The eighth annual Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station benefiting cancer care returns this year from Nov. 21 to Jan. 5. Cost is $20 per adult and $15 per child. Skate rental is included with admission.
New this year, the seasonal ice rink will be open during special holiday hours on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
More than $2 million has been raised to support the program since the start of the ice rink 28 years ago. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the Thriving After Cancer program at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Rady’s Long-Term Follow-Up/Thriving After Cancer Clinic serves patients two or more years from the completion of their therapy. The medical teams work with 500-plus children who are cancer survivors, giving them the tools and education they need to advocate for themselves.
Physical, emotional, nutritional, and practical challenges of cancer survivorship are addressed on an individual basis. Patients and families meet with an oncologist or nurse practitioner, nurse, psychologist, social worker, and dietitian during each visit.
“It kicks off our holiday season and grows every year,” noted Lisa Johnson, president/CEO of the nonprofit NTC Foundation supporting the Arts District about the Rady’s rink. She noted NTC Foundation and Rady’s partnership is a quid pro quo.
“All the net proceeds go to the Peckham Center and we like being a part of that contribution,” Johnson said. “It’s a nice symbiotic relationship, as the rink brings people down to skate that might not otherwise have come here. It is an added attraction we felt our businesses benefited from. We do not charge them (Rady’s) anything for the space. That’s our contribution to the cause.”
Alexandra Loker, Rady’s vice president of philanthropy, noted the ice rink initially was held at the Hazard Center Downtown. “But we still needed a community-central location that allows for families not just to go ice skating, but to be able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, dining, and Christmas shopping,” she said. “So moving it to Liberty Station was a positive all around.”
Johnson said recorded music will be played during rink hours noting there will be live bands playing on certain special days. She added Liberty Station culinary vendors will also be allowed to set up by the rink to give their businesses better exposure. She spoke of another distinction owned by Liberty Station among regional seasonal ice rinks.
“Ours is the only seasonal rink where 100% of the proceeds go to support charity,” Johnson said adding the rink’s location encourages guests to do their Christmas shopping for unique gift items in the Arts District or to avail themselves of of the district’s many artist’s workshops.
Loker noted the San Diego Gulls hockey team is a Liberty Station Ice Rink sponsor that “helps make the rink possible.” She added Gulls players and leadership will have a special night on Monday, Dec. 2 to meet and greet fans and families and skate with them. “]The Gulls] will sign autographs and have giveaways,” Loker said. “It’s a fun and well-attended night.
“The ice rink is a time-honored tradition,” concluded Loker adding, “Ice skating is such a kid-centric activity for families to come out and enjoy each other during the holiday season while they skate under the palm trees in a beautiful location. It’s a rare opportunity, and we’re glad to make that happen every year.”
RADY CHILDREN’S ICE RINK
Cuando: Thursday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 5.
Horas: Mondays through Sundays 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Session 1: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Session 2: 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Session 3: 8 p.m.-10 p.m. (the ice is cleared 5-5:30 p.m. and 7:30-8 p.m. for Zamboni ice resurfacing each day).
Holiday Hours: Thanksgiving 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Eve 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Christmas Day 1-8 p.m. New Years Eve 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit rchicerink.org.
History: For 28 years, Rady Children’s Hospital-SD Ice Rink has been providing seasonal outdoor family fun for San Diego. It started with a vision to bring an outdoor ice rink to San Diego and raise money for kids with cancer. A partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital-SD Auxiliary, Arts District Liberty Station, and San Diego Ice Arena provides this event each year. There were over 30,000 skaters in 2023 and raised over $2 million. Net proceeds from the ice rink directly support the Thriving After Cancer Program at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Rady Children’s Hospital serves families in San Diego, Imperial, and southern Riverside counties, as well as northern Mexico, Pacific Islands, and southern Orange County.
