The Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink Guide.
Every winter, more than 9,000 square feet of real ice lands in Bellevue Downtown Park — the region’s largest seasonal skating rink, now heading into its 29th year. Season dates, prices, hours, and the local tips that make a visit go smoothly.
For close to three decades, the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink has been the signal that winter has officially arrived downtown. The Bellevue Downtown Association builds a full-size, real-ice rink — over 9,000 square feet of it, the largest seasonal skating setup in the region — in the middle of Downtown Park, rings it with lights, and keeps it open daily for about sixty days straight, from just before Thanksgiving to just past Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
The 28th season ran November 21, 2025 through January 19, 2026, presented by Symetra; the 2026–27 season follows the same shape, with exact dates typically announced in October. Skate rental is included with admission, themed nights dot the calendar, and the rink sits two blocks from Snowflake Lane — which is why December evenings here feel like the center of the Eastside.
Know Before You Go
Facts from the most recent (2025–26) season — verified against each new season’s announcement.
Skates Come With Admission
Skate rental is included in the ticket price — no separate rental line, no haggling over sizes at a second counter.
$16 Weekdays, $22 Weekends
Monday–Thursday ran $16 last season; Friday–Sunday $22. A $169 season pass paid for itself in about nine visits.
Afternoons + Full Weekends
Last season: Mon–Thu 3:30–10 p.m., Fri 3:30–10:30, Sat 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
A Calendar of Extras
Recent seasons have featured themed skates — Pride Night, Superhero Night — plus learn-to-skate sessions for first-timers.
Buy Ahead on Busy Nights
Advance tickets and season passes sell online at bellevueicerink.com — the smart move for December weekends and holiday-break afternoons.
Downtown Park, Lit for Winter
The rink sits in the 21-acre park at the center of downtown — skyline above, canal promenade around, and free parking lots at the park itself.
Plan Your Visit
The winter-evening formula that locals run on repeat.
Getting There & Parking
Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 NE 4th St — free parking lots off 100th Ave NE and NE 1st St, one block from Bellevue Square’s garages if the lots fill. From the 2 Line’s Bellevue Downtown Station it’s about a ten-minute walk through the retail core.
When to Skate
- Weekday afternoons are the quietest ice of the season
- December weekends are peak — buy tickets ahead and expect a lively rink
- January, after the holidays, is the sleeper pick: same ice, fraction of the crowd
The December Double
Skate first, then walk two blocks north for Snowflake Lane at 7 p.m. — the two anchors of Bellevue’s Magic Season are close enough to do in one evening, with dinner from our restaurant guide in between.
First-Timers & Kids
Learn-to-skate nights are built for beginners, and the included rentals lower the friction of bringing the whole family. Off-peak weekday sessions give new skaters room to fall down in peace.
Bellevue Ice Rink FAQ
When does the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink open for 2026?
The 2026–27 season dates haven’t been announced yet — the rink typically opens the week before Thanksgiving and runs through Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. Last season ran November 21, 2025 through January 19, 2026. We’ll update this page as soon as the Bellevue Downtown Association confirms.
How much does it cost, and are skates included?
Last season, admission was $16 on weekdays (Monday–Thursday) and $22 on weekends (Friday–Sunday), with skate rental included in every ticket. A season pass was $169. Current-season pricing is posted at bellevueicerink.com when tickets go on sale.
Where is the rink, and where do I park?
In Bellevue Downtown Park at 10201 NE 4th St, in the center of downtown. The park has two free parking lots — off 100th Ave NE and NE 1st St — and the Bellevue Square garages are a block away. The 2 Line’s Bellevue Downtown Station is about a ten-minute walk.
Is it real ice? How big is the rink?
Real ice, all season — more than 9,000 square feet of it, which makes this the largest seasonal ice-skating experience in the region. It’s built outdoors in the park and maintained daily, Northwest weather included.
What else can I do the same evening?
In December, Snowflake Lane runs nightly at 7 p.m. two blocks north — skate, walk over, and catch the show. Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden is a five-minute drive east, and the downtown restaurant row covers dinner in between.