'Ice' in Prattville's rink may not be real, but the holiday spirit sure is
PRATTVILLE — Ice skating in downtown Prattville? Well, close enough.
A rink has been added to the city's Christmas entertainment offerings. It's not really the frozen stuff, it's a synthetic material applied on a flat surface, that allows you to glide.
The ice skates are real, though. And so is the fun, gauging from Thursday night's kickoff. Youngsters took to the rink, 25 for half an hour at a time, to take part in the decidedly un-Southern holiday tradition.
"It was fun!" 10-year-old Tate Bryant said, after coming off the. "I fell down a few times, but it's didn't hurt too bad. I think it helped that I know how to roller skate."
The rink opened as part of the city's Christmas celebration kickoff at the Gurney Property along the iconic millpond downtown. The list of activities included the annual Christmas tree lighting, holiday music and food trucks. And oh yeah, there was even "snow." The white stuff was really liquid soap fluffed up and blown out of air cannons.
"It looks like a scene out of a Hallmark Christmas movie," said Aimme Deese, of Prattville. "I love the way Prattville celebrates Christmas."
That's just what Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. wants to hear. He flipped the switch lighting the tree.
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"Christmas and the holiday season a a special time," he said. "We have always received positive comments from people, from Prattville and Autauga County as well as other communities who come to Prattville, about how much they enjoy the lights and everything going on downtown.
"The ice skating is new this year, but it already looks to be a very popular addition to our Christmas celebrations. It looks like a lot of good memories are being made tonight."
The city has rented the rink and skates from an company in Arizona for about $20,000.
It's $5 per person to skate for 30 minutes. You have to be 5 or older to skate. The rink will be open the rest of December, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas.
"This isn't a money making operation," Gillespie said. "But with the $5 per person fee, I think we will break even, or come very close to breaking even."
How it works
The rink will be through December, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Monday through Thursday: 5 to 9 p.m.
Friday: 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 1 to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 1 to 9 p.m.
Cost is $5 per person, which includes skate rental. That covers a 30 minute session on the "ice". Tickets are first come, first served and there is a limit of 25 people on the surface at time.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: 'Ice' in Prattville's rink may not be real, but the holiday spirit sure is
