The Shipyards Skate Plaza 2025–2026 Season in North Vancouver

Season Opening Date: November 28, 2025
Daily Hours: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: The Shipyards, City of North Vancouver
Official Event Page:
The Shipyards Skate Plaza – City of North Vancouver

The Shipyards Skate Plaza, the largest outdoor skating rink in the region, returns for another winter season beginning November 28. Located on the waterfront at The Shipyards and framed by stunning views of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains, the plaza offers a magical skating experience for visitors of all ages.

Guests can enjoy daily public skating, free helmets and skate aids, and free admission for those who bring their own skates. Rentals are available onsite, and the plaza remains one of the most popular winter attractions on the North Shore.

Opening Day Celebration – November 28

Join the opening-day festivities from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, featuring:
• Live music by DJ Emnesia
• A special appearance by Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen

Visitors can enjoy early-season skating and entertainment while celebrating the start of the winter season.

Skate Rentals

Rental skates are available in limited quantities:
• Adults: $8
• Kids: $5.50
Payment options: debit and credit card only.

Helmets are free, and helmet use is mandatory for children 12 and under.

Skate Plaza Rules

• No supervision provided at any time
• No food or drinks on the ice
• Helmets required for kids 12 and under
• No figure skating or ice hockey
• No climbing or sitting on ice mounds or boards
• No carrying children on the ice
• No walking on ice in shoes
• Rental skates must remain within the plaza

Ice Cleaning Schedule

The rink closes daily for resurfacing at:
• 1:30 PM
• 3:30 PM
• 5:30 PM
Each closure lasts about 30 minutes.

Peak times are evenings and weekends. Ice conditions may vary depending on weather, humidity, and temperature.

Private Rentals

Private rental bookings open on October 27 at 9:00 AM.

Private sessions are available Thursday through Sunday and on select holidays starting November 30.

Rates (up to 100 people):
• $285 + GST per hour
• Additional fees: $65 insurance, $150 refundable deposit

Large groups (100–300 people or corporate bookings):
• $475 + GST per hour (up to 2 hours)
• Same insurance and deposit fees apply
• Booking inquiries: theshipyards@cnv.org

All rentals include access to rental skates and onsite staff support. Groups are advised to bring chaperones for children.

Rental Time Slots

Sunday: 9:00–10:00 AM, 10:30–11:30 AM, 8:30–9:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30–9:30 PM
Friday: 9:00–10:00 AM, 10:30–11:30 AM, 8:30–9:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00–10:00 AM, 10:30–11:30 AM, 8:30–9:30 PM

How to Book the Skate Plaza

1. Log in or create an NVRC account.
   New accounts may take up to 48 hours for approval. For urgent setup, call 604-987-7529.

2. Visit the booking page to view availability, rates, and submit a booking request.

3. Receive confirmation.
   Approved requests will receive a rental contract to sign within 3 business days. Bookings are only confirmed once payment, insurance, and contract are completed.

General liability insurance is required and included in the rental cost.

About The Shipyards Development

The Skate Plaza is part of The Shipyard Commons, a vibrant year-round waterfront destination featuring restaurants, shops, public spaces, events, and seasonal attractions. In summer, the plaza transforms into a splash park. The area now includes 85,000 sq ft of community amenities following redevelopment completed in 2019.

Discover more upcoming events in Vancouver at
Vancouver Page – Discover Local Events.