Lace up the skates at Festival Square

Festival Square is putting the holidays on ice for downtown visitors. A seasonal outdoor skating rink is expected to open Friday. Installation and flooding of the ice surface started on Monday.

When the rink is finished, it will be open for skating from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. as long as weather permits into 2023.

Emily Chong, marketing and communications manager with Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization

Zone, said Monday no hockey or figure skating will be allowed on the natural ice surface. She said the rink could be open into February or March.

Justin Schipper, project administrator for Opportunity Lethbridge, said the ice will be at least four inches thick when the surface is ready for visitors to don skates.

Ice resurfacing and maintenance will be ongoing.

No physical security will be present, said Chong, but there are surveillance cameras facing the surface.

Chong called Festival Square “a perfect place” to set up a rink.

Signage and user rules will be posted at the site when the rink opens.