We checked three places to ice skate with little kids in and around San Francisco Bay Area: one holiday or outdoor rink and two indoor rinks with public skating. Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square opens Wed, Nov 4 and runs to Jan 18. They’re spread over three areas, from Union Square to Oakland.
Season at a glance
Every rink on one timeline, so you can see what’s open the weekend you want to go. Tap a rink for prices and hours.
Holiday season
Seasonal and pop-up rinks, soonest first. The four boxes are what parents ask first: season, price, skate rental and skate aids.
Union Square · 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Outdoor rinks close for warm or wet weather. Check the rink’s page the morning you go.
Any season
Public skate sessions open to families. Session times change week to week, so each card links to the rink’s own page.
San Jose
Walk-ins are fine, but pre-registering helps at busy times.
Oakland
Before you go
SafetyBring a helmetFalls are part of learning. A bike or hockey helmet protects little heads, and some rinks ask for one.Skate aidsAsk about skate aidsA walker-style aid lets new skaters push and glide on their own. Each card says whether the rink posts them.
FitThin socks, warm mittensOne pair of thin socks fits rental skates best. Waterproof mittens keep hands dry after a tumble.Keep planning
November: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in Bay AreaEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in Bay AreaFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in Bay AreaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in Bay AreaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in Bay AreaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in Bay AreaKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in Bay AreaParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in Bay AreaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in Bay AreaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in Bay AreaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in Bay AreaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in Bay AreaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square (Union Square); Sharks Ice at San Jose (San Jose); Oakland Ice Center (Oakland). The holiday or outdoor rink is listed first; indoor rinks with public skating follow.
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square: Nov 4 – Jan 18. Dates come from each rink’s own page, and warm or wet weather can close outdoor rinks for the day.
Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square: $22; skate rental Included. Sharks Ice at San Jose: $18; skate rental $9. Oakland Ice Center: $18; skate rental $9. Prices are the rink’s own and can change on holidays.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week from October through February. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Bay Area that weekend, rinks included.
