Union Square's Beloved Ice Skating Rink To Open With Grand 2022 Ceremony

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Dust off those ice skates and don your coziest gear, because on Wednesday November 2nd, Union Square's iconic ice rink finally returns for the much-anticipated holiday season. The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink presented by Kaiser Permanente is a yearly favorite for families, couples, children, and everyone in between, traveling far and wide to experience the different thrilling festivities this magical site hosts like Polar Bear Skate, Drag Queens on Ice, and more!

2022 is slated to be a year even bigger and better than ever, as the Opening Celebration is set to kick off on Wednesday, November 2nd at 5pm, commemorating their 15th anniversary with special $15 tickets all day, captivating on-ice performances, and character appearances from Disney’s Frozen the Musical.

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For 15 joyous years, Union Sqaure's Safeway Holiday Ice Rink presented by Kaiser Permanente has been a treasured tradition, fostering the idyllic atmosphere that defines wonderful wintertime in our city. From November 2, 2022 to January 16, 2023, the rink will be brimming with special events and activities, many of which are brand new to this year.

The Opening Celebration will run from 5-7pm Wednesday, November 2nd, and will begin with a grand evening ceremony that is set to be the largest ever, complete with local dignitaries and celebrities who will also skate alongside the participating community. Exclusive $15 tickets will be available all day in honor of the 15th year, and who better than to grace our rink than the characters of Disney’s Frozen the Musical themselves?

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Other incredible events occuring throughout the year will be "Flashback Fridays" presented by 80s+, with premier DJs electrifying the rink with all of the hottest throwback hits. These will occur on November 11, December 9, and January 14 at 7pm and 8:30pm, with the outfitting of your trendiest flashback fits highly encouraged.

Let It Go Wednesdays at 5:30pm and 7pm presented by Disney’s Frozen the Musical will also be a fantastic immersive time, as songs from the hit FROZEN Broadway Original Cast Recording will play while guests of all ages make the frozen wonderland their own in their best costumes.

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Drag Queens on Ice on Thursday December 1, 2022 from 7–9:30pm, is a brilliantly entertaining and inclusive can't-miss spectacle, complete with lip-synching, talented performances, and fierce fashion, all kindly put on by our Bay Area's beloved drag queens.

Thursday, December 8, 2022 will be the Silent Skate Party with provided headphones with customizable stations, and Polar Bear Skate is a marvelous way to ring in the new year from 2:30–3:30pm with a bathing suit, beach attire, and shades for this unusually iconic tradition complete with costume contests.

New and training skaters will certainly be welcomed as well, with free Learn to Skate lessons offered on select weekend mornings that are fully guided and in an environment that is judgment-free and calm.

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Willy Bietak Productions are the ones who put on this glorious rink, hailing from Los Angeles and are regarded as a trusted production company for family entertainment with award-winning directors, choreographers, management, and more.

The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Kaiser Permanente is open daily from 10am to 11pm until January 16, 2023. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 8 and under. Rental cost is included in the admission and all tickets must be purchased in advance, with a portion of the proceeds wonderfully benefitting the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

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Be sure not to miss the momentous opening celebration, and you can purchase tickets here to partake in one of the Bay Area's most adored holiday activities!

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