Christmas at Riverside
Come and skate in our magical winter wonderland at Riverside ice rink this Christmas!
Experience the magic of Christmas at Riverside Ice Rink! From Saturday 5 to Thursday 31 December 2026, our enchanting winter wonderland is the perfect spot for festive fun.
Glide across the ice surrounded by twinkling lights, falling snow, and your favourite holiday tunes. Plus, enjoy a mix of your favourite seasonal and party music, played by our resident DJ. After your session, cosy up with a delicious treat from our mezzanine or ground floor cafés.
Little ones can skate safely with the help of our adorable penguin, snowman, and polar bear skating aids. And keep an eye out for a special guest, as our mascot Pops the penguin might make a surprise appearance!
Skating sessions are available throughout weekends in December, and selected times during the school holidays. Book online, through our app, or by calling us at 01245 615050. Don’t forget, skate hire is included, and we’re a cashless centre, so bring your card!
Get into the Christmas spirit with:
live DJ playing festive favourites and chart hits
snow machine effects
spectacular disco lighting
seasonal snacks and refreshments available from our café
Get ready to make magical memories this Christmas at Riverside ice rink!
We will be running special skating sessions in December. These sessions are in addition to our holiday skate sessions, which you can view on our ice skating timetable.
Saturday 5 December
- Date
- Saturday 5 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Sunday 6 December
- Date
- Sunday 6 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Saturday 12 December
- Date
- Saturday 12 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Sunday 13 December
- Date
- Sunday 13 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Saturday 19 December
- Date
- Saturday 19 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Sunday 20 December
- Date
- Sunday 20 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Sunday 27 December
- Date
- Sunday 27 December
- Morning session
- 10am to 12pm
- Afternoon session
- 2.30pm to 4.30pm
| Date | Morning session | Afternoon session |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 5 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Sunday 6 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Saturday 12 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Sunday 13 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Saturday 19 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Sunday 20 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
| Sunday 27 December | 10am to 12pm | 2.30pm to 4.30pm |
The centre will be closed on:
Friday 25 December 2026
Saturday 26 December 2026
Friday 1 January 2027
If you want to view our timetable more than seven days in advance, you can download the Chelmsford City Sports app.
ourChelmsford Lite card prices
- Standard: £10.80
ourChelmsford Plus Card prices
- Standard: £9.50
Prices include skate hire.
We recommend that you book our popular Christmas at Riverside skating sessions in advance.
You can book:
through the free Chelmsford City Sports app
or by calling us on 01245 615050
You must have an ourChelmsford account to book, even if you are not a monthly member and you don't live in Chelmsford.
We are a cashless centre.
- You can hire a skating aid from skate hire for 30 minutes at a cost of £3.80
- To use a penguin, to your chin you must be between 0.8m and 1.2m tall
- To use a snowman, you must be over 1.2 metres tall and up to 14 years old
- If you want to use a locker, you will need a 50p coin to release the key. The 50p is non-refundable.
- Changing rooms are available.
- A Changing Places facility is available on poolside or by Studio 1.