Skating rinks will open in Modesto and nearby towns. Oakdale to have first ever
Ice-skating rinks are returning to Modesto and Turlock, while Oakdale and Manteca will have their first ever.
Meanwhile, the Long Barn Lodge in Tuolumne County already has opened its rink. The century-old resort also has the longest season, running until midspring.
Most rinks open before Thanksgiving and remain at least into January. They vary in offerings such as lessons, skate rentals and private parties.
Modesto on Ice is back for its 10th season in a parking lot at Modesto Centre Plaza, 11th and K streets. It will open on Saturday, Nov. 22, and go to Jan. 19, the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday holiday. Hours, prices and other details are at modestoonice.com.
The Halsey family operates the rink with principal sponsor Modesto Subaru and other partners. Centre Plaza’s long-term future is uncertain because the city might demolish it for a new soccer stadium. The adjacent DoubleTree Hotel will continue to book events at least through 2026.
Turlock: Fields of Ice will run from Friday, Nov. 21, to Jan. 19, at 716 N. Daubenberger Road. Hours, prices and other details are at turlockfieldsofice.com.
The Macedo family created Fields of Ice on the east edge of Turlock in 2014. It also sells Christmas trees and had a corn maze and pumpkin patch earlier in autumn.
Oakdale: The rink will run from Dec. 3 to Jan. 3 next to the skate park on South Yosemite Avenue. The site serves wheeled skateboarders year-round.
The ice rink is named for Julia Haidlen, a civic leader who died a year ago. She helped run Haidlen Ford in Oakdale and had her own interior design business.
The Oakdale Chamber of Commerce is putting on the ice rink with several co-sponsors. The hours, prices and other details are at smalltownchristmas.co.
Manteca Winterfest: The first-time celebration runs from Friday, Nov. 21, to Jan. 19 at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley. The site is just off Highway 120 at Union Road.
Winterfest will have bounce houses and other children’s play equipment, plus a skating rink for all ages. Details on prices and hours are at mantecawinterfest.com. The city of Manteca is putting it on with help from Kaiser Permanente and other sponsors.
Long Barn Lodge: It is at 25957 Long Barn Road, just off Highway 108 about 75 miles from Modesto. Details on skating are at thelongbarnlodge.com. The resort dates to the 1920s and also offers motel rooms, cabins and warm-weather swimming.
Another 10 miles up 108, the Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort is watching for when it can open to skiers and snowboarders.
Dodge got 6 to 12 inches of snow a various locations Monday, a Facebook post said. “We’re stoked to see the snow and are just a few storms away from being able to announce an opening day!”
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 11:04 AM.
