Does Austin get cold enough for you? If not, here’s your chance to have some chilly fun with some real snow and ice this holiday season! We’ve got a list of all the places to find snow around town, and the holiday ice skating events are listed here too! Bundle up and have some fun in the cold, because you know it’s always better to enjoy a hot cocoa if you’re properly frozen first!
Chaparral Ice
Open daily; hours | Northcross Mall, 2525 W Anderson Ln, Austin
This indoor rink is open year-round for public skating. Cost: Admission is $6 and skate rental is $4 for children and adults. Kids 5 years of age and under skate for only $5 on Saturday and Sunday, including skate rental. Kids 5 and under skate FREE during Monday-Friday afternoon public sessions with paid admission (excluding holidays).
Eisbahn (Fredericksburg)
November 27 – January 3; hours | 126 W Main St, Fredericksburg
Eisbahn (“ice rink” in German) returns to Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg for its 10th consecutive year, open the Friday after Thanksgiving through New Year’s weekend. Open daily, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can enjoy outdoor ice skating on real ice in the Texas Hill Country! Special refrigeration units are used to keep the ice frozen even when the weather is warm outside. Cost: Enjoy a come-and-go all-day pass for only $10, including skates.
Ice Skating on the Whole Foods Plaza
November 29 – January 9 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Whole Foods, Plaza Rooftop, 525 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin
The rink will occasionally be closed for private parties. Guests are welcome to skate before and after the private rentals, but will be asked to clear the plaza for these special events. Dates and times of closures and are updated weekly. Please note, the rink is always open to the public Friday evenings and all day/evening on Saturdays and Sundays. Rink is closed: Monday, December 7th from 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, December 8th from 3-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 9th from 4:30-close, and Thursday, December 10th from 4:30-8 p.m. Be sure to check the website or call Guest Services during the week to confirm public skating hours. Cost: $10/person to skate.
Mueller Tower Lighting
December 1 from 6-8 p.m. | Mueller Control Tower, Berkman Drive, Austin
The FREE, family-friendly event will feature live music from the Reagan High School Drumline and the Huston-Tillotson Jazz Band. The event will also include free coffee, hot chocolate, and holiday treats as well as activities for children. Austin City Council Member, Ora Houston, will be counting down the moments until the Noel sign is lit across the Control Tower, honoring a tradition that dates back to the 1960s. Just announced: 10 tons of REAL snow! It will be snow much fun! Cost: FREE!
Sights & Sounds of Christmas Ice Skating Rink (San Marcos)
December 2-5 from 5-11 p.m. | San Marcos Plaza Park, 401 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos
The Sights and Sounds of Christmas is bringing even more holiday cheer with a large, simulated ice skating rink. Enjoy skating round and round with family and friends surrounded by millions of Christmas lights and holiday music. Make this season the best ever at the 28th annual Sights & Sounds of Christmas. The rink is located across the river at the basketball courts just behind the Town of Bethlehem. Ice skating sessions each run 20 minutes. Cost: $5 per session (5 tokens). This is in addition to nightly admission to Sights and Sounds, which is $5 for adults; FREE for kids 12 and under.
Snow Days (Bee Cave)
December 5, 13, and 19 from 12-4 p.m. | Hill Country Galleria, 4000 Galleria Parkway, Bee Cave
It snows every weekend in December at the Hill Country Galleria! Enjoy a family fun day with real snow! Toss a snowball, build a snow man, make a snow angel, and take fun family photos! Enjoy live holiday music, holiday carolers, and more from noon-4 p.m. every day that it snows! Check out our post on this event here. Cost: FREE!
Snow in Fisherman’s Park (Bastrop)
December 5 from 12:30-7 p.m. | Fisherman’s Park, 1200 Willow St., Bastrop
Come down to Fisherman’s Park on Saturday, December 5th at 12:30 p.m. and enjoy the annual Snow Day event. Take a try at the 12-foot snow slide, then get messy in the large snow play area. Make Christmas ornaments and snow people to take home. The Santa Clause movie will start at dusk (around 6 p.m.). Please dress appropriately as there will be 30,000 lbs. of shaved ice as snow. Bring extra clothes, shoes, socks, etc. Tubes will be available on site for the slide. Cost: FREE!
Winter Wonderland Ice Skating Rink (Bastrop)
December 11 from 3-9 p.m. and December 12 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Historic Downtown Bastrop, Parking Lot I
Visit with Santa as you whirl around the rink! Cost: $10/Individual, $25/Family of 3, $30/Family of 4.
Downtown Christmas Fair (Hutto)
December 12 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Downtown Hutto
Shop the stores, enjoy a meal at the downtown restaurants, shop vendors featuring handmade items, unique gifts, home decor, jewelry, toys, and delicious fair food and drinks! The YMCA Children’s Area will include crafts, games, inflatables, train rides and… SNOW! Cost: Admission to Children’s Area is $5 per child and includes all activities!
A Hollywood Christmas
December 13 from 6:30-8 p.m. | Chaparral Ice, Northcross Mall, 2525 W Anderson Ln, Austin
This year, Chaparral Ice‘s annual holiday ice show features your favorite Christmas movies! Figure skaters will bring holiday classics to the frozen stage, from “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” to “Home Alone.” The general public is invited to see characters like Jack Skellington and Buddy The Elf perform their amazing skating tricks! All audience members will need a hard ticket to enter Chaparral Ice for the show. Reserve your tickets now on Eventbrite. Cost: $6.27–$22.09.
Annual Holiday Lights & Ice
December 18 – January 6; hours | Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa, 8212 Barton Club Dr, Austin
Twirl under the twinkle lights for a good cause! With a portion of proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas, the Holiday Lights & Ice event features a 4,000 square foot ice rink and a special “Winter Wonderland on Ice” kick-off production on December 18 by Ice Couture, starring international dancers, show skaters and Austin’s very own Chaparral Ice skaters. Local Austinites, resort guests and Barton Creek Country Club members are invited to skate on the resort’s indoor ice rink overlooking scenic hill country views and a display of twinkling lights. Holiday-inspired treats and hot beverages will be served along with ornament and gingerbread cookie decorating in Santa’s Workshop. The grand opening performance begins December 18 at 6:30 p.m. at The Pavilion, and the first public skating session with Santa Claus follows at 7 p.m. Get in the holiday spirit with skating on an indoor ice rink that overlooks the scenic hill country and is accompanied by a display of twinkling lights and festive activities for the whole family to enjoy. Cost: $25 per adult; $20 for children age 12 and under.
Christmas Dreams and Snowy Things (Round Rock)
December 19 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Chasco Family YMCA, 1812 N. Mays Street, Round Rock
“Real Snow” Activities, Giant Slides, Train Rides, Interactive Holiday Booths, Blue Santa Donation Station, Live Music, Inflatables, Rides, Concessions, an appearance by Santa Claus from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information, visit the Facebook event page or the YMCA website. Cost: Admission is FREE!
