Every December the ice at Dundonald turns Christmassy — Santa glides in on his red sleigh, the DJ plays the festive tunes, and penguins line up at the rink edge to help the littlest skaters find their feet.
What it is — festive family ice skating at Dundonald International Ice Bowl in east Belfast, home to Northern Ireland's public ice rink. Through December the season centres on the much-loved Skate with Santa sessions.
Skate with Santa — runs on Saturdays through December, with a choice of two afternoon sessions. The whole family shares the ice, there's a live DJ, and you get to meet Santa on his famous red sleigh for a proper Christmas photo.
For beginners — never skated? No problem. There are penguin and snowman skate aids to push along, so wobbly first-timers and small children can glide with confidence — the aids are for younger children, roughly age 8 and under. It's a gentle, giggly way to learn.
Warm and dry whatever the weather — the rink is fully indoor, so a grey, wet or freezing December day is exactly when it shines. Public skating runs seven days a week all season if you can't make a Santa Saturday.
December Saturdays are the busiest of the year. The Skate with Santa sessions don't need pre-booking, but they fill up — arrive in good time, and book any regular skate slots online ahead to be sure of the ice.
More than the ice — the same complex has Xtreme ten-pin bowling, the Indiana Land jungle play kingdom and Pirates Adventure Golf, so you can easily turn a skate into a full family day out.
What's on
From Skate with Santa to breakfast in the grotto
The Ice Bowl builds a whole festive programme around the rink each December. Here's the shape of what a family can pick from.
🎅Skate with SantaSaturdays through December — a family skate with a live DJ and a meet-and-greet with Santa on his red sleigh. No pre-booking needed.
🐧Penguin skate aidsPush-along penguins and snowmen for little skaters and nervous beginners, so first steps on the ice feel steady and fun.
🥞Breakfast with SantaWeekend mornings — breakfast, a visit to Santa's grotto with a selection pack, and an activity. A calm, sensory-friendly session is also offered.
🌙Supper with SantaSaturday evenings — an activity, supper and a trip to the grotto for a gift, a cosy way to round off a December day.
🎳Xtreme bowlingThirty lanes with glow balls, UV lanes, disco lights and a DJ — a warm second act if the ice tires little legs out.
🌴Indiana Land playA jungle-themed indoor play kingdom for under-11s — slides, rope bridges and hidden corners to explore between activities.
Plan your visit
How to do a Christmas skate with the kids
The trick is to pick the right session for your family and arrive early. If you've a Santa fan in tow, aim for a Skate with Santa Saturday — you don't need to pre-book, but December Saturdays are the busiest ice of the year, so get there in good time to sort skates and lockers before the DJ starts. First-timers should grab a penguin skate aid straight away — it turns a wobbly start into a happy one, and takes the fear out of the first lap. Dress in layers, wear gloves (little hands hit the ice), and thick socks make the boots comfier. If a Saturday won't work, public skating runs seven days a week right through the season, and you can book a regular slot online to be sure of a space. When small legs have had enough, the same building has bowling, the Indiana Land play kingdom and a food outlet — so nobody's day ends when the ice does.
Dates and times change year to year.
The Skate with Santa Saturdays, breakfast and supper sittings and public session times are set fresh each December. Check theicebowl.com for this season's exact dates, prices and any sessions that do need booking before you set off.
Good to know
Everything before you go
When
Skate with Santa runs on Saturdays through December, with two afternoon sessions. Public skating runs seven days a week all season. This year's exact dates are on theicebowl.com.
Where
Dundonald International Ice Bowl, 111 Old Dundonald Road, Dundonald BT16 1XT — just east of Belfast, run by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
Skate with Santa
A family skate with a live DJ and a meet-and-greet with Santa on his red sleigh. No pre-booking needed — but come early on busy December Saturdays.
For beginners
Penguin and snowman skate aids to push along, so small children and first-timers can glide with confidence. Skate hire is included in the session.
Cost
Skate sessions are keenly priced for families; the Breakfast/Supper with Santa packages cost more as they include food, the grotto and a gift. Check current prices online.
Booking
Skate with Santa needs no ticket. Regular public sessions can be booked online — worth doing at the busy Christmas peak.
Getting there
Free on-site parking, easy off the A20 east of Belfast, and served by Translink buses. Around 15 minutes' drive from the city centre.
Indoors
Fully indoor and warm — an ideal plan for a cold, wet or freezing December day.
Questions
Christmas skating at Dundonald, answered
When is Skate with Santa on?
It runs on Saturdays through December, with a choice of two afternoon sessions. The exact dates and times are set fresh each year — check theicebowl.com for this season's line-up before you go.
Do I need to book?
Skate with Santa doesn't need pre-booking — just turn up. But December Saturdays are the busiest ice of the year, so arrive in good time. Regular public sessions can be booked online, which is worth doing at the Christmas peak.
Is it good for young children and beginners?
Yes. There are penguin and snowman skate aids to push along, so little ones and nervous first-timers can glide steadily. It's a gentle, giggly way to learn — and skate hire comes with the session.
Is it warm and indoor?
Completely — the rink is fully indoor, so a grey, wet or freezing December day is exactly when a skate feels best. Dress in layers and bring gloves for warm, comfy hands.
What else is there to do at the Ice Bowl?
Plenty. The same complex has thirty-lane Xtreme ten-pin bowling, the Indiana Land jungle play kingdom for under-11s, Pirates Adventure Golf and a food outlet — so a skate easily becomes a full family day out.
Where is it and is there parking?
It's at 111 Old Dundonald Road, Dundonald BT16 1XT, just east of Belfast off the A20 — about 15 minutes from the city centre, with free on-site parking and Translink buses nearby.
Getting there
Dundonald International Ice Bowl sits at 111 Old Dundonald Road, just east of Belfast off the A20 — around 15 minutes' drive from the city centre. There's free on-site parking and Translink buses stop nearby, so it's an easy trip whether you drive or take the bus.
Dundonald International Ice Bowl opened in 1986 and has been where generations of Northern Ireland families learned to skate ever since — a rink that fills with school trips, birthday parties and wobbly first-timers all year round. Come December it puts on its Christmas jumper: the lights go festive, the DJ digs out the carols with a beat, and Santa parks his red sleigh at the rink edge for the Skate with Santa Saturdays that families come back for year after year.
For a family, it's one of the warmest wins of the winter — indoors, out of the weather, and full of the kind of moments a child remembers. Grab a penguin, take that first shaky lap hand in hand, wave to Santa, then warm up over a bowling game. Check theicebowl.com for this year's dates, wrap up in layers, and go and make some ice-cold Christmas memories together.