It may seem like an unlikely pastime in sunny Southern California, but ice skating is definitely one of the best things you can do during the holiday season in LA. It’s the one time of year and one part of the world that you get to swirl (or stumble) around on the ice, even in your summer clothes. Although you won’t find snow-capped trees in the city during the winter, you can still experience the magic of the holiday season as you would in colder climates at these enchanting ice rinks in and around Los Angeles.
1. Pershing Square Holiday Ice Rink
In the heart of Downtown L.A. is this 7,200-square-foot ice rink. Every holiday season, the rink is draped with colorful lights and framed by DTLA’s skyscrapers which feels like the ultimate holiday experience.
Most years you can catch fun celebrations like the Icebreaker Opening ceremony with choreographed performances and a literal “ice-breaking” ritual where a large ice sculpture is shattered.
📍Location: 532 South Olive Street, CA 90013
📅Dates: November 21, 2024 through January 12, 2025
2. Ice At Santa Monica
Los Angeles doesn’t have all that many ice rinks open within the city, but luckily, the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue has been turned into a winter wonderland for the holidays. So gather your loved ones and get ready to make magical memories on ice. It’s also the perfect way to take a break from your Downtown Santa Monica Christmas shopping.
📍Location: 1324 5th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
📅 Dates: November 8, 2024 through January 20, 2025
3. Irvine Spectrum Center
At Irvine Spectrum Center’s Skating Under The Stars ice rink, you’ll glide through the enchanted night with their giant Ferris Wheel as your witness. Here, you’ll be able to create memories and embrace the magic of the holidays with friends and family.
📍Location: 670 Spectrum Center Dr. Irvine, CA 92618
📅 Dates: November 8, 2024 through January 5, 2025
4. Pasadena Ice Skating Center
An ice skating session here is the perfect winter plan… Not just for soaking up the holiday season magic, but also because it’s indoors and rainproof.
The Pasadena Ice Skating Center offers public skating, group lessons, figure skating, and even pick-up hockey games! Looking for a sweet deal? Swing by the skating center on Thursday nights for a discount. It’s one of the best ice skating rinks around Los Angeles!
📍Location: 300 E Green St. Pasadena, CA 91101
📅When: Ice skating rink opens on November 20, 2024.
5. Paséa Hotel’s Oceanfront Ice Rink
Experience a real California winter at Paséa Hotel & Spa’s oceanfront ice rink. You’ll have one of the most gorgeous views of one of the best surf beaches in SoCal. While it’s not quite in Los Angeles, you can make a day out of it by watching a sunset over the ocean, and gathering around a fire pit at night for a post-skate hot chocolate or any of the other festive treats on offer.
📍Location: 21080 Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1), Huntington Beach, CA 92648
📅When: TBA
6. SkyPark At Santa’s Village
This alpine haven is a true Christmas dream all year long and over the holiday season, it becomes even more magical when real snow fills the park. Once the temperature at SkyPark at Santa’s Village drops, the space is transformed into a winter palace, where you’ll likely find Santa himself gliding across the ice.
You can twirl around the rink, surrounded by towering pine trees dusted with snow and draped during the day, or make it nighttime ice skating amongst twinkling lights dropped across the rink.
📍Location: 28950 California State Route 18, Skyforest, CA 92385
📅 Dates: November 13, 2024 through January 5, 2025
7. The Skating Edge Ice Arena
For more than 50 years, The Skating Edge Ice Arena has been a staple in the Harbor City community. This South Bay rink offers open sessions, learn-to-skate programs, broomball, hockey, parties, ice dancing, freestyle skating, and off-ice training. Plus, for all your hockey and figure skating gear needs, including skate sharpening, Vic’s Pro-Shop is conveniently on-site. If you’re looking for ice skating near L.A., this rink is a great option!
📍Location:23770 S Western Ave, Harbor City, CA 90710
📅 Dates: Daily, 6:30 AM–9 PM
8. L.A. Kings Holiday Ice
The annual LA Kings Holiday Ice Rink is back through the end of the year, so we can once again carve it up around the dazzling tree at the center of LA Live. Don’t forget to show your tickets to participating restaurants on the day you skate, you can get 10% off at Lazy Dog, Fleming’s, Lucky Strike, Katsuya, and Savoca.
📍Location: 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015
📅 Dates: TBA
9. Skating in the Park in Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes’ synthetic ice rink will return for limited ice skating sessions in the final days of December. It’s a good option for skaters seeking a short and sweet experience with plenty of holiday cheer packed into the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Tickets are $10 for nonresidents and $7 for residents, and will get you 30 minutes of skating. Themed nights include Cocoa and Crafts, Bounce Houses and Balloons, The Grinch, and Frozen.
📍Location: Ken Dyda Civic Center, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
📅 Dates: Dec. 6, 7, 8, 2024.
10. Skate By The Sea At Hotel del Coronado
Hotel del Coronado offers a legendary beachfront rink benefitting Make-A-Wish San Diego. It’s one of the only places where sand meets snow to give you the best of both worlds, with dreamy orange sunsets and twinkling fairy lights illuminating the cool ice rink.
There are also rink-side igloos and a cozy lounge with fire pits and cocktails to warm up at after your session. While we know it is a drive from L.A., we think it’s worth the trip, and could even be the perfect weekend getaway over the holidays with tons of seasonal activities happening throughout the month.
📍Location: 1277 R.H. Dana Place, Coronado, CA 92118
📅 Dates: November 21, 2024 through January 5, 2025
Edited by Sofía Delpueche.