No snow, no problem. WeHo is once again creating its own version of winter with the WeHo Ice Rink and Winter Market on the Great Lawn at West Hollywood Park, with the WeHo Winter Ice Rink already open and the Rainbow District Winter Market set to kick off on Saturday.
The rink opened on Monday afternoon, Dec. 1, with a ribbon-cutting at the ice. Mayor Chelsea Byers handled the scissors, joined by Councilmember John Erickson, Councilmember Lauren Meister and Vice Mayor John Heilman. It was a beautiful and sunny SoCal day, which made the time on the ice all the more fun. It really was great to have ice right here in our WeHo backyard and have a chance to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Tickets are on sale if you want to get on the ice. The rink is scheduled to operate through Sunday, Dec. 21, with 90-minute sessions offered across the afternoon and evening.
Kids ages 3 to 14 can skate for 15 dollars. Everyone 15 and up is 20 bucks. Skates are included, so no need to track down your own unless you already have a pair.
Before you step onto the ice, there is a quick check-in. They’ll have you sign a waiver on a tablet and offer you a helmet. If you are confident on your feet, or just determined to keep that lewk for Insta, you can decline the helmet, but you are skating at your own risk.
The City is planning theme nights and festive touches to complement and enhance the event. Expect a live DJ on select nights, plenty of family-friendly activities, and the kind of vibe that helps make the Great Lawn feel like a winter scene right here in sunny WeHo.
Whether you are the type who goes full Adam Rippon or the type (like me) who clings to the walls and finds joy in the falls, it is a solid way to get into the spirit of the season.
Tickets and times can be booked in advance here.
Rainbow District Winter Market in the Park
If skating is only half the plan, the Rainbow District Winter Market will be set up right next to the rink on the Great Lawn at West Hollywood Park. It runs for one weekend only, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and it is free to wander through.
The Market is built around a simple mix of local artists, small businesses and independent makers who are used to doing pop-ups and fairs. Think a curated row of tents with ceramics, prints, small-batch goods and a few last-minute gifts that are not coming out of an online cart. The lineup is meant to feel like West Hollywood, with vendors that reflect the City’s creativity, community and diversity.
It is not just about shopping. There will be photo ops, free giveaways, live entertainment and seven food vendors on-site, plus the aforementioned ice skating right next door. Note: Because the Market is tied to a City-supported event, vendors are screened in advance and items like alcohol, tobacco, vaping products, cannabis and weapons are not allowed, so the focus stays on art, goods and services that fit a family-friendly park crowd.
Sunday comes with a true bonus. After the Market wraps at 5 p.m., the rink will host “Drag on Ice!” from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., a chance to watch queens take over the ice and turn a regular rink night into a full show. C’mon! Now that will be epic!
For people who live nearby, it is low effort. You can stop by the park, make a loop through the tents, grab something from the food vendors, watch whoever is clinging to the rink rail (probably me), and head home with a couple of things you did not have before you started the day (and maybe some you do not even need). If you want the deeper dive on vendor details, fees and applications, you can check out our earlier Rainbow District Winter Market story here.
