Break out your toe loops, axle jumps, and swizzles: it’s time to go ice skating in Big Spring Park! That’s right: Skating in the Park 2015 is officially open. And before you go to Skating in the Park 2015, here’s all the information you need to know.

Skating in the Park: Essential Info

Here’s all the essential Skating in the Park 2015 information.

Dates

Skating in the Park opened November 20, 2015 and is open seven days a week. Skating will close on Monday, January 4, 2016!

Hours vary by day of the week. The weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas will have extended hours.

Hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 4 pm – 10 pm
• Friday: 4 pm – Midnight
• Saturday: 10 am – Midnight
• Sunday: Noon – 8 pm

Special Thanksgiving Week Hours:

• Monday through Wednesday (Nov. 23 – 26): 10 am to 10 pm
• Thanksgiving Day (Nov 27) and Friday (Nov 28): 10 am to midnight

Special Christmas Day Hours:

• Dec. 25:  2 to 10 pm

Special New Years Day Hours:

• Jan. 1: 2 to 10 pm

Rink Location

The skating rink is located in downtown Huntsville directly behind the Huntsville Museum of Art in Big Spring Park.

Costs

You’ll want to bring money for admission and skate rental. If you have your own ice skates, bring them and save $3. Make sure to bring some extra money for snacks and hot chocolate.

Admission:

• $10: ages nine and up
• $5: ages eight and under
• $8: for groups of 10 or more

Your admission is good for the whole day, which means you can leave and come back the same day.

Skates:

• Skate rental: $3
• Scooter rental: $5

You can also bring your own skates free of charge. The skates available for rent are hockey skates. The smallest size available is toddler size 9 and goes up to adult size 13.

The skates available for rent are hockey skates. The smallest size available is toddler size 9 and goes up to adult size 13.

Forms of payment accepted:

• Cash
• Credit cards

Who Should Go

Everyone can enjoy Skating in the Park! There are benches beside the rink to rest or watch the icy fun from afar. For the younger family members, you can rent a scooter for $5.

Skating in the Park: Tips

Special Events

Have even more fun at these special events (more to come..)

School Nights

• Date and Times: Monday’s – Wednesday’s, November 30 – December 16; 4 – 5:30 pm
• Cost: $8 for ages 9 and up including skate and scooter rental
  $5 for ages 8 and under including skate and scooter rental
  (No reservations are necessary to schedule a school group skate, but schools with questions should contact Andrea Petroff at apetroff@hsvmuseum.org or 256-535-4350 ext. 214.)

Ice Works 

Did all that skating make you work up an appetite?  This year’s Skating in the Park 2015 rink side snack bar features Ice Works! They’ll be serving up tasty snacks including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, soda, hot cocoa, coffee, and more. The perfect way to warm up.

What to Wear

Here are some tips for what to wear for the best skating experience:

• Dress in Layers: No matter how cold it is outside, ice skating is exercise, which means you’ll heat up. So dress in layers. Preferably ones that you won’t mind the public seeing.
• Coat: Top off your layered outfit with a coat. One you can move in
• Gloves: Ice is cold so protect your hands with a nice pair of gloves. I’d recommend fleece or leather. Anything else will get soaking wet and even colder after a couple falls (not that I’m speaking from experience…)
• Socks: Finish off your ensemble with a thick pair of socks.