Seasonal Activity Guide
Ice Skating in Santa Clarita: The Cube Winter Guide
When the holidays roll around in the SCV, nothing beats lacing up at The Cube Ice and Entertainment Center in Valencia. It is the valley's year-round home for ice skating, with three sheets of ice, daily public sessions, Saturday Glow Nights, a full skate school, and a December calendar of tree lightings and holiday skate shows. Here is Sam Silver's complete local guide.
October 14, 2026 Sam Silver 5 min read
Why The Cube Is the SCV's Rink
The Cube sits at 27745 Smyth Drive in Valencia, with about 93,000 square feet of ice spread across three rinks: the NHL-size rink, the Olympic rink, and The Pond, a smaller rink built for learning, family skating, and the rink's signature holiday events. Public skating sessions run nearly every day of the year, so the winter season is simply the best excuse to go, not the only one.
For families, the big draws are the daytime sessions (which are usually far calmer than evenings), the skate aids that let young kids glide with confidence, and a skate rental counter that sizes down to toddler shoe size 7. It is the kind of budget-friendly holiday activity that fills a rainy winter afternoon, no reservations required.
The Shape of the Rink
3
Sheets of ice: NHL, Olympic, and The Pond
93,000
Square feet of ice, one of the biggest facilities in Southern California
Daily
Public skate sessions, year-round, on the Olympic rink
Glow
Saturday Glow Nights with a free glow stick at the door
Public Skating Basics
Public sessions are the entry point for nearly everyone. They typically run on the Olympic rink, with weekday mornings (around 9-11 AM) and afternoon sessions (often 1:30-4:30 PM), and weekend slots that fill fast. Sessions move between rinks based on hockey and figure skating bookings, so always check The Cube's online calendar the day before you plan to go.
Budget-wise, a weekday morning public session has historically run about $8 for admission alone and roughly $13 with skate rental, with skate aids around $5 for kids under 54 inches tall. Prices do shift, so treat those as planning numbers and confirm on the rink's calendar. Skate rentals go down to toddler size 7, so even the littlest skaters can hit the ice.
Sam's Tips for a Smooth First Session
- Go for a weekday daytime session first; evenings and weekends are the busiest.
- Grab a skate aid for kids under 54 inches; it turns a wobbly first skate into fun within minutes.
- Wear thin socks and warm layers; the rink is cold, and you warm up fast once you start moving.
- Arrive 20 minutes early for rental sizing and to settle in before the Zamboni break.
Saturday Glow Nights
Typically 7:30-9:30 PM
Weekend evenings become Glow Nights, with the lights turned low, the ice glowing under colored lights, and a free glow stick included with public skate admission. It is the closest thing the valley has to a holiday-season skating party and a favorite for the 8-and-up crowd.
December Traditions
Tree Lighting & The Nutcracker Skate Show
Each December, The Cube puts a real Christmas tree on The Pond for a holiday tree lighting ceremony and stages "A Nutcracker Fantasy", its annual holiday skate show with rink-wide performances set to the Tchaikovsky score. Exact 2026 dates post on The Cube's event calendar each fall, and the show has sold well in past seasons, so book early and watch the calendar.
Learn to Skate & Hockey Programs
The Cube Skate School follows the Learn to Skate USA curriculum (the national program backed by USA Hockey, US Figure Skating, US Speed Skating, and Special Olympics), with 30-minute weekly classes over about eight to nine weeks for ages 3 through adult. Private lessons, freestyle sessions, and youth hockey programs round out the slate for anyone who catches the skating bug.
A Winter Day at the Rink
The Cube's Valencia location makes it easy to build a full winter afternoon. Start with the morning public session, grab lunch at one of the nearby Valencia spots, then circle back for a Glow Night skate on a December Saturday. Pair it with the rest of the valley's December calendar, and you have the classic SCV holiday day Sam recommends to every family that asks.
Morning Skate
Weekday or weekend morning sessions on the Olympic rink, before the crowds build.
Lunch & Stroll
Grab a bite nearby and stretch your legs before the second session of the day.
Glow Night
Saturday night lights-down skating with the free glow stick. Perfect holiday cap.
Why Sam keeps coming back: ice skating is one of the few winter activities in the SCV that works for every age and every budget, and The Cube does it year-round. It is also a great reminder of why the valley works so well for families: a first-rate facility, ten minutes from anywhere in Valencia, without leaving town. I send every relocating family with kids to the rink at least once.
Ice skating pairs perfectly with the rest of the season. See the full 2026 holiday events calendar, the holiday light displays guide, and the new roller-skating option at The Rink Sports Pavilion for a complete winter fun list, or browse the whole things-to-do guide.
Considering Santa Clarita for Your Family?
Sam Silver has helped families find their place in the SCV for over two decades. From the rink to the trails to the right neighborhood, he knows what makes this valley tick. Reach out for a no-pressure conversation about Santa Clarita living.