While the Bay Area might not be known as a hotbed for sports played on ice, there’s a magical transformation that takes place each year around the holidays.
The number of ice skating rinks nearly triples, even though temperatures rarely drop below freezing. For at least two months a year, the outdoor pop-ups are hosting children learning to skate for the first time, lovers sharing a romantic date night and friends of all ages taking a spin while holiday tunes fill the air.
In San Ramon on Nov. 7, Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will kick off the ice skating season by opening her holiday ice rink at City Center Bishop Ranch for the fourth consecutive year.
Yamaguchi, who grew up in Fremont and graduated from Mission San Jose High School, became the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in figure skating at the 1992 Olympics in France. (She met her future husband, ice hockey player Bret Hedican, at the Olympics, too.)
Last season, she hosted an ice skating clinic for kids and holiday events that benefited her Always Dream foundation dedicated to providing books to low-income families.
Each year, Bishop Ranch’s restaurants and breweries up their seasonal game with holiday beers and cocktails, while coffee and hot chocolate can be found at the center’s cafes, including Philz.
Holiday pop-up stores are often erected while the ice skating rink hosts ugly sweater competitions, Disney-themed costume nights and Taylor Swift nights.
And don’t miss a visit with Santa, who can be found posing for photos and giving out gifts at the ice rink beginning on Black Friday. During the Christmas season, he appears every Saturday and Sunday as well as on select Fridays.
Details: Open Nov. 7 through Jan. 4 at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon; citycenterbishopranch.com.
But Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink isn’t the only ice skating haven that disappears when the holiday magic has faded. A few of the ice inks below are available to skate on throughout the year, but most of them are seasonal. So to get into the spirit while you can, hit one of these rinks this season:
Winter Lodge in Palo Alto
Outdoor ice rinks abound during the holidays, but Palo Alto’s Winter Lodge — the Peninsula’s go-to ice skating destination since it opened in 1956 — is open from Oct. 18 all the way through April 12. Both public sessions and classes are available. Things get festive when the holiday tree goes up the week after Thanksgiving. (It’ll stay up through the first week of the new year.)
Details: Open skate sessions are by reservation at 3009 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto; winterlodge.com.
Union Square Holiday Ice Rink
The 18th annual holiday celebration at Union Square will once again feature a festive ice rink to host events such as Drag Queens on Ice (Dec. 4), a silent skate party (Dec. 11) and ’80s-themed Friday night celebrations (second Friday of each month). And don’t forget about the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Skate, which follows the Canadian tradition of wearing swimsuits or creative beach attire on the ice, with prizes awarded for the most innovative looks.
Details: Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily from Nov. 5 through Jan. 19 at 333 Post St. in San Francisco; unionsquareicerink.com.
Merry Meritage Resort Holiday Ice Rink
It’ll be snowing in Napa once again this winter, as the Napa Valley compound creates its own flurries for folks skating in the largest outdoor ice skating rink in Wine Country. There are also igloo and fire-pit experiences, the “Santa’s Tavern” pop-up serving hot toddies and holiday cocktails and visits with Santa and some favorite princesses available for the kids. New this year are hands-on workshops that teach families to make gingerbread houses and wreaths as well as a cocktail mixing class for couples.
Details: Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Nov. 25 through Jan. 4, at 875 Bordeaux Way in Napa; napavalley.com.
Santa Rosa Skating on the Square
Right in the middle of the Winter Lights festival, this fully synthetic ice rink requires no energy or water to maintain, while allowing a smooth surface perfect for beginners. It kicks off the day after Thanksgiving with a tree-lighting celebration on Courthouse Square, holiday treats and visits with Santa.
Details: Nov. 29 through Dec. 28 at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa; downtownsantarosa.org.
Walnut Creek on Ice
This year will feature the 20th year anniversary celebration of Walnut Creek’s seasonal outdoor rink, which offers cozy rink-side fire pits for rent during your skating session and ice slide tubing. Special events often include pickup hockey games, a cafe and more.
Details: Open Nov. 21 through Jan. 16 at Civic Park on 1365 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek; walnutcreekonice.com.
San Mateo on Ice
An outdoor pop-up rink offers free community skate days on select days through the season. Tent for parties available to rent.
Details: Open Nov. 14 through Jan. 11 at Central Park on 50 E. Fifth Ave. in San Mateo; onicerinks.com.
Downtown Ice in San Jose
Smack in the middle of Circle of Palms Plaza, between the San Jose Museum of Art and Signia by Hilton Hotel, Downtown Ice is back for its 32nd holiday season.
Details: Open Nov. 21 through Jan. 15 at 120 S. Market St. in San Jose; sjdowntownice.com.
Marin Art and Garden Center
The annual Winter Wonderland invites guests to visit a garden transformed into a magical fantasyland for kids of all ages. At the outdoor skating rink, there’s snow, music, snacks and hot cocoa. This year, the center is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Keep an eye on the website for exact WinterFest dates when they’re announced.
Details: Dates to come at 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross; maringarden.org.
Oakland Ice Center
The indoor ice rink is open all year and provides public skating, lessons, drop-in hockey games, freestyle hours and other special events.
Details: See website for the full schedule at 519 18th St., Oakland; oaklandice.com/
TriValley Ice
Public skating, private lessons, adult hockey, broomball and other events are hosted at both TriValley Ice locations all year.
Details: TriValley Ice, 7212 San Ramon Road in Dublin and 6611 Preston Ave. in Livermore; dublinice.com.