Everyone knows Sacramento is not a city with a true winter season. People looking for gloomy days, chilly nights, and snow usually must travel to Tahoe.

However, Sacramento’s annual ice skating rink brings a taste of a traditional winter to the city.

Located between K and J Streets on 20th Street, the ice skating rink will be in midtown this year instead of its previous Downtown Plaza location due to street construction.

Opening on Friday, Nov. 20, the rink will be open until Jan. 18, 10 a.m.–10 p.m., seven days a week.

Fortunately, the prices are cheap ($8 for adults, $5 for children and $2 for skate rental), and the rink doesn’t cost the city a cent.

“We try to estimate how many people will come and determine our prices by that so we can break even after paying the contractor,” operations manager Aja Uranga-Foster said.

Therefore, the rink actually pays for itself.

Uranga-Foster estimates that about 24,000 people will visit the rink this year.

For those who don’t know how to skate, the rink will offer instructors to teach group or private lessons.

How many instructors are available at the rink is unclear at the moment. But instructors will take reservations for lessons or walk-ins.

Only 22 percent of high-school students have been to the annual rink.

But those who have, enjoyed it.

“I like the fact that it is only once a year at winter. It makes it more exciting waiting a year to be able to go again, so it’s special,” sophomore Lyria Beck said.

Beck went for the first time with her family when she was much younger. She said it was different from the popular rollerblading rink, King’s Skate, where all of her friends would go.
Senior Angelica Gonzalez is another fan.

“The atmosphere is lively but relaxing at the same time. They play fun holiday music, and going with a group of friends is always fun,” Gonzalez said.