Glide into the holiday season with some of the Bay Area’s best ice skating rinks.

WRITTEN BY Sophie Sporleder GRAPHICS BY Sophie Sporleder

   // In a state as warm as California, ice skating might not seem to be a popular activity. However, Bay Area residents do not have to look far further to find stunning rinks to skate on this holiday season.
  The three ice skating rinks that are the most popular in the Bay Area are Walnut Creek on Ice, Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink and the Union Square Holiday Ice Rink.

   Walnut Creek on Ice is located in Civic Park, and is a $20 ticket per person for one 90-minute session.The rink is open from November 22, 2024 through January 12, 2025, and this season marks its 19th year anniversary. “One time, two years ago, we went there on opening night, and they gave us free hot chocolate and Crumbl cookies. And they had a photo shoot thing and we got glasses and stuff, it was really fun,” Alina Pohl, a sophomore at Las Lomas, said. 

   The Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink in San Ramon’s City Center Bishop Ranch has many events marking its calendar such as Family Photo Night, Elf Night, Santa Night, Ugly Sweater Night and Pajama Night, along with Kristi Skating Clinic where Yamaguchi herself offers tips for ice skating. Yamaguchi is a former figure skater, two time world champion and gold medalist, but her dream was to open an ice skating rink to spend time with her friends and family. Ice skating means a lot to her, just like it does to Las Lomas sophomore Kayley Doherty. “I think it’s fun, it’s relaxing, and it reminds me of when I was little and I would ice skate with my parents.” This ice skating rink opens on November 8, 2024 through January 5, 2025, and general admission is $26 per person for one 90-minute session. 

   The Union Square Holiday Ice Rink is kicking off this holiday season with an opening night ceremony on November 6, 2024. It has many events to offer such as Flashback Fridays, Silent Skate, Drag on Ice and Learn To Skate clinics. With ticket prices at only $25, the rink’s Hallmark movie vibe, and towering 83 foot tall Christmas tree make for the perfect place to spend time with family and friends this holiday season. Las Lomas sophomore Owen Salmon went with friends to the city and visited the rink. “We mostly just skated and then we walked around to look at all of the decorations.” The stunning decorations capture the holiday spirit, and this is why it is one of the most visited ice rinks in the area.   Enjoy your holiday season spending time with your friends and family at these popular Bay Area ice skating rinks. While you are there, take pictures of your experiences and share them with The Page.