When wintertime darkness and drizzle settles in, there continues to be a certain whimsy in the air as twinkle lights illuminate shop windows and casual chatter is brimming with talk of holiday turkeys, trees and tunes. This time of year is also marked by Isthmus Park’s remarkable transformation into a winter wonderland through Oly on Ice. Operating from November 21, 2025, through January 19, 2026, Oly on Ice has become a cherished accessible winter pastime for many Olympia residents.
Oly on Ice Delivers Ice Skating, Special Events and Cold-Weather Fun in Olympia
As holidays and school breaks approach, many families are on the search for winter recreation. Located in the heart of Olympia, Oly on Ice is a local destination for cold-weather fun, without the need for snow suits or time-consuming mountain travel. For ease of transportation, Intercity Transit continues to provide Zero-Fare bus services, and riders interested in visiting Oly on Ice can explore routes and travel options online.
Rental ice skates are part of each admission ticket, but visitors are also welcome to wear their own skates. Oly on Ice features a 5,000-square-foot ice rink that welcomes skaters of all experience levels, including children and families. And for the youngest skaters who are getting on the ice for the first time, skate aids are available for an additional small fee.
At the core of Oly on Ice, is a shared sense of joy that connects fellow community members during shorter days and chilly weather. To ensure that more community members are able to experience winter ice skating in Olympia, the City of Olympia disburses about 300 complimentary Oly on Ice passes to local organizations that work with low-income families and disenfranchised groups. These passes are made possible with the generous support of the event’s cash sponsors, including Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry, the Squaxin Island Tribe, Capital Mall, Puget Sound Energy, and Peak Credit Union. Passes are dispensed to organizations like SafePlace, Community Youth Services, Family Support Center of South Sound, Community Action Council, South Sound Parent to Parent as well as local Tribal Youth Centers.
Holiday Activities in Olympia at Oly on Ice Thanks to Program Partners
The 2025-2026 season of Oly on Ice is set to feature a steady schedule of special events from community partners, including Studio West Dance Theatre, Capital City Pride, South Sound Flag Football and Timberland Regional Library.
Timberland Regional Library is a returning sponsor and program partner for Oly on Ice. For several seasons, staff from the Olympia and West Olympia branches have hosted tables during the season with Take & Make activities and information about library services. The library also helps additional members of the community experience Oly on Ice through “guessing jar” activities placed at the two Olympia branches, where participants with the nearest guess win a pair of tickets to Oly on Ice.
“It’s great to provide that opportunity for community members who might not otherwise be able to go,” says Holly Guthrie, librarian for youth and teen services at Olympia Timberland Library.
Timberland Regional Library maintains a steady presence in the community, and helps to strengthen community bonds through supporting events like Oly on Ice. Partnership with Oly on Ice also allows the library to connect with local residents and families, including those who don’t often visit the library, to inform them of the wide swath of amenities available through the library from free printing, to streaming services.
“We like to be out and about and collaborating with many different organizations to help show what the library has to offer,” says Guthrie. “You know, we have a lot of valuable tools and resources that people often don’t know about.”
This year, library staff will be at Oly on Ice on December 6 and 10 and January 2 and 7 with a new slate of Take & Make crafts for Oly on Ice visitors.
Oly on Ice Visitors Can Enjoy a Low-Key Atmosphere During Sensory Skate
South Sound Parent to Parent is an organization that provides support and community to families who have a child with a developmental delay, chronic illness or disability. South Sound Parent to Parent leads a range of programs, including the Helping Parent program, while also hosting inclusive and family friendly seasonal events.
South Sound Parent to Parent was also instrumental in the development of Oly on Ice’s Sensory Skate times. For the 2025-2026 Oly on Ice season, Sensory Skate times are set to take place each Sunday and Monday, during the first hour of operation. Sensory Skate offers a more tranquil skating atmosphere for families and community members, which includes turning music off and dimming the ice rink lights.
When the City of Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation was interested in adding Sensory Skate times to Oly on Ice, they invited South Sound Parent to Parent to tour the space and provide feedback on how the ice rink could be more sensory-inclusive. Suggestions ranged from having overhead lighting lowered, to reducing background noise and overhead music. According to outreach coordinator Shawn Thurman, Oly on Ice is an event that marks the winter season, and Sensory Skate times allow more families to visit the rink each year.
“It’s become a tradition for a lot of families,” says Thurman. “And so it makes it available that, you know, all families have the opportunity to start that tradition.”
Oly on Ice has become an affordable and accessible wintertime event where community members can create cold weather memories with friends and loved ones. And with Sensory Skate times available, visitors can choose their preferred ice skating experience. From sponsors to program partners, many facets of the community unite for Oly on Ice and as skaters enjoy laps around the rink, they will also find a festive lineup of events, performances and activities to commemorate the season. Get your tickets now and meet us on the ice for holiday memories you can’t get anywhere else.
Oly on Ice
November 21 to January 19
Isthmus Park
529 4th Avenue W, Olympia
Sponsored
