Ice Skating at THE RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater (2025 Guide)

There’s something extra magical about lacing up your skates under the Raleigh skyline while holiday lights shimmer all around you — and THE RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater brings that feeling to life every winter. As one of Raleigh’s most beloved holiday experiences, this downtown ice-skating rink blends nostalgic charm with big city sparkle, making it one of the must-do Christmas activities for families, couples, and festive friend outings.

Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for the annual tradition, here’s your complete guide to THE RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater: 2025 season, including what’s new, what to expect, hours, parking, tips, and ideas for pairing it with other fun holiday adventures in Raleigh.

Why THE RINK is One of Raleigh’s Best Holiday Traditions

THE RINK transforms Red Hat Amphitheater into a winter wonderland right in the center of the city. With twinkling lights, holiday music, themed fun, crackling fire pits, and views of the Shimmer Wall and downtown’s skyline, it delivers the festive atmosphere Raleigh locals crave each December. What makes it special:

• Real outdoor ice rink in a unique amphitheater setting
• Holiday lights, music & cozy winter ambiance
• Full concession area with hot chocolate, snacks, and seasonal treats
• Selfie photo station: Capture a fun photo with your loved ones in front of the tree.
• Skate rentals available — no need to bring your own

• Photo-worthy backdrops for holiday cards and Instagram reels
• Fire pits & warming stations perfect for those mid-skate breaks and keeping non-skaters happy too.
• Cozy stations featuring outdoor lounging furniture
• 20ft Decorated Christmas Tree: Looks gorgeous with the Raleigh skyline and shimmer wall behind it.
• Games: Enjoy playing giant jenga and cornhole
• Special community nights with local organization partner

It’s family-friendly, date-friendly, and group-friendly, and the central location means you can easily turn it into a full festive day or night out.

Our Experience at The RINK

A visit to THE RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater has become one of our favorite Raleigh holiday traditions. We love it for the cozy festive ambiance and those gorgeous downtown views. While it’s a relatively small rink, if you time it right and go during a quieter session, it actually feels surprisingly spacious.

I’m no ice-skating pro, but the ice here is smooth and easy to glide on — even for someone like me. This year I felt so confident that Savannah and I ended up dancing on the ice together! One of those magical little holiday moments I’ll never forget.

If you’re comparing it to Skate the Square at Fenton, the rink there is slightly smaller, often much more chaotic, and the ice can get quite choppy. And honestly, the skates at Red Hat are far more comfortable than what I had at Fenton. That said, Fenton still has such a beautiful, whimsical holiday atmosphere — definitely worth experiencing both if you can.

Private Celebration Spaces

If you want to elevate the ice skating in Raleigh experience, the Rink has different options for you (for a rental fee)

Glide & Gather

New for the 2025 season is Glide and Gather a private celebration space with 2 picnic tables and umbrellas, lawn games, self-service convenience and 16 skate rentals. Perfect for birthdays, reunions & special occasions, complete with option for a chocolate or vanilla cake!

You book this when you select your skating date and time via Ticketmaster. It is for 16 people so you will be charged this amount even if you have less than that. (from what I can gather anyway). It’s $26.55 per person

Igloo lounges

For that extra holiday magic, you may want to rent your own private igloo lounge. The space holds up to 8 people and includes eight skating tickets, hosted service, and hot chocolate with toppings. If booked in advance, you get a choice of Blizzard Bites or Glacier Goodies

• Blizzard Bites food includes Snowman Arms: basket of Bavarian pretzel sticks with honey mustard and jalapeño cheese dipping sauces and an assortment of Santa’s Favorite Christmas Cookies. $304
• Glacier Goodies includes hot chocolate, French onion dip, pork BBQ and short rib sliders and Santa’s favorite cookies. Plus, RINK swag items! $400

You reserve your Igloo lounge through Ticketmaster, once you select a time and date for your Red Hat Ice Skating rink visit. There is no way you can search for availability of either private space.

Concessions

Depending on the year, expect things like:

• Hot chocolate – my daugther and I enjoyed one of these by the fire and Christmas tree
• Craft beer + warm winter cocktails – we had a tropical punch with vodka, or without if you choose.
• Popcorn, pretzels of differing flavors, snacks
• Occasional food trucks on select nights
• Burger and fries – we had some of these from the food truck and both were very tasty!

Hours, Tickets & Pricing (2025)

• Season Dates: November 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026
• Hours: Dates and times vary throughout the season
• Tickets: $15 per skater includes skate rental | $6 non-skater (age 2+ must have tickets). You can purchase tickets at Red Hat, but you run the risk of it being sold out. You can
• Purchasing: Online tickets strongly recommended for popular time slots. Click here to purchase tickets.
• Skate Sessions: Timed sessions for two hours

👉 Tip: Sunset and evening sessions are the most magical — but also the busiest.

Sensory Friendly Session with lower music volume, no blinking lights, a quiet room, directional signage, and more will be the Sunday, November 23, 2025, and Sunday, Jan 4, 2026, for the 12 PM Session.

Getting There & Parking

Location:
🎵 Red Hat Amphitheater
500 S McDowell St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Parking Options:

• The Red Hat / Convention Center Parking Deck (closest & easiest)
• Lot 2 (off Lenoir St)
• Street parking on Cabarrus, Lenoir, & surrounding blocks
• Accessible via Raleigh’s bus system and walkable from most downtown areas

👉 Tip: If you visit on a Friday or Saturday night, plan for extra time — downtown gets busy during the holiday season.

Read our guide to parking in Downtown Raleigh with loads of tips and here is our guide to riding the bus in Raleigh.

Who Is The RINK Good For?

✔ Families with kids
✔ Fun date nights
✔ Teen hangouts
✔ Visitors looking for festive Raleigh vibes
✔ Groups & holiday outings
✔ Anyone wanting a magical Christmas atmosphere without leaving downtown

Things to Know

Pros

• Super festive & great holiday ambiance
• Central downtown location
• Affordable family activity
• No equipment needed
• Lots of nearby holiday events to pair it with
• Fire pits + concessions add comfort for non-skaters

Cons

• Can get very busy on weekends
• Parking decks fill during downtown events
• Ice can get choppy on warm days or peak times
• Time-limited skate sessions

FAQS

• BYO skates: You can bring your own skates bu Skater admission is still $15 and those who bring their own skates must still sign a waiver.
• Skate Mates: There are a limited number of skate mates available. Skating assists are first-come, first-served.
• Inclement Weather: The Rink is a rain or shine venue. We will still open if there is a light rain. No refunds for weather unless the session has been canceled.

Plan ahead and consider weekday evenings for the best experience.

Tips for the Best Experience at the Rink

• Dress in layers — Raleigh winter can swing from cold to mild.
• Book tickets early, especially for weekend evenings.
• Bring gloves, even if you’re a good skater.
• For families with young kids: earlier daytime sessions are quieter.
• Make a dinner reservation if pairing it with a restaurant — downtown gets busy.

Make It a Festive Day Out: What to Pair It With

One of the best parts of skating at Red Hat Amphitheater is how many holiday attractions are nearby — perfect for building a whole Christmas itinerary.

1. Raleigh Christmas Parade (Nov 21) Kick off the season by catching the parade in the morning and skating afterward. We did this when the Rink first opened and we had plenty of space!
2. Illuminate Art Walk (Downtown Raleigh): A free, self-guided holiday art + light walk — starts right outside Red Hat and throughout Fayetteville Street. Perfect pairing: Skate first, then wander through the light installations after dark.
3. Christmas Bars in Raleigh: From Sippin’ Santa (Wye Hill) to Miracle Bars popping up across the Triangle. Pairing tip: Skate → grab dinner → finish with a Christmas cocktail. Consider these Christmas bars in Raleigh.
4. Holiday Markets + Downtown events: Walk just a few blocks for holiday shopping markets, Santa visits, Christmas shows, and festive events. Here are holiday markets in Raleigh, and places for holiday shopping in Raleigh.
5. First Night or Local Light Shows: Skate downtown, then hop in the car for one of Raleigh’s holiday light displays. Here are holiday lights in Raleigh and places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Raleigh.

We share lots of ideas on this website and on our Instagram and Facebook – and we’re actually experiencing them ourselves so you can see the genuine experience and whether its a good fit for you!

Final Thoughts

THE RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater brings the holiday spirit straight into downtown Raleigh with a fun, festive, memory-making atmosphere. Whether it’s a yearly tradition or your first visit, this is one of the best ways to celebrate Christmas in Raleigh — and with so many other holiday activities nearby, it’s easy to build an entire holiday outing around it.

If you’re planning your Christmas season in Raleigh, don’t forget to check out:

• Best Raleigh Christmas Events
• Tree Lighting Ceremonies in the Triangle
• Where to See Santa in Raleigh
• Where to get your Christmas trees in Raleigh
• Where to Eat on Thanksgiving in Raleigh 2025: Restaurants, Take out & Pies
• Experience the Magic of The Nutcracker with Cary Ballet Company This Holiday Season!
• Holiday Grandeur on the 54th Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour 2025

Your one-stop holiday guide is always at ThisIsRaleigh.com — your trusted source for festive fun in the Triangle.