Ice skating with kids around Seattle, the Eastside & Tacoma

Lace up your skates — winter is the perfect time for Seattle-area families to glide, spin, and giggle their way across the ice. You may be here looking for a festive holiday pop-up rink decked out in lights, or maybe you stumbled here searching for a dependable indoor arena where your kids can practice year-round. Either way, the Puget Sound region has plenty of places for beginners and seasoned skaters alike!

In this guide, you’ll find seasonal rinks that shine during the holidays, indoor arenas that operate all year, and helpful tips for families heading out for the first time. We’ve also organized everything by region so you can quickly spot the rinks closest to home. Grab your gloves — it’s time to hit the ice.

Seasonal & Pop-Up Ice Rinks (Nov-Jan)

If your family loves the sparkle of the holidays, seasonal pop-up rinks are where the magic happens. These limited-time spots often come with twinkling lights, special events, themed music, and plenty of photo ops. Because these rinks draw big crowds and have shorter operating windows, it’s smart to check schedules, book early when required, and bundle up for fluctuating weather. Here are the biggest and brightest pop-up rinks around Seattle, the Eastside, and the South Sound.

Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink

• When: November 21, 2025, through January 19, 2026. Various hours.
• Where: Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 NE 4th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
• Cost: Monday-Thursday, $16, not including November 27, December 19- January 4, and January 19. Weekends: $22, includes November 27, December 19-January 4, and January 19. Prices include skate rental. Book tickets online.

Located in Bellevue Downtown Park, this open-air arena offers over 9,000 square feet of real ice. Concessions available include snacks, hot chocolate, and bottled water. The portable restrooms are located outside of the area, meaning you need to take off your skates to go, so make that pit stop before heading in. They have limited skate guides on a first-come, first-served basis. There are several special events planned, see the calendar here.

Oly On Ice (Olympia)

• When: Open Nov. 21, 2025, through January 19, 2026
• Where: Isthmus Park, 529 4th Ave W, Olympia, WA 98501
• Cost: Tickets can be purchased in advance here. Prices (including skates) $11-$17 (plus a $1.45 fee) for general admission; $6 (plus a $1.45 fee) for toddlers 3 and under. Admission is for a 75-minute session.

Join some winter fun at this popular pop-up ice skating rink located south of Seattle in Olympia. Open all week, parking is free and available next to the rink in the city’s lots during evening and weekend hours. Neighborhood street parking is available, too. There are occasional food vendors, and you are allowed to bring in your own food. Skate aids are $6 and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pop-up Ice Skating in Occidental Square (Seattle)

• When: December 13-21, 2025, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Where: Occidental Square, 117 S Washington St, Seattle, WA 98104
• Cost: Admission is free for everyone, with skates available to borrow.

A popular ice skating rink in the Seattle area, this pop-up is back for its fourth year this December at Occidental Square. Skaters of all ages and skill levels are invited. There are also skates available to borrow.

Tulalip Lights & Ice

• When: Open Nov. 22, 2025, through January 11, 2026
• Where: Tulalip Amphitheatre, 10400 34th Ave NE, Tulalip, WA 98271
• Cost: Monday-Thursday: Adult $18, Child $15, Tribal member $10, Friday-Sunday: Adult $21, Child $18, Tribal member $10 (includes skate rental). Tickets are only available online here

The Tulalip Lights & Ice is a beautiful light display with over 9.7 million lights. It is free to walk around and enjoy the lights, and there are food vendors if you need a snack. The skating rink is made from real ice and is a fun addition to seeing the Quil Ceda Village.

Ice Skating at Holiday Magic (Puyallup)

• When: December 5-23, 2025. 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. See schedule here
• Where: Washington State Fair, 110 9th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA 98371
• Cost: Skating admission, plus skate rental, is $12 on-site. Holiday Magic admission is required and sold separately. Buy tickets online 

Listen to some popular holiday tunes while you and your kids take a spin around The Glice® synthetic ice rink. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early. All skaters must be at least 2 years old. Skaters 12 and younger must be supervised by an adult. Penguin Push Skating supports are available on request.

Year-Round Indoor Ice Skating Rinks

Once the holidays wind down, the fun doesn’t have to stop. Seattle-area families can enjoy ice skating no matter the season thanks to a great lineup of indoor arenas offering public skate times, lessons for all ages, skate aids, and even themed events. These rinks are especially handy for rainy-day outings, birthday parties, and kids who want to build skills on the ice. Here’s where to find dependable, family-friendly skating all year long.

Angel of the Winds Arena (Everett)

• When: Open year-round, various days and hours, check the calendar here https://aotw-arena.web.app/
• Where: Everett Community Ice Rink, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, WA 98201
• Cost: General admission $13.00 plus $6.00 skate rental, 5 and under $8.50 (includes skate rental), Senior/Military with ID, $11.00 (including skate rental)

Whether you’re a seasoned skater or stepping onto the ice for the very first time, this rink is open 363 days a year — and they can’t wait to skate with you! Skate aids are available for $6. Learn to Skate lessons for ages 3 and up are available as well. Lesson registration here.

There is a concession stand with snacks and drinks available for purchase. Events: Every second Friday of the month is Community Access Skate Night from 5-6:30 p.m. The next one is Friday, December 12. Skating and skate rental are free, and youth under age 18 can take transit for free. Preregistration is required. Register here. For questions, call 425-322-2653 or visit the skate counter during rink hours.

Bremerton Ice Center

• When: Public skating is open on various days and times, check the calendar here
• Where: Bremerton Ice Center, 1950 Homer Jones Drive, Bremerton, WA 98310
• Cost: General Admission $10.00 + tax, Skate Rental $5.00 + tax. Children 3 and under are free. (Skates are required to be worn by anyone on the ice, even if riding on a skate aid.)

Skate Aids are $5 plus tax and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Skating lessons are available from age 2.5 and up.  Friday nights at 9 p.m. is Glow Skate, which is $10 including skate rental. Subject to change, always check the calendar before heading out. Check here for other special events. They have a full cafe and bar with food for purchase. They have free Wifi and a workspace in the lobby.

Kent Valley Ice Centre

• When: Open year-round, various hours, check the calendar here 
• Where: Kent Valley Ice Centre, 6015 S 240th St, Kent, WA 98032
• Cost: General admission is $18.18, plus $5 for skate rental. Free admission for ages 3 and under, does not include skate rental, and they must be accompanied by an adult on the ice.

Whether you are a new or highly experienced skater, all are welcome to join Kent Valley Ice Centre’s public skate sessions. They offer skating lessons for children aged 4 and up. They have a great sound system, blacklight skate sessions, and over a thousand pairs of rental skates on hand. They also offer helmet rentals for $2.14 and skate helpers/walkers for $8 at the Pro Shop. Vending machines offer a selection of snacks and drinks, no outside food allowed.

Kraken Community Iceplex (Northgate)

• When: Open year-round, various days and hours, check the calendar here 
• Where: Kraken Community Iceplex, 10601 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
• Cost: General admission, $17.50 plus $6.75 for skate rental. Ages 3 and under are free.

Bring your family and friends and join fellow Kraken fans and Seattleites alike for public skate sessions. All ages and levels are welcome. Helmets are recommended. Skate aids are available to rent for $10. Lessons are available for ages 3 and up. The ice rink offers sensory-friendly skate, toddler play hour, and themed skate sessions. Check the events list here. They have a bar and grill on the upper level that provides a full lunch/dinner menu along with a view of the ice rink.

Lynnwood Ice Center

• When: Various days and hours, check the calendar here 
• Where: Lynnwood Ice Center, 19803 68th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036
• Cost: ages 13 and up, $15, 12 and under $10, seniors $10, skate rental is $4. Pay online here 

Public Sessions are the best time to get some casual skating in. Open to skaters of all skill levels. Lessons are available for ages 3.5 and up. Minors under 18 years old will need adult supervision present in the building at all times. There is a snack bar for refueling after skating.

Sno-King Ice Arena (Kirkland, Renton, Snoqualmie)

• When: Various days and hours, check the calendar here
• Where: Kirkland, Renton, and Snoqualmie
• Cost: Ages 3 and up, $15 for online registration, $16 for drop-in. Skate rental, $6

Whether you’re a beginner looking to glide gracefully on the ice or a seasoned enthusiast seeking to join in the fun, the state-of-the-art facilities at Sno-King Ice Arenas has you covered. Skate aids are available to rent for $10. Learn to Skate lessons are available. They have vending machines for snacks, and you are also allowed to bring in outside food. They offer events such as Sno-Skate Lane, a holiday skating experience with twinkling lights, holiday decor, and occasional special guest visits. See the calendar here.

Sprinker Recreation Center (Tacoma)

• When: Open year-round, various days and hours, check the calendar here
• Where: Sprinker Recreation Center, 14824 C Street S., Tacoma, WA 98444
• Cost: Adults: $8.50, Youth, ages 6-17, $7.50, 5 and under $5.50 (includes skate rental). Skate rental for youth and adults is $3.50

Sprinker Recreation Center’s ice arena features an NHL-regulation ice surface. Enjoy daily public ice-skating sessions, hockey, learn-to-skate classes for ages 4 and up, figure skating, and broomball. See skating classes here. Don’t miss out on the excitement of our popular ice bumper cars and other fun activities. Ice Walkers are available for rental at $5. There are vending machines for snacks and drinks. November 28- January 3 is the Ice Lights event, which includes a giant 20-foot choreographed holiday tree, a light curtain wrapping around the rink, snow falling inside the rink, holiday photo ops, and a Santa Mail Station.

Tacoma Twin Rinks 

• When: Public ice skating sessions are Friday evenings at 10 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m.
• Where: Tacoma Twin Rinks 2645 S 80th St, Tacoma, WA 98409
• Cost: General admission is $20, including skate rental. (The price is the same if you don’t need to rent skates.) Book online.

This rink primarily focuses on teaching hockey and ice skating through their “Learn to Play Hockey” and “Learn to Ice Skate” programs. See skating lessons here. This rink offers limited public skate sessions, and do not have skate aids available. They host both youth and adult hockey games on weekends, which are open to the public for viewing with no admission fee.\

Best Ice Skating for First-Time Kids

If you’ve got a brand-new skater in the family, choosing the right rink can make those early glides much more fun — and far less stressful. Some rinks offer skate aids, toddler-specific sessions, quieter hours, or beginner lessons that help kids feel more stable on the ice. These spots are especially accommodating for wobbly legs, preschoolers, or any child trying skating for the first time.

Rinks with Skate Aids or Walkers

• Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink – Limited skate aids available on a first-come basis.
• Oly on Ice (Olympia) – Skate aids available for $6; great for young kids.
• Kent Valley Ice Centre – Walkers available for rent for $8
• Sprinker Recreation Center (Tacoma) – Ice Walkers available for $5; rink offers a range of ability-level programs.
• Kraken Community Iceplex – Skate aids available for $10; also offers toddler hour and sensory sessions.

Rinks with Beginner or Toddler Lessons

• Angel of the Winds Arena (Everett) – Learn-to-Skate programs start at age 3.
• Bremerton Ice Center – Lessons available ages 2.5 and up.
• Sno-King Ice Arenas – Lessons for ages 3+ across three regional locations.
• Kraken Community Iceplex – Strong beginner program with structured age levels.

Best Tips for First-Time Skaters

• Dress in warm layers that allow movement.
• Gloves and helmets are helpful, even if not required.
• Arrive early so kids can get comfortable in their skates.
• Start slow and stick near the wall until they gain confidence
• Consider weekday or morning sessions for lighter crowds.

More Winter Fun for Families

If ice skating has your kids eager for more winter adventures, you’re in luck — Washington is packed with kid-friendly activities that celebrate the season. From sledding hills to cozy nighttime ski runs, these guides help families find outdoor fun without the guesswork. Each one includes tips, parking details, and what to know before you go.

• Sledding and Tubing Guides. Washington offers great places to slide, glide, and laugh your way through snowy hills. Our sledding and tubing guides include:
• Kid-Friendly Ski Resorts. Introducing kids to skiing or snowboarding is easier when the mountain is built for families. Our resort roundups feature:
• Night Skiing. Night skiing is a magical way to extend the day — and an especially fun adventure for older kids and teens. Our guide highlights:
• Guided Snowshoeing. For families wanting slow-paced winter exploration, guided snowshoeing is an accessible, educational, and peaceful option.