The downtown Sacramento ice rink on K Street has been a fun and family-friendly holiday tradition for locals since 1991.

Open seven days a week, the skate rink is a wonderful place to spend time with family and friends and celebrate the holidays this winter season.

Sophomore criminal justice major Jamie Lyons, 19, went to the skate rink for the first time this year with her family and she did not realize how easy it was to learn how to ice skate.

“At first, I thought ice skating was going to be really hard to get a hold of especially when I’ve never used ice skates before,” Lyons said. “But it’s just like roller-skating. You will fall the first few times, but you get the hang of it after a while.”

For those looking to learn how to ice skate, the rink offers lessons that last an hour and 45 minutes and occur every two hours starting at 2 p.m. Skaters are welcome to skate during a session that has already started, but if they wanted the full hour and 45 minutes, it is recommended to buy a wristband and wait for the next session to start.

Admission is $8 and skate rentals are $2 and the skate rink offers promotions throughout the week to give skaters a discount.

The rink offers date night, which lasts from 4-8 p.m. on Monday and includes free skate rentals with a receipt from any restaurant in the downtown area. The rink provides free skate rentals with a receipt from any store in the Plaza on Tuesdays.

Every Thursday, the rink hosts themed night where skaters can dress up according to theme, such as ugly sweater, tie dye and 80s prom night. The next theme night for the rink will be Disney superheroes on Dec. 5 and skaters receive free skate rentals if dressed in costume.

Lyons said she did not know ahead of time to look for specials and discounts for ice skating when she arrived with her family.

“If only I would have known about the theme nights ahead of time, I would have totally dressed up,” Lyons said. “Next time, I’ll have to come out with a few friends just so we have an excuse to wear ugly sweaters.”

Kateri Tillman, 22, who works out at the 24-Hour Fitness across the street from the rink, is anticipating attending the skating rink with her friends this winter.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I have always loved ice skating,” Tillman said. “Some of my fondest memories skating were spent at the outdoor rink in Yosemite so I expect it to be just as fun, especially since it is outside rink.”

Downtown Sacramento Partnership Director of Events, Annie Stuckert, said she loves seeing the new faces who skate each and every year.

“It’s been a holiday tradition for 23 years and every year, it gets better and better,” Stuckert said. “And with the new renovations happening in the area with the new arena, it will only increase and bring in more people during the season.”

The skate rink will be open to the public until Jan. 20.

Sammie Moreno can be reached at [email protected]