Sharpen your skates: What’s planned for the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink this season?

Grab your jackets and find your balance because the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink at Ali Youssefi Square is open for its 30th season.

Located in the heart of the city at 7th and K Streets, the icy winter wonderland’s schedule is packed with special events and discounts up until its last day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 16.

Before you sharpen your skates, here’s what you need to know about ticket prices and discounts, special events and rules on the ice.

How much are Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink tickets?

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of the rink. Groups and private parties are encouraged to make a reservation online.

A ticket cost no more than $15 a person and it includes skate rentals. Those 6 and under skate for $8.

You can score a discounted ticket if you have one of the following:

• Western Health Advantage card: $5 off
• Same-day receipt from one of Sacramento’s Downtown Commons’ businesses: $5
• Same-day Sacramento Regional Transit District ticket or pass: $2
• Veterans and active duty with military ID: Free
• Sacramento Kings Kids Club All-Star member: Free

After fun on the ice is over, you can still rack in deals up to 20% off with an ice rink wristband at several shops, bars and restaurants nearby.

Special events at Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink

Here’s a list of the special events, pulled from Downtown Sacramento’s website, scheduled through Jan. 14 at the ice rink. Be sure to check back with the ice rink’s Facebook page for up-to-date descriptions of each event.

• Nov. 12: Princess & Superhero Day
• Nov. 18 – K Street Date Night
• Nov. 19. – Crafting Kindness
• Nov. 20 – Forever Howard Foundation Donation
• Nov. 25 – K Street Date Night
• Nov. 26 – Silent Disco
• Nov. 29 – Giving Tuesday
• Dec. 3 – Makers Market
• Dec. 10 – Crafting Kindness
• Dec. 16 – K Street Date Night
• Dec. 17 – Ugly Sweater Party
• Dec. 18 – Forever Howard Foundation Donation
• Dec. 23– K Street Date Night
• Jan. 6 – K Street Date Night
• Jan. 13 – K Street Date Night
• Jan. 14 – Crafting Kindness

When is the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink open?

The rink is open for spins and chilling falls from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The rink is closed on Mondays, except for holidays. Here’s a full list of its holiday hours, which may be different from its traditional set hours:

• Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11) - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 27 - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 24) - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24) - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Christmas Day (Sunday, Dec. 25) - Noon to 9 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 8 - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve (Saturday, Dec. 31) - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 16) 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Rules on the ice

The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink has a laundry-list of rules. Before you head to the ice, it’s probably best to familiarize yourself with them.

“We have a zero tolerance for any on or off ice activities,” Downtown Ice Rink wrote on Downtown Sacramento’s website, “that disrupt or may lead to unsafe and dangerous situations.”

Here are the rules:

1. You must wear a wrist band that includes the participation waiver
2. No skating without a rink issued wristband color coded for the day
3. While wearing skates, please stay within the rubber floor area
4. No one is permitted on the ice without ice skates
5. No one is allowed on the ice while resurfacing is occurring
6. No sitting or climbing on protective dasher boards
7. No use of hockey sticks, pucks or balls
8. No ice skating against the flow of traffic
9. Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult or an experienced skater
10. No carrying children on the ice
11. No food, beverages or breakable objects are allowed on the ice
12. No one is allowed to use the ice rink under the influence of alcohol or drugs
13. No profanity, obscene gestures or clothing allowed
14. Refrain from throwing or leaving objects on the rink surface
15. No reckless skating, camel spins or speed skating allowed
16. Read and abide all posted signs, warnings and cooperate with rink staff
17. Maintain a proper lookout to avoid other skaters, objects or conditions on the surface of the rink
18. Wheelchairs are welcome on the ice but admission for skating must be paid

For a full list of the rules including skating etiquette and the rink’s capacity level, visit Downtown Sacramento’s website.

This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 10:32 AM.