On Monday, November 23, Santa's cabin at Center Court in Cross County Center will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 4 to 7 p.m. it hosts Pet Night. The pop-up skating rink across Center Court is closed that day, and the food trucks on The Green don't run on Mondays. Come back two days later and the whole place is running: Cowboy Claus in the cabin, skaters on the rink and four trucks serving lunch and dinner.
This season at the Yonkers shopping center has two weekly schedules. The rink and the food trucks run Wednesday through Sunday. Santa is there almost every day. Plan by the weekday and you'll know what to expect before you park.
Friday, November 13: Opening Night Has Everything Except the Rink
The season opens with the Tree Lighting Celebration on Friday, November 13, on The Green in Center Mall. Festivities start at 6:30 p.m., and the 40-foot tree lights at 7:45. Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and "the grumpy green one" host the evening. The center lists holiday entertainment, strolling characters, food trucks, a DJ and selfie spots, and an electric train ride runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
The trucks are there because the Holiday Food Truck Market opens the same day. Santa's cabin also opens on the 13th, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closing early ahead of the evening event.
The rink doesn't open yet. The center's calendar shows it closed November 13 through 17, and the first skating sessions are on Wednesday, November 18. If skating is the main reason you're going, the tree lighting is a separate trip.
Santa also takes a short break right after opening weekend. His cabin is open Friday through Sunday, November 13 to 15, then closed Monday through Thursday. He returns Friday, November 20. That leaves Monday and Tuesday, November 16 and 17, with no Santa, no rink and no food trucks.
Wednesday Through Sunday: The Rink and the Trucks
From November 18 on, the rink and the food trucks follow the same week. The trucks serve Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., through January 3. The lineup:
- El Patio, Dominican
- Matrix on the Go, Jamaican
- YumBro, Asian fusion
- Grey's Taco Fusion, Mexican fusion
The center has also put decorated igloo seating areas around the property.
The Pop-Up Ice Skating Rink sits at Center Court near the Christmas tree. The surface is "glice," a synthetic material. Skaters wear real ice skates, but you glide a bit slower than on ice, and the center describes it as good for young and first-time skaters. Admission is $12 per person and includes skates and a 50-minute session. Sessions start every hour on the hour. The rink takes debit and credit cards only, no cash. Skaters must be 5 years old or 42 inches tall, and you don't need a reservation. The center says character skate nights will run during the season.
This is the rink's second season. Patch's 2025 calendar listing described it returning last year at the same $12 price, skates included. Skating sessions are a bit shorter this year.
The two schedules line up, but the rink closes earlier. A typical week through early December looks like this:
| Day | Rink hours | Food trucks |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday | 3 to 7 p.m. | Noon to 8 p.m. |
| Thursday | 3 to 7 p.m. | Noon to 8 p.m. |
| Friday | 4 to 8 p.m. | Noon to 8 p.m. |
| Saturday | 1 to 7 p.m. | Noon to 8 p.m. |
| Sunday | 1 to 6 p.m. | Noon to 8 p.m. |
On most days the trucks keep serving after the last skate. Because sessions start on the hour and last 50 minutes, a 6 p.m. session on a Wednesday ends with an hour left to eat. Friday is the only day the rink and the trucks both close at 8. Both schedules can change with the weather.
Mondays and Tuesdays: Santa's Cabin on Its Own
Santa's cabin is at Center Court between Gap and Bath & Body Works, and from November 20 on it is open almost every day. From November 20 to December 11, regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays November 28 and December 5 run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Santa takes a cookie break from 3 to 4 p.m., and the center notes the break time may vary.
The special sessions are scheduled around the rink's week:
- Pet Night is Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m. on November 23, November 30, December 7 and December 14.
- Cowboy Claus is Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. on November 25, December 2 and December 9.
- Sensory Santa is Sunday, December 6, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Three of the four Pet Nights fall on days when the rink is closed: November 23, November 30 and December 7. On those Mondays there's no skating at Center Court and no food trucks on The Green. Cowboy Claus, by contrast, falls on Wednesdays, when the rink and trucks are open. You can take a Wednesday photo, skate and eat dinner in one visit.
Reservations are strongly recommended on every day except Christmas Eve, when they're required. Bookings go through the WhereIsSanta reservation page linked from the center's event listing.
December 7 Is Busy for a Monday
Monday, December 7, has the most going on of any Monday this season. Chabad of Yonkers holds a free Menorah Lighting near H&M from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Mendy Hurwitz lights the menorah at 6:30, and the center lists live music, cultural dancing and Chanukah treats.
The same evening is a Pet Night at Santa's cabin from 4 to 7 p.m. The rink is closed on both December 7 and 8, and the food trucks don't run on Mondays. Everything that evening happens indoors and in one corridor of the center.
Where the Weekly Pattern Changes
The schedule holds until mid-December, with a few exceptions that are easy to miss.
Thanksgiving week. The rink closes Monday and Tuesday, November 23 and 24, opens Wednesday the 25th from 3 to 7 p.m., and is closed on Thanksgiving. It opens early on Friday the 27th, running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., its longest day so far that season. Santa is off Thanksgiving Day and back Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
December 14 to 17. The rink opens Monday through Thursday that week from 3 to 7 p.m., so it is open Monday, December 14, the last Pet Night. Santa's hours also get longer that week. He's open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day from December 14 through 23, except Sunday the 13th, which runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The food trucks plan extended hours in the week before Christmas.
Christmas week. The rink runs 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday, December 21, and noon to 4 p.m. from December 22 through 24. It's closed Christmas Day. Santa's last day is Christmas Eve, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by reservation only.
Between the holidays. The rink is open December 26 and 27, then closed December 28 through 31. It reopens New Year's Day from 3 to 7 p.m. and closes for the season after January 2 and 3. The food truck market also ends January 3.
Three Ways to Plan a Visit
The Wednesday visit. Arrive for Cowboy Claus at 4 p.m. on November 25, December 2 or December 9. Then take a 5 or 6 p.m. skate session and eat dinner at the trucks before they close at 8. It's the only weekday with a special Santa session while the rink and trucks are both open.
The Monday visit. Bring the dog to Pet Night between 4 and 7 p.m. On December 7, stay for the 6:30 menorah lighting near H&M. The rink and food trucks are closed.
The weekend visit. Saturdays give the longest skating window, from 1 to 7 p.m. Book Santa's photo ahead of time and plan around the 3 to 4 p.m. cookie break.
Whichever day you choose, bring a card for the rink, since it doesn't take cash. Cross County Center is at 8000 Mall Walk, Yonkers, NY 10704.
The team at Gino Bello Homes follows what's opening, closing and changing around Yonkers through the year, including the holiday calendars at local shopping centers. If you live near Cross County and want to know what the neighborhood's seasonal activity means for your home's value, request a free home valuation and market consultation and we'll go over it with you.
