If you're looking for one of the last meaningful outdoor wellness experiences of the holiday season, Austin’s two still‑open ice‑skating venues—the Whole Foods Rooftop Rink and the Four Seasons’ Ice Rodeo—offer the city’s final days of festive movement, fresh air, and winter atmosphere.
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Here’s the full insider breakdown so your final week of December lands with intention.
WHAT’S STILL OPEN RIGHT NOW
• Whole Foods Rooftop Rink (through Jan 20) – Affordable, accessible, community‑oriented skating above the flagship Lamar Whole Foods Market store.
• Four Seasons Ice Rodeo (through Jan 4) – The city’s high‑end lakeside skating experience with themed nights and private cabanas at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
Pick your rink by vibe: Whole Foods for relaxed, budget‑friendly community energy; Four Seasons for a dressed‑up, lakeside night out with full resort ambience.
ESSENTIAL DETAILS
Whole Foods Market Rooftop Rink
Whole Foods Market Rooftop Rink
$Address: 525 N Lamar Blvd
Hours: Daily 10am–10pm
Price: $12–$15, includes skates
Atmosphere: Casual, family‑friendly, and ideal for low‑pressure skating.
Wellness Angle: Easy accessible cardio, sunlight exposure, low‑impact movement.
More Info: Visit the Whole Foods Market Lamar location page or the main site (search: Austin skating) at wholefoodsmarket.com.
This rink sits directly above the flagship store, so it’s easy to combine your skate with a quick grocery run, coffee, or hot bar stop before heading home.
If you like pairing skating with another low‑key holiday outing, you can also wander through another lakeside staple like Mozart’s Festival of Lights for a warm‑drink‑and‑lights finish.
Four Seasons Ice Rodeo
Four Seasons Ice Rodeo
$$Address: 98 San Jacinto Blvd
Hours: Through Jan 4
Price: From $35
Atmosphere: Lakeside views, themed nights, festive décor, cabanas.
Wellness Angle: Outdoor movement + mindful scenery along Lady Bird Lake.
More Info: Explore the Four Seasons Austin Ice Rodeo details.
For a splurge night, reserve a cabana and treat the rink as just one part of a longer, cozy evening with drinks, snacks, and lake views.
If you’re building a full downtown night around Ice Rodeo, consider pairing it with other holiday experiences like Austin’s Trail of Lights at 60 or the quirky Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.
THE INSIDER INTELLIGENCE
• Go early evening (4–6pm). Both venues hit their most balanced sweet spot: cooler temps but smaller crowds, great light, optimal photo conditions.
Weekday sessions between 4–6pm usually balance cooler temps with manageable crowds and that golden‑hour light that makes every rink photo look cinematic.
• Whole Foods charity nights make Mondays the best budget + feel‑good night of the week, in the same community‑driven spirit as other city‑wide activations like Peppermint Parkway at COTA.
Charity nights at the Whole Foods rink let you sneak in a wellness session while directing part of your ticket toward local causes—an easy way to end the year with both movement and meaning.
• Four Seasons’ rink has noticeably smoother ice during lunchtime hours before the evening rush.
• Parking is easier at Whole Foods garage—plan a 5–7 minute walk from street parking for the Four Seasons.
Downtown and lakefront parking fills fast on peak holiday nights. Use the Whole Foods garage when possible, and budget extra time to find street parking around the Four Seasons—especially on weekends.
• For wellness seekers: Skating in short intervals (10 minutes on / 5 minutes off) helps keep ankles fresh and reduces fall risk for beginners, much like the gentle movement‑plus‑mindfulness approach at Miraval Austin’s New Moon Retreat.
Think of your time on the ice like an interval workout: short, mindful bursts of movement with intentional breaks keep ankles happier and make it easier to stay present instead of wiped out.
If you want one last outdoor wellness ritual before the new year resets everything, these two rinks are the perfect blend of movement, atmosphere, and seasonal closure—especially when combined with other lakeside escapes like Laguna Gloria’s art‑forward grounds.
- Easy downtown access
- Outdoor movement with winter ambiance
- Options for both budget and splurge nights
- Family‑friendly and date‑night friendly
- Walkable to other lakeside holiday experiences
- Short seasonal window
- Weather dependent
- Four Seasons option is significantly pricier
- Rink sizes are smaller than major northern city rinks
- Downtown traffic and parking can be challenging
Related Austin Data
Inside Austin’s Rooftop & Lakeside Ice‑Skating: The Insider Guide to the City’s Last Outdoor Wellness Experience of the Holiday Season
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