Enjoying some outdoor time at the Stuart Park ice rink.

(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

As temperatures drop and we inch closer to winter, Thompson Okanagan cities prepare to open their outdoor skating rinks to the public.

Here’s where you can enjoy an outdoor skate this winter season — just be sure to check the ice is thick enough if you are venturing onto local lakes:

Stuart Park

Kelowna’s Stuart Park skating rink offers free skating from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Starting Dec. 1, residents can enjoy daily skates starting at 10 a.m. that day until late February, weather permitting, according to the City of Kelowna.

“With the return of winter weather comes another season of fun at Stuart Park,” said Steve Fagan, arenas supervisor with the city, in the news release. “Crews are already working on getting the ice prepared, and we look forward to welcoming our community back to the rink in the coming weeks.”

Skates will be available to rent on-site from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily throughout the skating season, except for Dec. 25, when the rental shop will be closed for the day. Visitors are reminded that equipment rentals are cash only and weather permitting.

Drop-in public skating is also available indoors at Capital News Centre, Memorial Arena and Rutland Arena.

Centennial Outdoor Rink

Vernon’s Centennial Outdoor Rink opens for the season Dec. 4, according to the city’s website. Free public skating is available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. from Sunday to Friday and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

It provides free public skating, parent and tot, shinny, ringette, girls hockey and School District #22 usage.

For a full schedule of events on the rink, visit the city’s website. 

Activate Penticton Society

An outdoor skating rink next to Penticton’s city hall is expected to open the first week of December, according to Activate Penticton Society, the organization funding the rink.

Located at 107 Martin Street, you can park and access the rink from Martin St. After 5 p.m., free parking is available in the City Hall parking lot.

Kamloops outdoor rinks

The City of Kamloops has areas set up in a number of parks where ice surfaces can be created. Local community groups work with the City to build the outdoor rinks, which are dependent on weather, COVID-19 restrictions and volunteer availability. Below is a list of city parks that may be home to an outdoor rink:

• Westsyde Centennial Park, 705 Franklin Rd.
• Juniper Park, 2150 Qu’appelle Blvd.
• Thompson Park, 6500 Beaver Cres.
• Valleyview Centennial Park, 2288 Park Dr.
• Len Haughton Park, 595 Lister Rd.
• Pineview Valley Park, 1925 Hugh Allan Dr.

Tourism Kamloops also suggests Albert McGowan Park, Stake Lake, Inks Lake, Little Heffley Lake and Shumway Lake. Get more information here. 

Thompson Okanagan ski resorts

Most of the Thompson Okanagan's ski resorts provide outdoor skating opportunities.

Big White Ski Resort, about 60 kilometres southwest of Kelowna, says it has the highest outdoor skating rink in Canada. Skating is free and skates, helmets and hockey sticks can be rented. Opening date is not yet set. 

Sun Peaks Resort, about 45 minutes north of Kamloops, has an NHL sized ice skating rink open to the public. Skate rentals are available. 

SilverStar Resort, around 20 km northeast of Vernon, uses the frozen 2.5-acre surface of Brewer’s Pond as a skating rink, accommodating casual, figure skaters and hockey players. Skating hasn’t opened yet but more information can be found on the resort’s website. 

Apex Mountain Resort, approximately 33 km west of Penticton, has a skating loop that users can even enjoy at night. Skate rentals are available but the loop is currently closed. 

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