Temporary Ice Skating Rink Coming to Hope This Holiday Season

The upcoming holiday season will be here before you know it and thanks to the Hope Advertising and Tourist Promotions Commission's regular meeting this week, residents of the community will enjoy a temporary ice skating rink.

Board members are planning to test what they call an "artificial" ice skating rink before setting it up to be used this holiday season, according to Southwest Arkansas Today. Tourist commissioners are hoping to have part of the rink assembled for testing by November 7, 2022.

Ice Skating

The rink is scheduled to be open for a seven-weeks beginning Thanksgiving week and running until New Year's Day. The cost of skating on the ice rink will be $5 for 30-minutes which will also include the skates. The rink will be able to handle a total of 25 skaters at any given time.

Skating at The Hub

The rink is scheduled to be set up at "The Hub" downtown under the pavilion and visitors will enjoy the sound of music and a holiday-decorated theme around the area. Hay bales will be set up around the rink to keep skaters from crashing off the rink and to ensure the safety of guests.

There will be concession stands and food vendor booths set up near the rink, as well as bleachers for those wishing to watch the skaters. Most importantly, civic organizations and church groups are welcome to volunteer and supervise the rink with half the proceeds from the admission going to them.

So, start making plans now for this holiday season for a road trip to Hope for some exciting ice skating fun. If I'm correct the nearest ice skating rink in Arkansas is in Little Rock. I know they have one in Northwest Arkansas.

Happy skating!