INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Get ready to lace up your skates and hit the rink for another season of ice skating outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Indiana Pacers.

The Elevance Health Rink at Morris Bicentennial Plaza in downtown Indianapolis will open for the winter season on Friday and the public is invited to celebrate with a day of festivities.

Opening day will feature public skating starting at 11 a.m., with the first 100 guests receiving free hot cocoa or cider. Live music from DJ Lockstar will begin at 4:30 p.m., accompanied by appearances from Pacers mascot Boomer, Fever mascot Freddy Fever, and the Pacemates.

Friday’s festivities will offer skaters the first chance to try two new sweet treats, says Erin Wittern, vice president of earned media and corporate communications for Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

“Our snack shack will be open and we’ve got two new treats this year. We have a peppermint cheesecake hot chocolate and then we have a really fun spin on donut holes. We call them peppermint snowballs. Both delicious! You’ve got to come down and try them,” Wittern said Friday on Daybreak.

The winter skating season is filled with special events, starting with “Cosmic Skate” on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

“We’re going to have a glow bar where you can pick up your glow sticks, glow bracelets, glow necklaces, and just have a good time with your family friends. And then we’ve got Santa and his reindeer on tap for December. He’s going to be making a few appearances.”

Pacers fans who like to ice skate are encouraged to hold onto their ticket. A special promotion this season allows fans to receive free skate rental by showing their Pacers game-day ticket either the day of, or the day after, their game.

General admission tickets can be purchased online GainbridgeFieldhouse.com/IceSkating.

Hours of Operation

The Elevance Health Rink will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 – 9 p.m. The rink will be open daily during students’ winter break from Dec. 18 – Jan. 4.

Private rink rentals are available Monday through Thursday throughout the season.

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