Ice skating in Modesto? Where you can lace up and glide right now

Modesto is back on ice for the season.

No, it’s not a drastic drop in temperature, but the return of a popular downtown destination, the Modesto On Ice skate rink.

Set up again in the parking lot of Modesto Centre Plaza on K and 11th streets, the ice rink opened anew on Saturday and plans to remain up and running daily through Jan. 21. That includes holidays, so families can spend a portion of their celebrations taking in the traditional winter activity before or after their big meals.

There’s a refreshed Snack Shack set up to handle crowds better this year with some additional items for sale, as well. You can sip hot cocoa rink-side while you rest in the seating area or watch friends and family glide across the ice.

While several were on the ice enjoying a crisp Saturday afternoon, it was a lighter crowd than they had for a soft opening Friday night, according to co-owner Jerome Murray, when they let in just 100 skaters. “We had to turn people away,” he said.

Season passes are available as well as 10-visit passes, along with regular individual session tickets. Hours are 1 to 10 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends as well as on Friday, Nov. 24. For more see www.modestoonice.com.

It’s not the only ice rink in the region – Turlock Fields of Ice also opened Friday at R.A.M. Farms, 716 N. Daubenberger Drive, and plans to remain open through Jan. 15.

The Turlock rink also has holiday hours scheduled and is open most days 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fields of Ice also offers skating lessons on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons. For more on that rink, see turlockfieldsofice.com.

This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Ice skating in Modesto? Where you can lace up and glide right now."