Inside Scoop on Centennial Park Ice Skating

What: Centennial Park Outdoor Ice Rink
When: Nov. 14 – Jan. 31
Where: Centennial Olympic Park
Cost: $7 to skate and $2 for skate rental, Click here for discounts and see how you could win tickets.

Ice skating at the Centennial Olympic Park ice rink is a holiday tradition in my family. I recently asked Nicole Rateau, public relations specialist at Centennial Olympic Park to give FTWS the Inside Scoop on skating at the rink.

1. What is the best time to skate at the rink? There is no bad time to come to the rink But if you want to feel like you own the ice, come early in the week (M – W) or early in the mornings. Also just an FYI, groups that have 50+ or more skaters and pre-purchase tickets, we will open the rink privately outside of regular operating hours at no additional cost.

2. Sometimes we’ve been to the rink and the ice is a bit mushy. When is the ice the smoothest and most frozen? The ice rink does have a miniature Zamboni to smooth out the ice but the ice is the most fresh first thing in the morning and the most solid on cold, winter days.

3. What if I have small children? What is the best time for them to come? The best time for small children is in the mornings.

4. How long is the skating? Skating sessions are 90 minutes, but most people don’t spend 90 minutes on the ice. They are essentially going around in circles

5. What other holiday events are there at Centennial Park? Holiday in Lights opens Nov. 14 as well (but ends Jan. 3). 4250 individual strands of lights have been installed around the Park, (each 25 ft. long) that’s approximately 20 miles of lights!