Fountain Square ice rink opens early with new events and features

Caitlin Koenig | Monday, November 9, 2015

New U.S. Bank Ice Rink events include human bowling on Tuesday nights Provided

Watch It & Wear It movie events are on Wednesdays Provided

A larger warming tent was added to this year's U.S. Bank Ice Rink on Fountain Square Provided

The U.S. Bank Ice Rink on Fountain Square opened on Halloween, 21 days earlier than last year. Along with the longer season, the rink boasts a number of new features for the holidays.

Like other outdoor rinks across the country, the U.S. Bank rink uses a special type of ice that stays solid at temperatures of up to 65 degrees. This helps the rink stay open even on unseasonably warm days and allows 3CDC, which manages the rink, to extend the skating season.

A 60-foot warming tent was added adjacent to the rink, and the skate rental booth doubled in size along with double the number of skates available to rent. A larger concessions tent with an expanded menu has debuted as well.

3CDC also expanded the programming offered at the rink, including weekly theme nights in November and December:

• After School Special 2-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays through Nov. 26: Students under 18 receive free skate rental and can watch cartoons on the Fifth Third Bank LED Video Board

• Meet Your Match 5-10 p.m. Mondays through Nov. 23: Show your online dating profile for free skate rental

• Bowling on Ice 5-10 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 17: Human bowling on ice; bring two non-perishable food items for free skate rental and bowling pass, with proceeds going to St. Vincent de Paul

• Watch It & Wear It Wednesday 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Nov. 25: Catch a Disney movie on the video board and come dressed as your favorite character for a chance to win a prize; films include Frozen, Toy Story and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• College Night 5-10 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 19: Show your school ID for free skate rental

• Santa Skates 12-1 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays Nov. 28 to Dec. 20

Macy's Light Up the Square is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27.

The rink is open 12-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 18, with extended hours on Thanksgiving Day and the day before. Holiday hours (Dec. 19-Jan. 4) will be 9 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Hours will change again for the remainder of the skating season (Jan. 4-Feb. 15).

Admission to the rink is $6, and skate rental is $4.

For a full schedule as well as special holiday skates and post-holiday events, visit Fountain Square’s website.

Read more articles by Caitlin Koenig.

Caitlin Koenig is a Cincinnati transplant and 2012 grad of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri. She's the department editor for Soapbox Media and currently lives in Northside with her husband, Andrew, and their three furry children. Follow Caitlin on Twitter at @caite_13.