Metro Atlanta has three year-round indoor rinks you can skate this week — Center Ice Arena in Sandy Springs ($13 for ages 6+, $5 skate rental), Atlanta Ice House in Marietta ($15, or $11 under 10, plus $7 rental) and Atlanta IceForum in Duluth — while the outdoor holiday rinks at Avalon, Atlantic Station, Park Tavern and Lanier Islands had not published 2026–27 opening dates when we checked in mid-September.
That split matters. The indoor rinks post a schedule and a price and honour them all year. The outdoor rinks are seasonal pop-ups whose dates, hours and prices change annually and are usually announced in October or early November — so anything you read in September quoting last winter’s dates as current is guessing.
Below is what each rink’s own site says right now — including the awkward truth that almost none of them publish whether skate aids are available.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cheapest session? | Center Ice Arena — $9 for ages 5 and under, $13 for 6+, plus $5 rental |
| Can you skate in September? | Yes, at the three indoor rinks. The outdoor rinks are closed |
| Do toddlers skate free? | At Center Ice Arena, ages 3 and under are free (rental not included) |
| Is skate rental included? | Included at Avalon on Ice; charged separately indoors ($5–$7) |
| Are skate aids available? | No metro rink publishes this online — call ahead |
| 2026–27 outdoor dates? | Not announced for Avalon, Atlantic Station, Park Tavern or Lanier Islands |
What does a public skate session actually cost?
Indoors, budget $18 to $22 per skater once rental is added: Center Ice Arena is $13 plus $5, Atlanta Ice House $15 plus $7. Outdoors the price is one number including skates — Avalon on Ice posts $18, or $14 for children 12 and under. A family of four lands between roughly $50 and $72 before parking.
Center Ice Arena, Sandy Springs
The most family-friendly pricing inside the Perimeter, at 5750 Roswell Road. Admission is $13 for ages 6 and up, $9 for ages 5 and under, and free for children 3 and under, with rental $5. Public sessions run Tuesdays 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3:15–4:45 p.m., Fridays 4:30–6 p.m., Saturdays 12:30–2:30 p.m. and 3–5 p.m., Sundays 1:30–3:30 p.m., no reservations required. The free-under-3 policy makes this the clearest answer for anyone asking whether a toddler can get on the ice.
Atlanta Ice House, Marietta
At the Compete Center, 2600 Prado Lane. Public skate admission is $15, or $11 for children under 10, with rental $7 on top; groups of ten or more pay $17 each including rentals, and a monthly pass is $200 without rental. No reservation is needed — arrive a few minutes before the session starts. Times vary week to week and are posted on the rink’s calendar rather than a fixed grid, so check before you drive out.
Atlanta IceForum, Duluth
The Gwinnett option, at 2300 Satellite Boulevard, 770-813-1010. It runs public sessions and rents figure and hockey skates, and its Learn to Skate USA programme rents skates for a semester at $32. One honest caveat: the public-session page does not display admission prices or a clean session grid, and parts of it still carry an out-of-date closure notice — confirm by phone before you go. Helmets are not provided but are “suggested for beginners.”
Avalon on Ice, Alpharetta
The best-documented seasonal rink. Avalon’s listing says “Opening: Holidays 2026” without naming a start or end date, but does publish hours and prices: Monday to Friday 3–9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sundays noon–7 p.m., at $18 per person and $14 per child 12 and under, skates included. Reservations are advised, walk-ups accepted if space allows. Treat the dates as genuinely unknown until Avalon posts them.
Skate the Station, Atlantic Station
Atlantic Station’s outdoor rink is the metro’s largest seasonal one — the centre has described it as the largest outdoor rink in the Southeast at 10,000 square feet. As of mid-September 2026, neither its events list nor its homepage carries Skate the Station with 2026–27 dates, hours or prices, and the most recent price published on its own site dates from 2019. Assume nothing until dates appear.
The Rink at Park Tavern, Piedmont Park
The Piedmont Park rink is the one Atlantans picture when they think of outdoor skating. Park Tavern’s site does not list it for the coming winter as of mid-September 2026; what it promotes instead is the seasonal Ski Lodge. No 2026–27 dates, hours, prices or age policies are published. Watch the events page from late October and keep an indoor rink as a fallback.
Frosty’s Ice Skating Rink, Lanier Islands
The North Georgia option, about an hour north of Midtown at Buford. Frosty’s Ice Skating Rink sits inside License to Chill Snow Island alongside Blizzard Mountain snow tubing and carnival rides. Lanier Islands states that winter activities are “closed for the season and reopening in Fall 2026,” with Snow Island tickets sold separately from the Magical Nights of Lights drive-through and no 2026 prices published. The lights event is listed as running nightly November 15 to January 4, though the resort’s FAQ elsewhere cites November 20 to January 3 — confirm your date directly.
What about Helen and downtown Duluth?
Two corrections before you drive. Helen’s official holiday listing includes the Lighting of the Village (Nov 27, 5–7 p.m.), the Christmas market (Nov 28–29 and Dec 5–6), the parade (Dec 12, 6 p.m.) and Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm — but no ice rink. Our Christmas in Helen guide tracks that season.
Downtown Duluth’s winter skating is roller, not ice. The city’s Frosty Fun rink runs on the Activity Lawn, is free, is recommended for ages 3 and up, and includes complimentary skate rentals from kids’ size 10 to adult 14 plus a limited number of skate aids. No 2026 date is posted. Parsons Alley is the surrounding dining block, not a rink.
Will they let a 3-year-old on the ice, and are skate aids available?
On age: Center Ice Arena is the only metro rink publishing a clear answer, letting ages 3 and under skate free with rental charged separately and pricing ages 5 and under at $9. Atlanta Ice House prices children under 10 at $11 but sets no floor, and Avalon states no minimum age. None bar toddlers outright.
On skate aids — the plastic frames small children push around the ice — not one metro Atlanta rink publishes availability or price online; the only local operator that does is the City of Duluth, on a roller rink. Call ahead, and expect aids to be limited and claimed early on a busy weekend. Bring gloves regardless: cold wet hands end a session faster than tired legs do.
Which Atlanta rink should you pick?
| Rink | Drive from Midtown (approx.) | Season | Cost | 2026–27 dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center Ice Arena | ~15 min | Year-round indoor | $13 (6+), $9 (5 and under), free under 3; rental $5 | Published weekly schedule | Toddlers and tight budgets |
| Atlanta Ice House | ~30 min | Year-round indoor | $15, $11 under 10; rental $7 | Calendar posted; times vary | Cobb families, lessons |
| Atlanta IceForum | ~35 min | Year-round indoor | Not published online — call | Call to confirm | Gwinnett, learn-to-skate |
| Avalon on Ice | ~35 min | Seasonal outdoor | $18, $14 age 12 and under, skates included | “Opening: Holidays 2026”; no dates | Holiday atmosphere, shopping |
| Skate the Station | ~5 min | Seasonal outdoor | Not published | Not announced | Biggest outdoor ice, in town |
| The Rink at Park Tavern | ~5 min | Seasonal outdoor | Not published | Not announced | Skating in Piedmont Park |
| Frosty’s, Lanier Islands | ~55 min | Seasonal outdoor | Sold separately; not published | “Reopening Fall 2026” | Pairing skating with lights |
| Frosty Fun, Duluth | ~35 min | Seasonal, roller not ice | Free, rentals included | 2026 date not posted | Free outing, ages 3 and up |
What should you do if your day looks like this?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Have a 3-year-old | Center Ice Arena | The only rink publishing free entry for ages 3 and under |
| Want to skate in September | Any of the three indoor rinks | Every outdoor rink is closed until the holidays |
| Are on a tight budget | Center Ice Arena, or Duluth’s free Frosty Fun when it returns | $18 all in indoors; the Duluth rink costs nothing |
| Want the holiday-lights version | Avalon on Ice, or Lanier Islands with the lights drive | Both pair skating with a full evening out |
| Have two free hours on a weekday | Center Ice Arena’s Tuesday 11:30 a.m. session | A published weekday slot most rinks do not offer |
| Are planning more than a month ahead | Book nothing outdoors yet | No outdoor rink has published 2026–27 dates |
Which 2026–27 dates are still unannounced?
All the outdoor ones. Avalon says only “Opening: Holidays 2026.” Atlantic Station lists no Skate the Station dates or prices, and Park Tavern does not list its rink at all. Lanier Islands reopens in Fall 2026 without prices, and its two published windows for Magical Nights of Lights disagree by days. Duluth has posted no 2026 Frosty Fun date, Helen lists no rink at all, and IceForum publishes no current session prices. We also left out The Cooler in Alpharetta and the former Marietta Ice Center: neither could be confirmed as operating from an official source.
For the rest of the season, see our guides to Christmas markets in Atlanta, holiday train rides in Georgia, Georgia Christmas tree farms, Christmas towns in Georgia and Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. Working backwards through autumn, there are Halloween events for Atlanta kids, pumpkin patches near Atlanta and North Georgia fall foliage.
FAQ
Where can you ice skate in Atlanta right now?
Three indoor rinks run year-round: Center Ice Arena in Sandy Springs, Atlanta Ice House in Marietta and Atlanta IceForum in Duluth, all offering public sessions without reservations. Every outdoor rink — Avalon, Atlantic Station, Park Tavern and Lanier Islands — is seasonal and closed until the holidays, with no 2026–27 dates published yet.
How much does ice skating cost in Atlanta?
Indoors, about $18 to $22 per skater with rental. Center Ice Arena is $13 for ages 6 and up plus $5 rental; Atlanta Ice House is $15, or $11 under 10, plus $7 rental. Outdoors, Avalon on Ice charges $18 general admission and $14 for children 12 and under, with skates included in the price.
Can a 3-year-old ice skate in Atlanta?
Yes. Center Ice Arena admits children 3 and under free, with skate rental charged separately, and prices ages 5 and under at $9. No metro rink publishes a minimum age. Expect a short session — most toddlers last 20 to 30 minutes — and bring gloves, which make falls far more tolerable.
Do Atlanta rinks have skate aids or walkers for kids?
None of them publish it. We checked every metro rink’s own website and found no statement on skate-aid availability or price; the only local operator that mentions aids is the City of Duluth, on its free roller rink. Call the rink before you go, and arrive at the start of a session, because aids are limited and go quickly.
Is Avalon on Ice open for 2026–27?
Not yet, and no dates are published. Avalon’s own listing says “Opening: Holidays 2026” with no start or end date. It does publish hours — Monday to Friday 3–9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Sundays noon–7 p.m. — and prices of $18 general admission, $14 for children 12 and under, including skates, with reservations advised.
Indoor rink or outdoor holiday rink — which is better with young kids?
Indoor, on almost every measure. Indoor rinks publish a schedule and price you can rely on, run all year and cost less once you are past the entry fee. Outdoor rinks are smaller, busier, weather-dependent and seasonal. Choose outdoors when the holiday setting is the point rather than the skating.
Center Ice Arena or Atlanta Ice House?
Center Ice Arena if you have very young children or want a weekday session: it is cheaper, posts fixed weekly times including Tuesday mornings, and lets under-3s skate free. Atlanta Ice House suits Cobb County families and anyone wanting lessons, but its public sessions vary week to week and total cost with rental runs $22 per adult.
Is there an ice rink in Helen, Georgia?
No. Helen’s official holiday listings cover the Lighting of the Village (Nov 27, 2026, 5–7 p.m. at Riverside Park), the Christmas market (Nov 28–29 and Dec 5–6), the annual parade (Dec 12 at 6 p.m.) and Victorian Christmas at Hardman Farm — but no ice rink, and none has been listed in past seasons either. For skating in North Georgia, the nearest option is Frosty’s Ice Skating Rink at Lanier Islands near Buford.
Does Duluth have an outdoor ice rink?
Not ice — roller. The City of Duluth’s Frosty Fun sets up a roller rink on the Activity Lawn downtown, free to use, recommended for ages 3 and up, with complimentary skate rentals from kids’ size 10 to adult 14 and a limited number of skate aids. The city has not posted a 2026 date. Parsons Alley is the adjoining dining block, not a rink.
What if the outdoor rink we wanted never opens?
Have an indoor rink as your fallback and book nothing outdoors before dates are posted. As of mid-September 2026, Atlantic Station, Park Tavern, Avalon and Lanier Islands have all published no 2026–27 opening dates. Center Ice Arena and Atlanta Ice House run regardless of weather and need no reservation, so a cancelled plan costs you only the drive.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Center Ice Arena — public skate times, prices and rental
- Atlanta Ice House — public skate pricing and rental
- Atlanta Ice House — location and programmes
- Atlanta IceForum — location and skate rental
- Atlanta IceForum — public sessions page
- Atlanta IceForum — Learn to Skate and helmet guidance
- Avalon on Ice — hours, prices and opening status
- Atlantic Station — events list (no Skate the Station dates)
- Atlantic Station — rink size and historic pricing
- Park Tavern — current event listings
- Lanier Islands — Frosty’s rink and Snow Island status
- Lanier Islands — Magical Nights of Lights dates
- City of Duluth — Frosty Fun roller rink details
- City of Duluth — events overview
- Helen, Georgia — holiday events (no rink listed)
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
