Best holiday ice skating rinks in the Bay Area

The ice rink at Union Square during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

The Bay Area may not get a proper snow-covered winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t slide and glide your way through the holidays. Whether you’re looking for a romantic date spot or somewhere to practice the lutz, ’tis the season for hitting theice skating rinks. Here are the best places to lace up:

Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

Next to Rockefeller Center in New York, this Union Square landmark may be the most famous outdoor holiday ice skating destination in North America. Located in the heart of San Francisco’s glittering shopping district, just under the iconic 83-foot-tall Christmas tree, the tiny rink is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. It also hosts a number of special events, including drag queens on ice and polar bear parties.

Union Square, S.F. 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. daily. Through Jan. 20. $13-$30; skate rentals included with admission.unionsquareicerink.com

New Year’s Eve revelers skate at the Holiday Ice Rink at Embarcadero Center as crowds gathered to ring in 2018. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle 2017

囚禁cadero Center Holiday Ice Rink

Located across from the Ferry Building in Justin Herman Plaza, below the illuminated high-rises, you can almost feel the eyes of the weary office workers above peering down at the Bay Area’s largest outdoor rink. Because of its prominent location, it tends to draw as many ice skating exhibitionists in sleek jumpsuits as amateurs clinging to the boards to stay upright, which makes for great people-watching from any level. Its proximity to the culinary delights across the street is a bonus.

囚禁cadero Plaza, across from the Ferry Building, S.F. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through Jan. 5. $7-$12; skate rentals $5.embarcaderocenter.com/experience/holiday-ice-rink

Skaters enjoy the season at thewinter outdoor ice rink across from City Hall in San Francisco. Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2018

The Winter Park at Civic Center

As part of the city’s ongoing effort to rehabilitate the Civic Center Plaza neighborhood, a huge swath of the park outside City Hall was turned into一个滑冰场in 2018. Modeled on a winter wonderland in front of City Hall in Vienna,there is a 400-foot ice track that gives skaters a panoramic tour of the Main Library, Asian Art Museum and Bill Graham Civic.

Civic Center, S.F. Noon-6 p.m. daily. Through Jan. 5. $13-$20; skate rentals included.winterparkicerinksf.com

Snoopy’s Home Ice rink is housed in a reproduction of a Swiss chalet in Santa Rosa.Photo: Chronicle

Snoopy’s Home Ice

This skating rink housed in a reproduction of a Swiss chalet in Charles M. Schulz’s hometown of Santa Rosa not only offers a roomy 15,000-square-foot surface to glide on and do the hokey-pokey, but there’s a 20-foot Christmas tree sitting in the middle of the rink and genuine tinsel from 1969 hanging from every available surface.

For first-time skaters, there’s a Puppy Practice session where children and their parents can get a quick skating lesson and use chairs to stay propped up as they wobble their way around the arena.

Then there’s the Warm Puppy Cafe — the real reason to go — which offers a spot to defrost with towering hot chocolates, as well as nachos, hot dogs and French fries served in a dog bowl, a la Snoopy.

Skating around here almost feels like the living embodiment of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

1667 W.Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. Open year-round. Schedule varies, check website for hours. General admission $10; children (11 and younger) $8; skate rentals $2-$4.www.snoopyshomeice.com

Sophie Beirne and Matt Kozuch skate on the rink at Union Square.Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

North Bay

NorCal Ice
5800 Northgate Drive, San Rafael. Through Jan. 19. $13-$17; skate rentals included.www.officialnorcalice.com

Napa on Ice
Napa Expo, Third Street between Soscol Avenue and Silverado Trail. Through Jan. 12. $14.onicerinks.com/napa-on-ice

Skating is an alternative to shopping at Union Square in San Francisco.Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

East Bay

Oakland Ice Center
Indoor skating on and off throughout each month. $13.50-$17.50. 519 18th St., Oakland. 510-268-9000oaklandice.com

Iceland Family Night
Times vary, open year-round.$7 per person, includes skate rental. For a schedule of special events, pickup hockey ($10-$15) and freestyle sessions ($7), check website. Dublin Iceland, 7212 San Ramon Road, Dublin. 925-829-4445.dubliniceland.com

Walnut Creek on Ice
Through Jan. 20. General admission $13-$15. Civic Park, corner of Civic Drive and Broadway, Walnut Creek.walnutcreekonice.com

Edmond Ma gets a skating lesson the hard way at Embarcadero Center in San Francisco.Photo: Frederic Larson / The Chronicle

Peninsula

San Mateo on Ice
Central Park, 50 E. Fifth Ave., San Mateo. Through Jan. 12. $15-$20; skate rentals included with admission.onicerinks.com/san-mateo-on-ice

Nazareth Ice Oasis
Open year-round. 3140 Bay Road, Redwood City. 650-364-8090.iceoasis.com

Nazareth Ice Oasis San Mateo
Open year-round. 2202 Bridgepoint Parkway, San Mateo. 650-574-6033.nazarethice.com

Participants compete in the Polar Bear Skate contest at the Union Square rink. Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle

South Bay

Winter Lodge
3009 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Through April 11. $15.winterlodge.com

Downtown Ice San Jose
120 S. Market St., San Jose. Through Jan. 12. $15-$18.
www.downtownicesj.com

Snow Flake Lake at WinterFest
Outdoor skating select days through Dec. 31. $15. California’s Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. 408-988-1776.cagreatamerica.com

Solar4America Ice at San Jose
Year-round indoor skating at the official facility of the San Jose Sharks hockey team. $8:50-$12:50, plus $5 skate rental. 1500 S.10th St., San Jose. 408-279-6000.sharksiceatsanjose.com

Lacing up at Union Square is a tradition for tourists and San Francisco locals alike.Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Gilroy Gardens Holiday at Night
Various times, through Dec. 31. $35-42. Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway. 408-840-7100.gilroygardens.org

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Holiday Ice
400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. Through Jan. 5. General admission $14.95-$29.95; skate rentals included with admission.beachboardwalk.com/Boardwalk-Holiday-Ice

Revelers dress in costumes to celebrate New Year’s Day at the annual Polar Bear Skate on the Union Square ice rink in San Francisco.Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2017
  • Aidin Vaziri
    Aidin VaziriAidin Vaziri是《旧金山纪事报》的流行music critic. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com