The magic of Christmas begins within the imagination, and the Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink at City Center Bishop Ranch is embracing the imagination this season.
Friday's tree lighting ceremony provided magical moments on the rink, where Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will host several events. Yamaguchi, who grew up in Fremont and graduated from Mission San Jose High School, was the primary Asian-American woman to win a gold medal in figure skating on the 1992 Olympics. (It was also there that she met her future husband, ice hockey player Bret Hedican.)
To have a good time her success, Mattel introduced the Kristi Yamaguchi Barbie, which will likely be signed and distributed to anyone who purchases a ticket ($75) to the skating event on December 7 at 9 a.m
She will even host an ice skating class ($50) on Dec. 23 at 9 a.m. to show children basic techniques. A portion of the proceeds profit her Always Dream Foundation, dedicated to providing books to low-income families. In five years, the rink has raised $160,000 for the inspiration.
On other nights on the rink, Elsa from “Frozen” and the Grinch from “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” will perform while music from the movies plays over the speakers. There will even be a K-Pop evening, a Sabrina Carpenter evening and a Taylor Swift evening. The best ugly sweater will win a restaurant gift card one night.
Feel the season with holiday beers from Fieldwork Brewing Company or cheerful cocktails from Social Affair. Then warm up with coffee and hot chocolate from Philz or Starbucks. There will even be Christmas pop-up stores selling educational toys and streetwear.
And don't miss a visit with Santa Claus, who will pose for photos and hand out gifts on the rink every weekend from 12pm to 4pm starting Black Friday and at 5pm on select Fridays.
Details: Open through Jan. 5, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon; citycenterbishopranch.com.
Winter Lodge in Palo Alto
There are many outdoor rinks in the course of the holidays, however the Winter Lodge in Palo Alto — the peninsula's hottest ice skating destination because it opened in 1956 — is the one year-round outdoor rink west of the Sierra Nevada.
Details: Open skate sessions are held by reservation at 3009 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto; winterlodge.com.
Enchant Christmas at PayPal Park
Running in circles is cool; Arguably even cooler is walking along a magical winter wonderland trail lined with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations. Enchant Christmas is back for the third time at PayPal Park.
Details: Open November 22 through December 29 at PayPal Park at 1123 Coleman Avenue in San Jose; EnchantChristmas.com.
Holiday skating rink in Union Square
The seventeenth Annual Union Square Holiday Celebration will once more feature a festive ice rink to have a good time events resembling Drag Queens on Ice (December 5) and '80s-themed Friday night celebrations (December 12 and January 1).
Details: Open day by day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at 333 Post Street in San Francisco through January twentieth; unionsquareicerink.com.
Merry Meritage Resort Holiday Ice Rink
It's going to snow in Napa this winter because the Napa Valley terrain creates its own snow flurries for people skating on the most important outdoor ice skating rink in wine country.
Details: Open day by day from November 18 to January 11, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 875 Bordeaux Way in Napa; meritageresort.com.
Santa Rosa ice skating on the square
In the midst of the Winter Lights Festival, this fully synthetic ice rink requires no energy or water for maintenance while providing a smooth surface perfect for beginners.
Details: Nov. 30 to Dec. 29 at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa; Downtownsantarosa.org.
Ice cream on the porch
Throughout Valentine's Day, Ice on the Veranda will feature an out of doors ice rink in the middle of the courtyard in front of the Veranda Luxe Cinema.
Details: Open through February 14 at 2035 Diamond Boulevard in Concord; shoptheveranda.com.
Walnut Creek on ice
The seasonal outdoor skating rink features cozy fire pits next to the rink that you may rent during your skating session, in addition to ice slides. Special events planned include pickup hockey games, a restaurant and more.
Details: Open Nov. 22 through Jan. 12 at Civic Park, 1365 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek; Walnutcreekonice.com.
San Mateo on ice
A pop-up outdoor rink will offer free community skate days on November 18th, December tenth and December seventeenth. Tents for parties might be rented.
Details: Open until January twelfth in Central Park at 50 E. Fifth Ave. in San Mateo; onicerinks.com.
Downtown Ice in San Jose
Located within the Circle of Palms Plaza, between the San Jose Museum of Art and the Signia by Hilton Hotel, Downtown Ice is back for its thirty first 12 months.
Details: Open Nov. 21 through Jan. 15 at 120 S. Market St. in San Jose; sjdowntownice.com.
WinterFest at Great America
The great America of California transforms into the North Pole this winter because the park celebrates its WinterFest with live entertainment, greater than 60 rides, thousands and thousands of Christmas lights, cookie-making classes in Mrs. Claus' Kitchen and ice skating at Snow Flake Lake.
Details: Open November 29 through January 5 at California's Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway in Santa Clara cagreatamerica.com.
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