Get your skates on for some frozen fun

WHEN the going gets cold the cold can get their skates on and warm up fairly fast after Ballarat Winter Festival’s ice skating rink opened this week.

The festival’s signature pop-up rink has returned to the corner of Sturt and Armstrong streets for its 12th year, offering a fun way to pass time and get active in the heart of the CBD.

The first of the rink sessions glided into action on Monday with Learn to Skate lessons offering beginners of all ages the chance to build confidence with some guidance from a qualified Australian Professional Skaters’ Association coach.

Plenty of locals and visitors lined up to pull on some skates and gain some new skills as part of the lessons.

People of all ages can also book in a public skating session until the end of the festival on 19 July.

The pop-up rink will offer a range of sessions to suit all experience levels.

These include dedicated family-friendly sessions designed to provide a more relaxed environment for younger skaters and beginners, as well as sensory sessions for people with additional needs or those who prefer a quieter setting.

“If you’ve thought about giving skating a try, I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity right in the heart of Ballarat,” said City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves.

“It really captures what Ballarat Winter Festival is all about, bringing people together and enjoying winter in a different way.”

The full Ballarat Winter Festival program, which also includes Ballarat’s Hot Choc Showdown, Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill, Knights of Fire at Kryal Castle, and the HIDDEN inflatable art installation at Civic Hall, can be found at ballaratwinterfestival.com.au