San Francisco ice skaters can rejoice as the city opens its newest and largest ice rink along the Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront this holiday season.
The new 6,300-square-foot outdoor ice rink attraction, San Francisco on Ice, opens Nov. 4 and runs through Jan. 18. The rink will be set at the foot of the iconic SkyStar Wheel at Fisherman's Wharf and will operate from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“Since the Embarcadero Center rink closed nearly seven years ago, it has been our dream to create a new destination for outdoor skating in San Francisco. Fisherman’s Wharf gives us the opportunity to do something truly special, with skating on one of the most iconic waterfronts in the world," Peter Mott, CEO of On Ice Rinks LLC, said in a news release.
The San Francisco
on Ice rink at Fisherman's Wharf is slightly larger than the Union Square rink, which is 6,000 square feet. Officials hope to capitalize on the nearly 2 million visitors who visit Fisherman's Wharf during the holiday season and expect more than 50,000 skaters for its 76-day season.
Additionally, the outdoor ice rink will offer daily skating, festive events and decorations, warming huts, hot cocoa stations, VIP lounges, and participation in Fisherman’s Wharf holiday events like Merrytime Marketplace.
“San Francisco’s waterfront has always been a place where people gather, and San Francisco on Ice brings a wonderful new dimension to that tradition,” Michael Martin, executive director of the Port of San Francisco, said in a news release.
This new attraction comes as Fisherman’s Wharf faces changes to its iconic walkways and storefronts. Earlier this month, Ripley's Believe It or Not! owners announced that it would be closing its museum, which has been a fixture of the area for nearly 60 years. Its departure adds to the growing number of iconic locations and signs to be removed from the area. Earlier this year, residents watched workers take down Alioto's sign, another Fisherman's Wharf staple.
Tickets for the rink will start going on sale Oct. 1 at SanFranciscoOnIce.com.
City officials, business and community leaders will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 4.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A new ice rink is coming to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf
