Every November, a real outdoor ice rink appears at the corner of 7th and K Streets in downtown Sacramento. It is not a small gesture toward the season. It is a full rink, skate rentals included, open through mid-January — and it opens November 4, 2026, which is five weeks away.
The rink sits in Ali Youssefi Square, half a block from Golden 1 Center, surrounded by the restaurants and bars along K Street. It has been a fixture in this spot for more than 30 years, operated by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. For most of the season, it is one of the most straightforward cold-weather outings the city offers.
Hours
The rink runs Tuesday through Sunday for most of its season. Mondays are closed except on holidays.
Standard schedule:
- Tuesday – Thursday: 2 PM – 9 PM
- Friday – Sunday: 10 AM – 10 PM
- Mondays: closed (except holidays)
Two extended windows push to 10 AM – 10 PM daily: November 20–29 (the Thanksgiving stretch) and December 18 – January 3 (Christmas through New Year’s). Christmas Eve runs 10 AM – 9 PM, New Year’s Eve runs 10 AM – 9 PM.
Tickets and Rentals
Admission includes skate rental, so there is nothing to haul from home.
- General admission: $15 (skate rental included)
- Children ages 6 and under: $8 (skate rental included)
- Helmet rental: $2 (recommended for younger kids)
- Ice scooters: $5 per 30 minutes (useful for first-time skaters)
- Locker rental: $2
Skate sizes run Youth 8 through Men’s 15. No half-sizes are available; the rink suggests sizing down if needed. Socks, gloves, and water are available for purchase. The minimum recommended age is 3 years old.
Getting There and Parking
The closest parking structure is the DOCO East garage, accessible from 7th Street off J Street. Reservations can be made in advance at SacPark.org, which is worth doing on weekends and during the holiday rush when downtown fills quickly.
SacRT light rail stops at 7th & I, a two-minute walk from the rink. Amtrak passengers arriving at Sacramento Station can reach Ali Youssefi Square in about 10 minutes on foot through Old Sacramento and along K Street.
If a Kings game is also on the calendar, the timing lines up well — Golden 1 Center is a half-block away, and pairing a pregame skate session with a home game makes for a long but satisfying evening downtown.
Group and Private Bookings
Groups of 10 or more can reserve two-hour skating sessions through the rink’s website. Private buyouts of the entire rink are available for corporate events and parties, though holiday availability is limited. To book, call 916-442-8575.
Throughout the season, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership programs themed activations on the ice and around the square — craft days, silent disco nights, charity donation drives, and similar events. Specific dates tend to get announced on their events calendar as the season gets closer.
The Details
- Location: Ali Youssefi Square, 7th & K Streets, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Season: November 4, 2026 – January 18, 2027
- Standard hours: Tue–Thu 2–9 PM, Fri–Sun 10 AM–10 PM, closed Mondays
- Extended hours: Nov 20–29 and Dec 18–Jan 3, open 10 AM–10 PM daily
- Christmas Eve: 10 AM–9 PM | New Year’s Eve: 10 AM–9 PM
- Admission: $15 adults, $8 children 6 and under — skate rental included
- Add-ons: Helmet $2, Ice scooter $5/30 min, Locker $2
- Parking: DOCO East garage off 7th & J; reserve via SacPark.org
- Transit: SacRT light rail to 7th & I (2-min walk)
- Group/private bookings: 916-442-8575
- Info: downtownsac.org
Bottom Line
The downtown Sacramento ice rink is one of those seasonal fixtures that is easy to push to next weekend until suddenly it is January. It opens November 4 and the best window is the stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve — the air is cold enough to feel right, downtown is lit up, and the square has an energy that is hard to find during the rest of the year.
For families with young kids, the ice scooters and included skate rental lower the barrier considerably. For couples or groups of adults, the location — steps from the restaurants on K Street and the bars around Golden 1 — means the evening does not have to start and end at the rink.
For more on what to do during the holiday season in Sacramento, see the full Sacramento Christmas events guide and the rundown of New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks.
