The festive season marked its start in Union Square, San Francisco when its ice skating rink opened for its 15th season on November 1, and will continue until January 15, 2024. The rink's installation is a popular event among visitors of all ages, as mentioned on the Union Square Ice Rink website.
Willy Bietak Productions' General Manager, Robert Keith affirmed that Union Square's Ice Rink typically adds in the top five ice skating places in the United States. He gives credit to its success in the lively local community and its prime location among shops, hotels, and restaurants. To many Bay Area inhabitants, the rink has become an endearing holiday tradition.
Festivities this year will be especially memorable as the ice rink will observe its 15th anniversary with an array of events and performances. Events will get underway with "Drag Queens on Ice" on November 7, followed by "Silent Skate" on November 14. New Year's Day will have a poignant Polar Bear Skate at 2 p.m., with other themed events such as Simba Saturdays and Flashback Fridays happening all throughout the season, as per KTVU.
Kaiser Permanente, the healthcare provider, joins hands with the ice rink to start the Learn to Skate program. It has been designed to encourage novice skaters and will be run through a random lottery system to provide unbiased access to everyone, according to the Union Square Ice Rink website. Entries for November lessons are no longer accepted, however, December and January sessions are open for registration until November 10.
The general admission price remains the same this season: $20 for adults and $15, including skate rentals, for children eight and under. Attendees are also encouraged to buy tickets online before their arrival at the venue as the rink's cashless transaction policy is still in effect.
The timeless Union Square ice rink event has held onto its appeal over the years and in times of societal shifts. With diverse events and the backdrop of the Christmas tree and the Chanukah menorah, the rink invokes a festive feeling that transcends cultural and religious boundaries, inviting all to participate in the collective celebration.
