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Holiday skating returns this week for second year

Holiday skating opens Tuesday and continues through New Year's Day. [PHOTO BY AMPLIFIED MEDIA]

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 18, 2017

Holiday skating returns to downtown Hendersonville on Tuesday and continues through New Year’s Day.

“We weren’t sure what to expect last year, but it exceeded our expectations,” says Mia Freeman, a downtown merchant who oversees the event. “We had more than 3,500 visitors.”

This year, the rink in the Visitor Center parking lot on South Main Street includes a winter wonderland of activities. Folks can roast marshmallows over a fire pit and make s’mores, sip hot chocolate and cider, visit with Santa Claus, take photos in Christmas-themed cutouts, play corn hole and other games and hop aboard carriage rides.

The skating rink’s synthetic ice allows for skating in any weather. The surface is ideal for learning to skate because it provides more control than the typical natural surface.

Skating sessions are 45 minutes long, and the rink accommodates 40 people at a time.

The winter wonderland and holiday skating are part of Henderson County’s Home for the Holidays events, which run through the New Year.

“We hope people come and make a tradition out of it,” Freeman says. “We hope they go uptown from the skating rink and try the restaurants, do some shopping, and see all the different things Main Street has to offer. It’s a wonderful way to bring the whole community together.”

Regular skating hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with the final skating session beginning at 7 p.m. The rink will hold special hours on Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Christmas Day, noon to 4 p.m.; New Year’s Eve, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and New Year’s Day, noon to 4 p.m.

Visits with Santa take place 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 19-24, and carriage rides run 6-9 p.m. Dec. 22, 23, 30 and 31.

Skating is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and younger. Group rates are available for 12 or more. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Henderson County America in Bloom Committee. For a full schedule of Home for the Holidays events, go to www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org/Home-for-the-Holidays or call (800) 828-4244.