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Get gliding! It’s that time of year again, when a batch of seasonal outdoor ice-skating rinks pop up around the Seattle area for local families’ skating fun. While many holiday traditions involve eating treats, this seasonal pursuit gets your fam up and moving! And if you prefer indoor ice-skating, there are plenty of spots to learn and skate year-round. So if you want to get gliding on the ice around Seattle, read on for where to go.
Before you head to the nearest outdoor or indoor ice-skating rink, take a look at our eight pro tips for teaching kids to ice-skate.
Outdoor holiday ice-skating rinks around Seattle and Puget Sound
Gnome Forest Ice Rink at Snow Globe, Seattle
Dates: Select dates, Nov. 27–Dec. 24
Cost: Admission to Snow Globe is free; ice-skating is $20 per person, including skate rentals
Pacific Place will be transformed into a winter wonderland this season for Snow Globe, complete with the Gnome Forest Ice Rink on the third floor.. You’ll be surrounded by evergreens and frosted alpine scenery as you glide across the ice. Just keep an eye out for lifesize gnomes peeking out from the trees. Reservations are encouraged, and can be made online in advance. Walk-ups are welcome, space permitting. Before (or after!) your spin around the rink, stop by the second floor to explore The Shoppes, a new holiday market.
Kirkland Winter Ice Rink, Kirkland
Dates: 2026–27 dates to be announced
Cost: 2026–27 prices to be announced
After making its debut in 2025, the Kirkland Winter Ice Rink is expected to return to Peter Kirk Park for another season of outdoor skating. Families can enjoy gliding across real ice in the heart of downtown Kirkland, surrounded by holiday lights and festive music. Check the website for updated dates, ticket prices and reservation details.
Planning a visit over Thanksgiving weekend? The nearby WinterFest celebration takes place Saturday, Nov. 28, from 3–7 p.m., with Santa photos, live ice sculpting, holiday crafts and entertainment. The festivities include the annual tree lighting at Peter Kirk Park at 6:15 p.m.
Ice-Skating at Holiday Magic, Puyallup
Dates: Dec. 4–6, 11–13 and 18–23, 2026; 4:30–9:30 p.m.
Cost: Glice skating costs $10 online or $12 on-site, including skate rentals, in addition to Holiday Magic admission. General admission starts at $25 for ages 13 and older and $20 for kids ages 3–12.
Head to the Washington State Fair Event Center for Holiday Magic, where millions of twinkling lights, festive rides, a holiday market and seasonal treats set the scene for a family outing. Take a spin around the Glice skating rink, which uses synthetic ice, so you can glide along to holiday tunes without the freezing temperatures or wet clothes. Skating is available as an add-on to event admission, and reservations are recommended as space is limited. Little ones can also use penguin skating supports, subject to availability.
Glice Skating, Hyatt Regency Lake Washington
Dates: 2026–27 dates to be confirmed; generally open Thursday–Sunday during the season.
Cost: Check the website for updated pricing; skate rentals cost extra.
Enjoy beautiful views of Lake Washington as you glide around the outdoor Glice skating rink at Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Renton. The rink uses synthetic ice, so you can skate in almost any weather without the need for freezing temperatures. When you’re done skating, grab some hot cocoa and settle in by a firepit to roast s’mores. With its waterfront setting and cozy fireside treats, this is a fun spot for a family winter outing. Check the website for skating sessions and reservations.
Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink, Bellevue
Dates: Nov. 13, 2026–Jan. 18, 2027; open daily, including holidays.
Cost: $12–$24, depending on the date, including skate rentals. Cheapskate Mondays offer $12 admission on select Mondays.
The Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink returns to Bellevue Downtown Park for its 29th season of holiday skating. The region’s largest seasonal ice rink features more than 9,000 square feet of real ice, with a covered skating area and views of the downtown skyline. Warm up with hot drinks and snacks from the on-site concessions, or check out the rink’s themed skate nights and free lessons on select dates. New this year, Cheapskate Mondays make it easier to enjoy a budget-friendly outing. (If you’ve not been, do not miss the park’s epic Inspiration Playground.) Book your skating session online to secure your spot.
This outdoor ice-skating rink offers some pretty great special events! Free lessons are offered on select days, for kids and adults.
Oly on Ice, Olympia
Dates: Nov. 20, 2026–Jan. 18, 2027; hours vary. Closed Thanksgiving Day, but open during winter break.
Cost: $11–$18, depending on the day; tots ages 3 and younger cost $6. Admission includes skate rentals. Discounted skating on Mondays and Tuesdays costs $11.
Head to downtown Olympia for Oly on Ice, a seasonal outdoor ice-skating rink set up under a large tent at Isthmus Park near Capitol Lake. Families can enjoy 75-minute skating sessions, with skate rentals included and helpers available for little ones learning to skate. Looking for a quieter experience? The rink offers sensory-friendly skating during the first hour on Sundays and Mondays, with dimmed lights and no music.
Special events throughout the season also bring live music and family-friendly activities to the ice. Check the 2026–27 schedule and ticket details before heading out.
Lights & Ice, Tulalip
Dates: Nov. 21, 2026–Jan. 10, 2027, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; skating hours vary.
Cost: Monday–Thursday, $15 for adults and $12 for kids 12 and younger; Friday–Sunday, holidays and winter break, $18 for adults and $15 for kids. Tribal members pay $10. Prices include skate rentals; a $3 processing fee applies per ticket. Book tickets online.
Get ready to skate surrounded by millions of twinkling lights! Tulalip Lights & Ice returns to the Tulalip Amphitheatre at Quil Ceda Village, featuring a covered, real-ice skating rink and more than 10 million dazzling lights throughout the village. Beyond skating, families can browse treats and gifts from local vendors and meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, Buddy the Elf and the Ice Queen on select dates from Nov. 27–Dec. 20. The festivities kick off with a lighting ceremony on Nov. 21, followed by a special holiday market Nov. 27–28.
Check the official event website for skating hours and character appearances.
Snohomish Valley Ice Rink, Snohomish
Dates: 2026–27 dates to be confirmed.
Cost: 2026–27 prices to be confirmed.
The Snohomish Valley Golf Center has hosted a seasonal outdoor ice-skating rink under a large tent, giving families a chance to skate on synthetic ice without worrying about the weather. After taking a spin around the rink, warm up by the heaters and fire tables or grab a bite from the on-site Valley Grill. Check with the venue for the latest skating dates and ticket information.
Pop-Up Ice-Skating Rink at Occidental Square, Downtown Seattle
Dates: Dec. 12–20, 2026; noon–6 p.m. daily
Cost: Free, including skate rentals.
Mark your calendars! The free holiday ice-skating rink returns to Occidental Square in the heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood for nine days of festive fun. Skaters of all ages and abilities are welcome, and you don’t even need to bring your own skates. Make a day of it on Saturday, Dec. 12, when the Occidental Square Holiday Bazaar brings more than 30 local makers selling crafts, artwork and gifts to the square. Check the official event page for more details.
Ice Lights at Sprinker Recreation Center Ice Arena, Tacoma
Dates: Nov. 27, 2026–Jan. 2, 2027; hours vary. Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Cost: Adults, $10; youth ages 6–17, $9; seniors ages 62 and older, $8; kids ages 5 and younger, $5.50 (including skates). Skate rentals cost $5 extra for older skaters.
Experience a winter wonderland without braving the cold at Ice Lights at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma. More than 35,000 twinkling lights, a giant curtain of lights and a 20-foot Christmas tree with a choreographed light show transform the indoor rink into a festive skating destination. Look out for falling snow, holiday photo ops and a Santa mail station.
For an extra dose of fun, try the rink’s ice bumper cars, which let you spin and slide across the ice. Bumper car rides cost $12 per person and require advance reservations.
Check the official event website for skating hours and reservation details.
Pavilion Glice Skating Rink, Suncadia
Dates: 2026–27 dates to be confirmed
Cost: 2026–27 prices to be confirmed
Think you need ice for ice-skating? Think again! The outdoor Glice skating rink at Suncadia uses a synthetic ice-like surface that doesn’t require freezing temperatures. Located at the resort’s Village Pavilion in Cle Elum, the rink offers families a chance to skate amid the beautiful Cascade Mountain scenery. Skate rentals are available, or you can bring your own skates. After your spin around the rink, warm up with hot cocoa and s’mores by the firepit. Make a day of it by exploring Suncadia’s other winter activities, including snowshoeing and holiday festivities.
Check the resort’s website for skating dates, prices and reservations.
Year-round ice-skating rinks around Seattle and Puget Sound
The holiday ice-skating rinks don’t stay around forever, and we can hardly ever hope for pond skating during our relatively mild Pacific Northwest winters. But families can still try out their ice-skating skills at these indoor ice rinks, open in any weather and every season!
Kraken Community Iceplex, Seattle
Skate where the Seattle Kraken practice! Located at Northgate Station, the Kraken Community Iceplex features three NHL-sized rinks and offers public skating sessions throughout the year. Beginners can rent figure or hockey skates, along with skate aids to help them find their footing. Families with little ones can try Tot Play Hour, which includes snow and ice play, while sensory-friendly sessions offer a quieter skating experience.
The Iceplex also offers skating lessons, youth hockey programs and opportunities to watch the Kraken practice.
Cost: $16.29 admission; $6.33 skate rental. Kids ages 3 and younger skate free. Prices exclude tax.
Lynnwood Ice Center, Lynnwood
A longtime favorite for ice-skating north of Seattle, Lynnwood Ice Center offers year-round public skating sessions for all ages and skill levels. Beginners can sign up for Learn to Skate classes, including the Snowplow Sam program for kids ages 3½–6, while more experienced skaters can explore hockey and figure skating programs. Rental skates are available in sizes ranging from toddlers to men’s size 14. There’s also a warm lobby and snack bar for taking a break from the ice.
Check the public skating schedule and book your session online before visiting.
Cost: $4 skate rental; admission price to be confirmed through online booking.
Sno-King Ice Arena, multiple locations
With locations in Kirkland, Renton and Snoqualmie, Sno-King Kirkland offers year-round ice-skating for all ages and abilities. The Kirkland rink features an NHL-sized ice surface, public skating sessions, hockey programs and learn-to-skate classes for beginners of all ages. Skating aids, including seal-shaped supports for little ones, are available to rent.
The Sno-King Ice Arena in Renton Highlands is open year-round and offers two separate ice surfaces. In addition to public ice-skating hours, this rink hosts broomball, figure skating, hockey, lessons series and summer camps. There is a café and game room for family members who don’t want to skate. There is also a skate shop on-site. Walkers are available for rent at this location as well.
The outpost of Sno-King in Snoqualmie offers the same wide range of ice sports as the rinks in Kirkland and Renton. In addition to public ice-skating, there are learn-to-skate programs focused on both figure skating and hockey skating, youth hockey lessons, leagues and camps, and adult hockey, too.
Cost: $15 online or $18 walk-in, ages 3 and older; $6 skate rental. Same pricing across all three locations.
Kent Valley Ice Centre, Kent
There’s more than just ice-skating at Kent Valley Ice Centre in Kent! This year-round indoor rink offers public skating sessions for all ages and abilities, along with learn-to-skate classes, figure skating and youth hockey programs. For a fun twist, check out the Friday and Saturday night blacklight skating sessions, when the rink lights up for an evening on the ice. Beginners can rent skate helpers, while families looking for more activities can try the on-site batting cages or 18-hole miniature golf course.
Check the schedule and book your skating session online, or pay at the door if space is available.
Cost: $18.18 admission, ages 4 and older; $6 skate rental. Kids ages 3 and younger skate free during eligible sessions.
Everett Community Ice Rink at Angel of the Winds, Everett
Located in downtown Everett, the Everett Community Ice Rink at Angel of the Winds Arena offers year-round skating for the whole family. Along with regular public skating sessions, the rink offers learn-to-skate classes, figure skating and youth hockey programs.
Looking for a budget-friendly outing? The rink hosts a free Community Access Skate Night on the second Friday of each month, with complimentary skate rentals. Advance registration is required. You can also catch an Everett Silvertips hockey game at the neighboring arena. Check the skating calendar before visiting, as session times vary.
Cost: $13 admission; $6 skate rental. Kids ages 5 and younger pay $8.50, including rentals.
Tacoma Twin Rinks, Tacoma
Home to PS Ice Sports, Tacoma Twin Rinks offers a wide variety of ice activities, from hockey and figure skating to speed skating and curling. Families can enjoy public skating sessions on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, with rental skates available. Beginners can also sign up for learn-to-skate classes, which offer an introduction to skating before moving on to hockey, figure skating or speed skating.
Check the online schedule before visiting, as public skating times vary and reservations are recommended.
Cost: $20 per skater; rentals available.
Editor’s note: Writers Gemma Alexander, Tiffany Doerr Guerzon and Nikki McCoy, along with ParentMap staff, all contributed to this article, which was originally published many years ago. It was most recently updated on Nov. 4, 2026, by ParentMap’s editorial team. All other information was fact-checked and updated for the 2026–27 holiday season.
