Peltzer Ice Rink reopens on Wednesday, November 18, for its ninth season on the farm at 40275 Calle Contento, just off Rancho California Road. On most weekdays between then and mid-January, the rink runs two sessions, at 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. During Thanksgiving week and winter break, the same rink runs seven sessions on most days, starting at 10:30 a.m. Ticket prices stay the same all season. What changes is how many sessions you can book, so the week you choose matters more than the ticket price.
The Same Rink on Three Different Timetables
Peltzer posts its full session table on the Peltzer Ice Rink page. The table lists dates without a year, but the weekdays line up with 2026: Wednesday, 11/18; Thanksgiving on Thursday, 11/26; Christmas on Friday, 12/25. The same page says rescheduling is valid only "within the scope of the 2026/2027 season." Grouped by week, the table falls into three patterns.
| Stretch | Weekday sessions | Weekend sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Opening days, Nov. 18–20 | 4:30, 6:00; Friday adds 7:30 | Opening weekend runs into the holiday week |
| Thanksgiving week, Nov. 21–29 | Seven a day, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; closed Thursday, Nov. 26 | Same full schedule; Sunday, Nov. 29 ends with a 6:00 session |
| Early December, Nov. 30–Dec. 18 | 4:30, 6:00; some Fridays add 7:30 | Saturdays noon to 7:30, Sundays noon to 6:00 |
| Winter break, Dec. 19–Jan. 4 | Most days seven, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; exceptions listed below | Same on Dec. 19–20 and 26–27; Jan. 2–3 full; Jan. 4 ends with a 6:00 session |
| Early January, Jan. 5–15 | 4:30, 6:00; Friday, Jan. 8 adds 7:30 | Saturday, Jan. 9 noon to 7:30, Sunday, Jan. 10 noon to 6:00 |
| Closing days, Jan. 16–18 | Monday, Jan. 18 runs 10:30 to 6:00 | Full days from 10:30 |
Here is the gap in numbers. From Monday, November 30, through Thursday, December 3, the rink offers eight sessions over four days. On Monday, December 21, it offers seven in a single day. Start times are 90 minutes apart, which matches Peltzer's 75-minute sessions plus the 15 minutes set aside for the Zamboni. On a two-session weekday, the last session starts at 6:00 and ends at 7:15.
Peltzer warns on its rink page that "tickets sell out fast." On weekdays in early December, a household can choose between two time slots. On most days of winter break it has seven.
The Days That Break Their Own Pattern
Several dates in the table don't follow the pattern of the weeks around them. Some of them land on nights when the City of Temecula has holiday events of its own.
- Monday, November 30. The rink returns to its two weekday sessions, 4:30 and 6:00. That same evening, the city's Christmas Tree Lighting runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Temecula Duck Pond & Veterans Memorial, 28250 Rancho California Road. A 4:30 session ends at 5:45, which leaves plenty of time to get to the Duck Pond. The 6:00 session runs until 7:15, past the start of the lighting.
- Friday, December 4. The table lists a single session, at 4:30. Other Fridays in the season list up to three. That evening, Santa's Electric Light Parade steps off at 7 p.m. from Jefferson Avenue and Del Rio Road and heads south into Old Town. The parade is free.
- Thursday and Friday, December 17 and 18. Both days are listed as TBD, so there's nothing to book yet.
- Thursday, December 24. Four sessions, with the last one starting at 3:00. The rink is closed on Christmas Day.
- Thursday, December 31. This is the only date with a 9 p.m. start, and its eight sessions are the most of any day. New Year's Day opens at noon instead of 10:30.
With these dates in hand, a December weeknight in Wine Country can include both events. Skate at 4:30 on November 30 and there's time to get to the Duck Pond for the lighting. On December 4, the 4:30 session is the only one, and it ends well before the parade starts in Old Town.
What a Session Costs
Prices don't change with the week. Peltzer lists $20 for ages 11 and up and $14 for ages 10 and under. Skate rental is $2, helmet rental is $4, and the gliders for beginners are free on a first-come basis. Two adults and two children age 10 or younger would pay $68 in admission. If all four rent skates, that's $76 before snacks.
The $160 season pass equals eight adult tickets, and it doesn't cover skate rental. Passholders have to check in at the skate office on every visit. Because the schedule is shaped the way it is, an adult who wants to break even on the pass by skating mostly on weekday evenings will be competing for two time slots a day through most of December and early January.
A few rules shape the visit no matter which week you go:
- Tickets can be transferred but not refunded. You can move a session up to 24 hours before it starts by emailing [email protected], as long as the new date is in the 2026/2027 season.
- Waivers. A parent or guardian has to sign the release waiver for any skater under 18. Skaters who are 16 or 17 and have a valid ID can skate on their own once that waiver is signed.
- Arrival time. Peltzer's rink page asks skaters to arrive at least 30 minutes early to check in and complete the waiver. The online booking page says 20 minutes. Going by the 30-minute figure covers both.
- Weather and food. The rink operates rain or shine. Outside food and drink aren't allowed, but snacks, beverages and food trucks are on the property.
The Rink & Drink Bar is open daily. It serves Peltzer wine, sangria and local beer on tap to guests 21 and over, along with hot chocolate, coffee and soft drinks. The rink itself is a big white tent with 8,400 square feet of real ice. It sits near the Farm Parking Lot at Entrance 3, behind the train depot and across the road from the gem panning area. Peltzer's pages don't say whether parking costs anything.
Two Calendars, Different Dates
Visit Temecula Valley's event listing gives the season as November 19, 2026, through January 15, 2027. Peltzer's own session table starts a day earlier, on Wednesday, November 18, and runs three days later, through Monday, January 18, which has six sessions. Those last three days, January 16 through 18, all run full daytime schedules. If you plan from the tourism calendar alone, you'll miss the first evening and the season's last full-day weekend. Peltzer's booking system is the more reliable place to check before you commit to a date.
The Rest of the Season Is Still Being Posted
As of early October, much of the Wine Country holiday calendar hasn't been posted yet. Winterfest in Wine Country's 2026 site says the event is "resting until the lights go back up" and asks visitors to join a mailing list to hear when dates and tickets are announced. Peltzer's annual events page says its Christmas on the Farm season starts with an annual tree lighting and features food trucks, local live music and Peltzer wine. The page adds that "it isn't uncommon to see Santa himself make an appearance or two." It doesn't give a 2026 date for the tree lighting.
A few smaller events nearby already have firm dates, and they fall on daytime weekend hours that don't conflict with evening skating:
- Gold Crown Farms Holiday Wreath Making runs Saturday, November 21, and Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $75 per person, and each class is limited to 12 guests. Details are on Visit Temecula Valley.
- Akash Winery's Holiday Floral Class is Sunday, November 22, from noon to 2 p.m. Tickets are $50 and include supplies and one beverage. The listing is on the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association site.
On November 21 and 22, the rink runs a full day of sessions starting at 10:30, so afternoon and evening sessions remain open after either class ends. On December 5, the rink's first session is at noon, the same time the wreath class ends.
The same calendar math applies to timing a home sale. If you're weighing whether to list before the holidays or after the new year, Temecula Valley Homes can show you how recent Wine Country sales were timed and how that timing affected what sellers netted. Request a Free Home Valuation and Jeff Engstrom will walk you through the numbers.
