Oly on Ice returns to downtown Olympia on Nov. 20 for a two-month skating season at Isthmus Park, across from Capitol Lake.
The rink's eighth season runs through Jan. 18, 2027. This year's theme is a vintage ski village, according to a sponsored article on ThurstonTalk. Eastside Urban Farm & Garden is loaning trees that city staff will decorate with lights. Fun Junk is providing old-fashioned skis and sleds as decorations.
Skaters will also find more room off the ice. Moving the Zamboni and mechanical equipment into a separate pop-up tent opens the north end of the main tent for spectators, reservable party space, special events and performances. Spectators can watch at no charge.
A new photo backdrop on the skate shop comes from a partnership with Experience Olympia & Beyond and the Olympia Downtown Alliance. Visitors can scan a QR code on the backdrop to upload photos for a chance to be featured on city or Experience Olympia & Beyond social media. The Downtown Alliance plans to host a LoveOly pop-up photo booth event during the season, complete with a DJ.
The 5,000-square-foot rink holds up to 155 skaters, according to the city's Oly on Ice page. Peak times are 5–8 p.m., weekends and school breaks. Mornings and late afternoons are quieter.
Rental skates are included in admission. Sizes range from 8–13 junior and 1–15 adult, with limited junior sizes and no half sizes. Helmets are recommended but not provided. Tickets and season passes are available at olyonice.com.
Bug Ruder, a mother of three who skate multiple times each season, said the rink wins over her whole family. "Our kids are obsessed with Oly on Ice," she said in the ThurstonTalk sponsored post. "We don't get a lot of snow, so the atmosphere there transports you to another region."
Each season, the rink distributes hundreds of passes through local partner agencies that serve low-income and underserved community members, according to the city. Fare-free rides on Intercity Transit make the rink accessible by bus.
