Walnut Creek on Ice opens for its 21st season next Friday, November 20, and runs through Monday, January 18, 2027. The free Civic Park Holiday Tree Lighting happens that same evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., about a few dozen steps from the rink. The timing is deliberate, and so is most of what you'll find once you lace up. The rink is a downtown business production. Walnut Creek Downtown puts it on, sponsors pay for it, and it's designed to send you out to dinner and shopping when your 90 minutes on the ice are up.
The Organization Behind the Boards
The rink sits in a city park, but the City doesn't run it. The Walnut Creek Downtown announcement for the 21st season describes WCD as a registered 501(c)(6) that manages the Walnut Creek Business Improvement District. That district promotes downtown businesses through advocacy, beautification, events and marketing. Its nonprofit partner, the Community Partnership for Walnut Creek Downtown, is a 501(c)(3) that produces the area's public events, including Oktoberfest, the Locust Street Festival, Uncorked, the Painted Pianos and the ice rink. The rink's own page says WCD presents it "in partnership with the City of Walnut Creek."
The funding follows from that setup. WCD's annual report says its business improvement district assessments, sponsorships and event revenue pay for a broad range of downtown projects. The report estimated 2024–25 assessments at $273,034.13. That money covers the whole downtown program for the year. Next to it, the rink's sponsorship menu in WCD's 2026 sponsor brochure looks large:
| Walnut Creek on Ice sponsorship, 2026 brochure | Listed rate |
|---|---|
| Presenting Sponsor | $25,000 |
| Wonderland Sponsor | $18,000 |
| Frosty Summit Ice Tubing Sponsor | $10,000 |
| Rink Side Firepit Sponsor | $10,000 |
| Skate Walkers | $10,000 |
| Dasher Board, 26 available | $3,000 each |
These are asking rates, not money received. Still, one presenting sponsorship would equal about 9% of the district's estimated 2024–25 assessments, and the 26 dasher boards alone are priced at $78,000. The sponsor brochure lists the rink as its most expensive event. Uncorked's presenting sponsorship is $10,500, and the Locust Street Festival's is $16,000. The rink's About page states it directly: Walnut Creek on Ice "would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and community partners."
Hotels are part of it too. A Walnut Creek Tourism BID report on the City's meeting portal lists "Walnut Creek On Ice X2" sponsorship and rink tickets for hotels.
Why the Season Hasn't Always Been This Long
An event that depends on sponsors doesn't run on a fixed calendar, and the rink's recent seasons show it. WCD's own annual report says the 18th season ran from December 15 to January 15, about one month. Here is how the seasons since then compare:
- 18th season: December 15 to January 15
- 20th season, 2025–26: November 21, 2025 to January 19, 2026
- 21st season, 2026–27: November 20, 2026 to January 18, 2027
The last two seasons each ran about two months. Both opened the Friday before Thanksgiving week and closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. With that schedule, the rink covers the busiest holiday shopping weeks in its first days.
The same report shows how the rink has added features over time. During the 18th season, it added rinkside fire pits with Adirondack chairs, sponsored by Mechanics Bank, plus three private cabanas. Lindsay Wildlife Experience was the partner for the Littles Skate program that year. The marketing push that season included a new digital billboard on Highway 680 and a social media influencer campaign that the report says drew more than 115,000 interactions while trying to reach young families. Mechanics Bank is still on the 2026 sponsor page, now as the sponsor of Frosty's Summit ice slide.
What the Rink Is Built to Do
The business-district purpose shows up in the details. WCD's annual report says the 18th season brought "skaters, visitors, shoppers and diners to the downtown," and the rink's About page says the tradition draws visitors from around the Bay Area "to skate, slide, shop, dine, and enjoy the season together." Several practical decisions follow from that goal:
- Food at the rink is kept small. The on-site Snowflake Cafe sells a limited menu of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, and the whole rink is cashless. For dinner, you walk into town.
- Downtown businesses provide parking. The rink's visitor page points to free parking "courtesy of local businesses," along with garages and private lots within walking distance.
- You can take BART. Walnut Creek BART station is 0.6 miles from the rink.
- Rain doesn't close it. The rink is covered and advertises that it is open "rain or shine." Over a two-month run through December and January, that keeps people coming downtown in bad weather.
The rink is also bigger than many seasonal setups. The skating surface measures 64 by 100 feet, and the rink reports more than 40,000 skaters a season. Other outdoor rinks in the region run on different models. San Francisco's Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square runs November 4, 2026 through January 18, 2027, with hour-long sessions at $22, or $17 for kids 8 and under. Palo Alto's Winter Lodge is a nonprofit that has run its smaller outdoor rink since 1956.
Kathy Hemmenway, the executive director quoted in the Walnut Creek Downtown release, described the rink this way: "After 21 years, we've seen kids grow up on this ice and come back with families of their own."
Two Tree Lightings, Two Organizers
The same split between public and business sponsors explains why Walnut Creek has two tree lightings.
The Civic Park Holiday Tree Lighting on Friday, November 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., is free and presented by the City and Walnut Creek Downtown. It includes hot cocoa, carolers, the lighting itself, and a meet-and-greet with Frosty. The hot chocolate has its own sponsor slot in WCD's brochure, priced at $3,000. Opening the rink and lighting the park's tree on the same night starts the downtown season with one event.
The Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting at Broadway Plaza is a separate event on Thursday, December 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. It spreads through the shopping center with music, entertainment, a parade, and Santa leading the tree lighting. The event page invites businesses interested in vendor booths and brand activations to contact a Macerich address.
Between the two, WCD lists Gather with Santa on Sunday, November 22, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Gather Walnut Creek, 1347 Locust St. It includes Santa photos and a Holiday Makers Market, and the photo line closes at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets, Hours and the Small Print
Here are the posted prices for the 2026–27 season:
| Ticket or add-on | Posted price |
|---|---|
| Ice skating, 90-minute session with skate rental | $20 per person |
| Frosty's Summit ice slide | $20 per person |
| Skate & Slide combo | starting at $20 per person |
| Skate walker, 90 minutes | $15 |
| Rinkside Experience fire pit | $50 to $125 |
The skating and the 90-foot slide are separate attractions. Each needs its own ticket and time slot, and the rink recommends booking ahead so your session doesn't sell out. Walkers can't be reserved online and are available first come, first served at the rental desk.
Regular posted hours:
- Monday through Thursday, non-holiday: 4:00 to 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, non-holiday: 4:00 to 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Holiday weekdays: 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Special holiday hours are posted for Thanksgiving, 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.; Christmas Eve, 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Christmas Day, 2:00 to 9:30 p.m.; New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and MLK Day, 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. MLK Day falls on January 18 this season, which is also closing day. The rink can also close for private parties and ice rentals, so check the rink calendar the day you go.
For younger skaters, Wednesday morning Littles Skates return, and one session includes a visit from Santa. The Ice-Skating Academy and hockey classes run all season. If you're dropping kids off, use the zone at Civic Drive and Broadway marked by a white picket fence. The rink asks drivers not to stop or turn around at the Civic Park lot entrance. The rink also strongly recommends that skaters under 16 have a parent or guardian with them.
Whether you're working out the opening-night plan of tree, cocoa, then skates or fitting a Littles Skate around school drop-off, Ashley Mancera is happy to share which downtown spots her family likes for dinner after a session. Let's Connect, and we'll see you in Civic Park on the 20th.