On Friday, Dec. 18, the Bee Cave Holiday Market runs until 9 p.m. in the Hill Country Galleria Central Plaza. The ice rink next to it sells its last session that night at 6 p.m. That Friday is the first day of Lake Travis ISD's winter break. On the City of Bee Cave's schedule, school holidays switch the rink from its regular weekend hours, which run until 10 p.m., to a 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. day. The rink's schedule follows the school calendar, and every other holiday event on the plaza falls into place around it.
Bee Cave on Ice opens tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 13, behind City Hall at 4000 Galleria Parkway, and runs through Jan. 18, 2027. The tree lighting, the Saturday market and the Jingle Bell 5K all take place within a short walk of the ice. That means a household's season comes down to one plaza and two sets of hours.
Two schedules, one rink
The City of Bee Cave's rink page lists a regular week and a holiday week. Here they are side by side:
| Day type | Open | Last session |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday, regular | 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 8 p.m. |
| Friday, regular | Noon to 10 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, regular | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| Sunday, regular | 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
| LTISD holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year's Eve and Day, MLK Day | 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
The city lists the LTISD holiday stretches as Nov. 23–27 and Dec. 18 through Jan. 5, plus MLK Day on Jan. 18, which is also the season's last day. During those weeks a Tuesday opens five hours earlier than usual and closes two hours earlier. A Friday or Saturday closes three hours earlier. The break turns the rink into a daytime place.
In practice, that leaves nine regular Fridays and Saturdays with 9 p.m. sessions before winter break: Nov. 13, 14, 20, 21 and 28, then Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. Nov. 27 falls inside the Thanksgiving week stretch, so that Friday closes at 7.
Admission is $16 plus tax for 50 minutes of skating, and skate rental is included. When this page was checked, the city listed tickets as "on sale soon" and pointed visitors to its newsletter signup for updates.
The five Tuesdays that cost $11
Tuesday Community Nights drop admission to $11 plus tax. The city has set them for Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Jan. 12. Every one of those dates is a regular school-week Tuesday. The two Tuesdays inside winter break, Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, are not on the list.
That puts every discount night on the regular Monday-to-Thursday schedule, the latest weekday hours the rink keeps. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the last session starts at 8. A family of four saves $20 before tax compared with the regular price, and they skate after school or work and not during the 10 a.m. break-week rush. Three of the five discounted Tuesdays come in the first half of December, which is also when the plaza's own event calendar fills up.
Nov. 28 is a regular Saturday with a tree lighting on top
Thanksgiving week runs on holiday hours. The Saturday after it does not. On Saturday, Nov. 28, the rink is back to its 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekend schedule, the same night Hill Country Galleria holds Light Up the Plaza from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
The Galleria's posted schedule:
- 5 p.m.: Magnolia Musical Theatre opens the program
- 5:45 p.m.: Santa arrives and Mayor Kara King lights the tree
- 6 p.m.: A live music opener, then a main set by Thompson Square
The Galleria lists ice skating, giveaways, face painting and refreshments as part of the evening. It also notes that times are approximate and says it will post any weather cancellations on the event page. Because the rink runs until 10 that night, families have two more hours on the ice after the plaza program ends at 8.
Photos with Santa start the same day. They are free on selected dates from Nov. 28 through Dec. 24, indoors next to Buenos Aires Café. Session times vary by date, and families take the photos with their own cameras.
Dec. 5 runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The first Saturday of December is the plaza's longest day of the season. It is also a regular-hours Saturday, so the rink is open until 10. Here is the day in order:
- 7 a.m.: Festivities start for the Bee Cave Chamber of Commerce Jingle Bell 5K at Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd.
- 8 a.m.: The 5K starts. The Kids Dash follows at 8:45, and every Kids Dash finisher gets a holiday medal. In the 5K, medals go to the top three in each age category.
- 10 a.m.: The rink opens.
- 11 a.m.: The Bee Cave Holiday Market opens in the Central Plaza and runs until 7 p.m.
- 2:30 p.m.: The city calendar lists "Merry Making Saturday."
Race pricing goes up during the season. On the race registration page, the 5K is $30 through Nov. 21 and $35 from Nov. 22 through Dec. 2. The Kids Dash is $15 through Dec. 2. Signup fees are added at checkout: $2.86 for the 5K and $2.24 for the Kids Dash. The Galleria's event page also invites runners to stay after the race for food and drinks.
Three market weekends, and the last one is different
The Bee Cave Holiday Market is a three-weekend pop-up hosted by Penny V Productions and Hill Country Galleria. It brings a rotating lineup of local Austin makers selling handmade goods to the Central Plaza. The hours are the same each weekend:
| Market day | Market hours | Rink last session that day |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Dec. 4 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 11 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 9 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
On the first two Fridays, the market and the rink both run past dark, so you can shop and skate in either order. On Friday, Dec. 18, winter break starts and the rink's holiday hours take over. The market still runs until 9, but the last skating session starts at 6. For an evening that includes both, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 are the Fridays to choose. On the final weekend, skate first. The Galleria page lists the holiday ice rink, pictures with Santa and face painting as part of the market weekends.
Break weeks belong to the mornings
Morning hours are the upside of the holiday schedule. From Dec. 18 through Jan. 5, the rink opens at 10 a.m. every day. The Bee Cave Arts Foundation's Winter Art Camp at the Galleria, Suite F160, runs 9 a.m. to noon, which fits that daytime rhythm. The holiday camp is Dec. 21–23, a winter session follows Dec. 28–30, and a New Year camp is set for Jan. 4 and 5, 2027. A morning at camp followed by an early-afternoon session on the ice uses the break schedule well. Photos with Santa also continue through Christmas Eve.
Families planning around the Galleria's warm-weather features should know that, at the time of writing, the shopping center's website shows a notice that the splash pad is temporarily closed.
Where to eat without moving the car
All of these are listed in the Hill Country Galleria directory, within walking distance of the rink:
- Before an evening session: Chisos Grill, Tadashi Sushi, Madam Mam's Thai Cuisine, The League Kitchen & Tavern, Saltgrass Steak House, Tony C's, Winston's
- Quick and casual: All Star Burger, Panera Bread, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Chili's, Whole Foods Market
- Near the Santa photos: Buenos Aires Café
- After the ice: Amy's Ice Creams, Yogurt Planet, Barnes & Noble Café
Café Blue is also on the list. In May 2026, Community Impact reported its 20th anniversary at the Galleria.
If your holiday plans include a move, guests who need a place to stay, or a home you hope to settle into before next season's skating, Scott Pate knows Bee Cave's calendar and is happy to help you plan around it. Schedule a private consultation.
