The countdown to Christmas has reached single digits and by now you’ve likely participated in most, if not all, of your favorite Valley holiday events. There are many wonderful wintertime traditions in the Rocket City, but if you’re looking for a unique holiday experience, you’ll find it on the west lawn of Huntsville’s Museum of Art.

There, Huntsville’s first outdoor ice skating rink was recently constructed. The 50-by-70-foot rink was brought to Huntsville by the Foundation Board at the Huntsville Museum of Art. In addition to giving Huntsvillians an outdoor space to “play” this holiday season, proceeds from the rink will help to raise funds for the Museum.

AND to make your holidays extra merry, Our Valley Events is giving away 4 passes for ice skating and 4 passes to the Museum of Art, where you can see their two latest exhibitions, Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum and London and Divine Masterpieces: Selections from Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery. Enter at the end of the post.

Family Fun on the Ice

When I saw a flyer proclaiming “Ice Is Coming to Huntsville”, I immediately made space in our family’s busy December calendar for a night of family fun. My husband grew up playing hockey and has long been anxious to get our 4-year-old son on the ice. I knew that skating under the stars with my family would be an enjoyable experience – in spite of my own lack of experience and skill on the ice.

Skating in Downtown Huntsville

While my parents walked our delighted toddler up and down the Tinsel Trail – my  husband, son, and I donned our rented skates. My first few steps in my skates felt awkward and Bambi-like – it had been years since I’d been skating. However, once I stepped onto the ice a huge grin spread across my face. There’s something magical about ice skating that can make even a tired mom feel like, well, a kid at Christmas.

Before we knew it, the time had come to take the kids home to bed. We returned our skates to the skate rental tent and collected our shoes. On the way out, we stopped for hot chocolate at the rink’s concession stand. As we walked along the lovely Tinsel Trail, I was already planning our return trip to the ice skating rink downtown.

Ice Skating Tips:

If you’re like most Valley residents, ice skating is probably not a common occurrence for you. Here are some tips for your trip to the rink:

• Tighten Up Those Laces – You’ll be less likely to fall if the skates fit snuggly around your ankles.
• Dress In Layers – An ice skating rink next to a frigid pond is a chilly place to be, but you may want to shed a layer after a few laps around the rink.
• Don’t Look Down – It’s tempting to look at your feet, but keep your head up so you don’t collide with any fellow skaters.
• Practice Stopping – Practice putting the brakes on, it’s less painful than crashing into the wall.
• Dress Appropriately – Your pants should be fitted enough that they don’t trip you up. Also, don’t forget to wear socks.

Skating on Huntsville’s first outdoor ice skating rink is an unforgettable holiday experience. Make room in your December calendar for a night of skating under the stars with your family and friends. Don’t fret if your holiday calendar is booked from here to December 25th, the downtown skating rink will be open until January 5th.

Event Details

Dates: Now – January 5, 2013
Location: West lawn of Huntsville Museum of Art [spacer size=”0″]
Time:
Monday-Thursday: Noon – 10 pm
Friday: Noon – Midnight
Saturday: 10 am – Midnight
Sunday: Noon – 8 pm
Cost:
Ice rink admission-$10 a person/$8 per person for groups of 15+
Skate rental- $3 for skate rental or bring your own for free!
More Information: 256-535-4350, ext. 208

Special Event: On Saturday December 22nd from 3-7pm you can skate with Santa!

Giveaway