Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square

"An annual tradition"

Holiday skating can't get any better than skating at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square!

Surrounded by the twinkling wreaths in each window of the Macy's building, a giant decorated spruce, festive red and green lights of St. Francis Hotel's zooming elevators, skating becomes an annual must-do for my birdies.

The sessions do sell out, so if you're set on skating at a particular time, it's wise to purchase your tickets earlier in the day. We went on a weekday evening, and the 4:00 session had sold out and the 6:00 session was nearly sold out by the time we got our tickets.

The viewing area is simply the open spaces that can be found around the rink; shoppers and tourists bustling by with packages will stop and watch, and simply being amongst happy bystanders is such a joy.

Music is piped over the rink, though not ridiculously loud so that you're unable to hear your little one ask for some help. Very little Christmas music was played during our session, though it seemed like holiday music was on heavy rotation throughout the previous session.

Each skate session is one-and-a-half hours, with a 30 minute break between sessions for ice resurfacing. Water, gloves and socks (thank goodness; one of my kids needed a pair!) are available for purchase. At the east end of the rink is a small café/bar where other beverages can be purchased before or after the skate session.