The wait is nearly over for skating to return to two of London’s three outdoor rinks.
The City of London announced on Friday the skating trail at Storybook Gardens and the free rink at Victoria Park are currently being iced up. With the preparations underway and weather permitting, the plan is to open the skate trail on December 3 and the downtown park rink on December 9.
Storybook’s 250-metre skating trail winds through the grounds of Springbank Park, looping around the play village and is lit up for the season each night. It will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 2 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Sundays. Admission to the trail is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for those 17 and younger. For anyone who wants to skate but doesn't have skates of their own, rentals will be available at a cost of $6.50 per person.
At Victoria Park, the rink will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Public washrooms will be available for use inside the Kiwanis Memorial Bandshell from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Skaters who work up an appetite will be able to purchase a snack at the bandshell from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Friday and from noon until 10 p.m. on weekends. Skates can also be rented at the bandshell for $7 per person.
Status of the park rink can be checked before leaving home by calling 519-661-4529.
The city's third outdoor rink - the Rotary Rink at Covent Garden Market - will have a delayed opening this season. With the Holly Jolly Market taking over Rotary Square in front of the downtown market from December 2 to 18, the opening date for the skating rink has been pushed back into the new year. The city plans to have the Rotary Rink iced and ready for skaters in early January.
More information about public skating in the city can be found on the city's website.