Where can you skate in Santa Monica on a Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.? Through mid-November there was one answer. Starting next Wednesday, November 18, there are two, a few blocks apart, and they don't overlap much.
The downtown rink at Fifth and Arizona has been open since November 5 under a new name, Frost on 5th. On November 18, Swiss Winter Village opens on the Santa Monica Pier Event Deck with an ice rink, more than 60 alpine chalets and raclette. It's the Pier's first time hosting this kind of event. The two are built for different kinds of visits. Frost on 5th is priced and scheduled for skaters who come back often on weekdays. The Pier village is a timed evening out that the city created to bring people to the Pier in winter.
Frost on 5th Is Priced for Coming Back
Frost on 5th opens at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and at noon on weekends and holidays. It stays open until 10 p.m. every day through January 18, 2027. The ticket is simple. One 60-minute session costs $22 plus tax, and that includes skate rental and processing fees. Management may extend sessions depending on reservations and how busy the rink is.
The passes are where the rink shows who it's built for. A two-session pass is $33 during certain date windows. A $165 season pass gives unlimited weekday skating, Monday through Friday, with some holiday blackout dates. Weekday-only unlimited skating suits people who live or work nearby, not visitors in town for a weekend. Sydney Kovach of Downtown Santa Monica Inc. told the Santa Monica Sun: "We are very excited about season passes and really want families to be able to enjoy them."
The new name is most of what's new this year. Kovach told the Sun the layout would be "pretty much exactly how it was last year." The bigger upgrade came in 2023: a skating surface officials described as 25% larger, clear perimeter boards, a reusable wooden base in place of the old sand base, and firepits and hangout areas around the ice. This season also has no big corporate sponsor. Past seasons carried Netflix, Disney+ or Hulu branding. Daily concessions are planned, and themed nights and pop-ups will be announced over the season.
The Pier Village Is Built Around a 90-Minute Evening
Swiss Winter Village works differently. Its organizers, Fever and Swiss Xmas, Inc., run several Christmas markets in Switzerland. Entry is timed. You arrive at the time on your ticket or within 30 minutes after it, and the average visit runs about 90 minutes. About 30 of the chalets sell food: raclette, Swiss sweets, mulled wine and street food from around the world. The rest sell crafts, jewelry, holiday decorations and gifts. Along with the rink there's a merry-go-round, a children's corner, concerts, stilt walkers and DJ sets.
Opening night, Wednesday, November 18, starts at 5 p.m. After that, the village is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Admission is a ticket of its own. Everyone except children under 3 needs one. Skating is sold in bundles that include entry, and the top bundles add Pacific Park rides:
- Entry only: $12.90 for adults, $8.90 for ages 4 to 12
- Silver, "Skate & Go": entry and ice rink, from $20.90
- Family, "Skate & Go": discounted entry and ice rink, from $18.90
- Gold: entry, rink, skip-the-line access and one ride on the Pacific Wheel, West Coaster, Sea Dragon or another ride, from $39.90
- Platinum: entry, rink, skip-the-line access, an unlimited Pacific Park ride wristband and grab-and-go raclette from the Chalet Raclette, from $64.90
The Two Rinks Side by Side
| Frost on 5th | Swiss Winter Village | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 1324 5th St. at Arizona Ave. | Event Deck, 200 Santa Monica Pier |
| Season | Nov. 5, 2026 to Jan. 18, 2027 | Nov. 18, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Weekday hours | 3 to 10 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. to Wed., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thu. |
| Weekend hours | Noon to 10 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Basic skate | $22 plus tax, 60 minutes, skates included | Bundles from $20.90 with entry |
| Repeat option | $165 weekday season pass | Single timed tickets |
| Beyond the ice | Concessions, firepits, themed nights | 60+ chalets, raclette, rides, Santa photos |
On weekdays, the hours alone sort the two. Frost on 5th's 3 p.m. opening lines up with the end of the school and workday. The village's 11 a.m. opening and long evening hours work best for a planned outing that includes dinner and some shopping.
The City Wrote Residents Into the Pier Deal
The city is open about why the Pier event exists. Its November 2 announcement says the two-month event is "designed to draw visitors to the Pier after the height of summer," bringing more foot traffic to nearby businesses. It also ties the village to the city's Realignment Plan. "Every visitor who comes for a cheese tasting and stays for dinner Downtown helps power our economic recovery," Mayor Caroline Torosis said in the City of Santa Monica's announcement.
The city's agreement with the organizer also includes benefits for the people who live here:
- A resident ticket price. The $10.90 discounted entry tier covers Santa Monica residents, along with seniors 65 and older, students, military and Metro riders. The ticket page says valid ID is required.
- Donated tickets. The organizer pledged 1,000 tickets to Santa Monica nonprofits through the city's Housing and Human Services Department. Groups serving underserved children and foster families come first.
- Room for local makers. Eligible Santa Monica businesses get weighted priority in vendor selection, and one rotating stall is set aside for first-time local creators.
- Support for the Pier's permanent businesses. The organizer agreed to work with the Pier Tenants Union and to give Pier tenants priority booth access, on-site cross-promotion and coupons that send visitors to participating businesses.
The organizer also gave $3,500 to Heal the Bay. The city says it's exploring seasonal programs with the Santa Monica Public Library, including holiday storytime, and the announcement lists Hanukkah celebrations as part of the village program.
Getting to the Pier With the Deck Lot Closed
The village has one practical difference from the downtown rink: you can't park on the Pier. The organizer's FAQ says the Pier parking deck is closed and points drivers to the Civic Center Garage at 333 Civic Center Drive or Lot 1N at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. Accessible parking is in Beach Lot 1 North and Lot 1-S on Appian Way. The organizer recommends other ways of getting there:
- Metro E Line: The Downtown Santa Monica station at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue is about a 10-minute walk from the Pier.
- Rideshare, beach side: Set your drop-off to 1550 Appian Way to skip the traffic on Ocean Avenue and the Pier Bridge. Stairs and wheelchair-accessible ramps lead up to the deck.
- Rideshare, top of the Pier: Set your drop-off to 1515 Ocean Avenue near the Shore Hotel and walk down the Pier bridge at Ocean and Colorado.
A few rules apply once you get there. The village is cashless and runs rain or shine, with some covered seating. The Swiss Raclette Chalet and Santa's Headquarters are the only indoor spaces. Tickets can't be refunded, but you can change your date up to 48 hours ahead. There's an on-site box office, though the organizer says advance tickets are the only way to be sure of a spot.
The Rest of the Season, by Date
The two rinks set the season's start and end dates. A handful of other dated events fill in the weeks between.
- Wednesday, November 18: Swiss Winter Village opening night, starting at 5 p.m.
- Thursday, November 19: The Regent Santa Monica Beach holiday tree lighting at 1700 Ocean Avenue, 4:30 to 7 p.m., with a 45-foot tree, music and Santa. The same day, The Gourmandise School holds its Winter Soups & Stews workshop.
- Wednesday, November 25: The Gourmandise School's Thanksgiving pie class.
- Friday, November 27, through December 20: Santa portraits at his alpine chalet on the Pier, Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 7 p.m. Just come during your village session; no separate reservation is needed.
- December 24 and 31: The village closes at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and stays open until 1 a.m. on New Year's Eve.
- January 3, 2027: Last day of Swiss Winter Village.
- January 18, 2027: Last day of skating at Frost on 5th, 15 days after the Pier rink closes.
Whether your season centers on Fifth Street or the Pier, the ARIA Properties team follows these blocks all year, from what opens on Main Street to what the Pier adds each winter. If your holiday plans have you wondering how your Santa Monica home fits into the market right now, get your instant home valuation.
