A holiday on ice
<p>People of all ages and skill levels hit the ice on Saturday during a public skating session on Saturday at Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene. The arena will have extended public skating hours beginning on Sunday for its annual 12 Skates of Christmas, complete with holiday decorations on the rink.</p>
<p> At left, Kolbe Coey, 8, and Natalie Kozeleuh, 9, whiz around the ice rink during public skate on Saturday at Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>Ashlynn McKlendin, 10, smiles as she ice skates with her friends during her birthday party on Saturday at Frontier Ice Arena. The arena will be decorated and will offer extended public skating hours beginning on Sunday for its annual 12 Skates of Christmas.</p>
<p>Holding her mother Mariah's hand, Aurora Rodriquez, 5, of Post Falls, smiles as she sports a cat-decorated helmet while ice skating during public skating hours on Saturday at Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — The lights were hung from the rafters with care as the "12 Skates of Christmas" arrived.
A Christmas tree is set on center ice and the indoor rink of Frontier Ice Arena is decorated to feel like a frozen outdoor pond.
The "12 Skates of Christmas," which started Sunday, will run through Jan. 1.
“We are just trying to create a fun family atmosphere for people to be able to enjoy their families over the Christmas vacation,” said Vince Hughes, president of Kootenai Youth Recreation Organization.
Hughes’ daughter Natalina, who organized the event, said the arena usually has limited public skating hours four days a week, but for the "12 Skates of Christmas" the arena has extended the hours from noon-6:15 p.m. every day. She said last year they tried it from noon-3 p.m. with a later time of 5-7 p.m., and this year they are hoping the extended hours will help bring in more people.
"It didn’t make sense that we would have that break … I think this makes it more convenient for the families too, in case they couldn’t make one of the earlier times," Natalina said.
A snack area, Santa’s Cafe, is set up at one end of the ice with cookies and cocoa, and the Plexiglas that keeps hockey pucks from leaving the rink has been removed to allow access to the cafe.
Natalina said while food and drinks are not allowed on the ice, people can order before they are done skating so it will be ready for them when they are off the ice.
Holiday craft stations are available near the party room where kids can make free crafts each day from noon-3 p.m. A different craft will be made each day; for example, one day kids can make paper plate snowmen and another day they can make a candy cane sled.
"It’s actually really fun to do and I hope we get a lot of kids out here because it’s nice for them," Natalina said. "It’s just a really fun thing to do and it doesn’t take much time."
KYRO is a nonprofit which provides low-cost recreational opportunities for youths and families.
Hughes said he hopes people take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy spending the winter break with their kids while they are out of school.
"There’s not a ton of things for families to do here that are somewhat affordable over Christmas, so we set this up so families can come out and have a good time and build a lot of memories together and laugh," Hughes said. "And it’s something that toddlers and grandparents can come down and do together."
The price of skating during the "12 Skates of Christmas" is $7 per person. Skate rental is an additional $2, but families of five or more get free skate rentals and kids 5 and younger skate free.
The arena will close at 3 p.m. Thursday for Christmas Eve and will be closed all day Friday for Christmas.
Frontier Ice Arena is located at 3525 W. Seltice Way in Coeur d’Alene. For information, visit www.frontiericearena.org or call 765-4423.