nearly a decade of being gone!

HANFORD: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink

IRVINE: Irvine Spectrum Holiday Ice Rink
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 28, 2025-January 10, 2026
Entertainment complex features concerts, movies, shopping, dining, hotels and this seasonal holiday delight.

LOS ANGELES: Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square 
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
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 
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 
If you're a local, you know that this is one fun hangout for winter entertainment.

NAPA: Ice Skating at Vista Colina 
Located at Meritage Resort, open to the public

OLYMPIC VALLEY: Ice Skating at Squaw Valley  Everline Resort Winter Ice Skating Rink

PALO ALTO:  Winter Lodge Seasonal Ice Rink  is a beloved, 65-year tradition bringing outdoor ice skating to an area that rarely sees snow. $, winterlodge.com

PETALUMA: Luma Ice  at Petaluma Fairgrounds. New attraction!

SACRAMENTO: Downtown Holiday Ice 
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  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 
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 
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 
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  Open daily, including Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day
City Center Bishop Ranch

SANTA CLARA: California's Great America Holiday Ice Rink  Not open in winter 2025-2026

SANTA MONICA: ICE 
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 
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 

TEMECULA: Temecula on Ice 
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.

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

UKIAH: Holiday on Ice
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

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.