Snow is an anomaly in urban Los Angeles, but there are a number of outdoor ice rinks that open this month as well as other events that can give residents a taste of what it’s like to experience winter wonders. See the listings below.
ICE at Santa Monica outdoor skating rink is already open and will continue until Jan. 20.
It features an 8,000-square-foot main rink, plus a smaller 400-square-foot rink for children age 6 and younger. Skating lessons and season passes are available.
Hours: Mon.-Thur. 2-10 p.m., Fri. 2 p.m.-midnight, Sat. 10 a.m.-midnight, Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., extended hours over the holidays.
Where: 1324 5th St. (at Arizona Avenue), Santa Monica.
Cost: $12 including skate rental.
Info: www.iceatsantamonica.com.
Note: Lockers are available for $10 with $5 refund when key is returned.
Downtown on Ice is Southern California’s original outdoor skating rink, which opens annually in the middle of Downtown L.A. at Pershing Square across from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. This year the season ends Jan. 20, and there are special events including free midday concerts on many days, Saturday crafts for kids in December, and a free evening broomball tournaments in January.
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-11 p.m., holiday hours vary Dec. 20 to Jan. 5.
Where: Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St.
Cost: $8 per one-hour skating session plus $2 skate rental.
Parking: Discounted underground parking may be available under the park with validation.
Info: www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/ (213) 847-4970.
Trek out to the Queen Mary in Long Beach for a huge winter holiday attraction called CHILL, Nov. 22-Jan. 5, 2014 taking place inside and outside the Queen Mary Dome. In addition to a 6,500 square-foot outdoor skating rink, there is a 100-foot-long, two-story ice slide for tubing, a holiday village and The Ice Kingdom. This is a fantasy world of Nutcracker and Queen Mary-themed ice sculptures and ice slides kept at a bone-chilling 9 degrees inside the Dome.
Prices starts at $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids, and includes The Ice Kingdom and a choice of either ice skating or ice tubing. Additional tickets for either ice skating or ice tubing are available for purchase and start at $12.95. An ice skating season pass is available for $29.95.
Where: Queen Mary is located at the south end of the 710 Freeway, on the water in Long Beach, 1126 Queen’s Hwy, Long Beach. (562) 435-3511.
Website: www.queenmary.com.
The L.A. Kings Holiday Ice brings outdoor ice skating to Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live. The 5,600 square feet of skating area accommodates up to 200 skaters at once. The $13 includes skate rental, $6 military, seniors and kids under 5.
Season: Nov. 29-Dec. 30, Mon.-Fri. 5-11:30 p.m., Sat. 3-11:30 p.m. Dec. 16, daily 3-11:30 p.m. Special events include “Season of Giving” nightly where a nonprofit organization is recognized for its community work.
Other snow-related events
The 11th annual Winter Wonderland sponsored by the 8th District Council office takes place Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in the Staples parking lot. There is a toy give-a-way and children can frolic in the snow. For info: (213) 473-7008.
The Los Angeles Police Department 77th Street Area station will bring in snow, Santa and his elves, and host a number of winter activities for children including Santa’s workshop Dec. 19 beginning at 5 p.m. at the station, 7600 S. Broadway. Info: (213) 485-4285.
