Downtown for the holidays: Ice plaza opens this weekend as city preps for annual seasonal events

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ice rink
The same type of temporary ice rink, pictured here is in Monterey, Calif. (Submitted photo)

Both new and old events will round out this year’s holiday season in Noblesville.

New features like the ice rink at the city’s newest park will give residents a chance to do something new downtown, while local businesses, the chamber, Noblesville Main Street and other organizations will offer various holiday activities, old and new.

The City of Noblesville will open its outdoor Ice Plaza Nov. 24 Federal Hill Commons.

This is the new park’s first winter season after opening in April.

“Federal Hill Commons was designed to be a year-round park so we want to offer a winter activity in our public space for people to enjoy this great downtown asset,” Mayor John Ditslear said. “The idea of ice skating came from public feedback from when we were designing the park.”

In total, the Noblesville Parks Dept. has spent the past several weeks working to bring the ice rink to the park’s Market Plaza. The rink measures approximately 50 feet by 80 feet.

The temporary ice rink will open at 11 a.m. Nov. 24 and will be open daily until January 8, 2018, except on Christmas Day.

Special event and themed nights will include food trucks and other fun activities starting at 6 p.m. on Fridays.

“Instead of offering sessions, our Ice Plaza allows skaters to enjoy the ice for as long as they want,” Parks Director Brandon Bennett said. “Admission is all day long, so after skating for a bit, patrons can visit any of our fantastic nearby restaurants and stores and return to skate some more without having to pay more.”

Advanced tickets may be purchased online at federalhillcommons.com/iceplaza and will allow participants to bypass the ticket line at the ice rink. The rink also will be available for private rentals before 1:30 p.m.  Mondays through Thursdays between Nov. 27 and Dec. 21, where corporate events, birthday parties or holiday events can be accommodated.

From Nov. 24 through Dec. 24, Ice Plaza hours will be 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. After Christmas, hours will be extended during winter break. It will open daily at 11 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The rink will close early at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Admission rates are $12. Guests may bring their own skates if they prefer, but renting skates is included in the admission fee. Admission rates of $10 are available for groups of 10 or more and also to those patrons that participate on special themed skate nights. Concessions also will be available for purchase during rink hours.

For additional information about the Ice Plaza, daily hours, advanced tickets, special events and sponsorship opportunities, visit federalhillcommons.com.

ICE PLAZA THEME NIGHTS

  • November 24 – “Frozen”
  • November 25 – Small Business Saturday
  • December 1 – Elf Party and Noblesville Fire Dept. Toy Drive
  • December 8 – Flannel Frost
  • December 15 – “Grinch” and Ugly Sweaters
  • December 22 – Cake & Skate
  • December 29 – Public Safety Night

OTHER FESTIVITIES IN NOBLESVILLE

parade 1

39th Annual Holiday Parade

At 2 p.m. Nov. 26, Noblesville’s annual holiday parade will begin at the corner of 16th Street and Harrison Street and will travel south on 16th to Logan Street; west on Logan to Ninth Street; north on Ninth to Monument Street; and east on Monument to 16th Street, where it will end.

tree lighting
The Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center houses the city/county annual tree-lighting festivities. (File photo)

Tree lighting

Starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 24, the City of Noblesville will officially kick off the start of the season with its annual tree lighting ceremony at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center on the east side of the downtown square. Each year, live music rounds out the event, along with a special reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” with Mayor John Ditslear, before the downtown and historic courthouse square lights are ceremonially lit.

 

Small business Saturday

All day on Nov. 25, Noblesville’s downtown businesses will celebrate Small Business Saturday. Many of the stores will have sales to start the holiday shopping season. Look for the blue Small Business Saturday and “Shop Small” signs in store windows. Every purchase shoppers make a participating merchant earns them one entry in the raffle to win $100 cash. The drawing will take place Nov. 28. Participating merchants are A Corner Cottage, Adrienes Flowers and Gifts, Bash Boutique, Caravan Classes, Courtney’s Kitchen, Karisma, Kiln Creations, Logan Village Mall, Linden Tree, Lil Bloomers, LittleGypsie Boutique, Love’s Hangover, Nickel Plate Arts, Old Picket Fence, Shine Yoga and Wellness Studio and Whimzy. Also, shoppers are encouraged to visit the Noblesville Main Street tent in the alley on the east side of the square, which will have Small Business Saturday swag and more.

First Friday

On Dec. 1, Noblesville Main Street will be handing out free hot chocolate from 5 to 8 p.m. at Santa’s House on the south side of the downtown square.

Chicago bus trip

Noblesville Parks and Recreation will take a day trip to explore shops and holiday lights in Chicago on its annual bus trip Dec. 2 The bus will leave Noblesville City Hall, 16 S. 10th St., at 7 a.m. and will return at approximately 11 p.m. The cost is $50 per person and the deadline to register is 4 p.m. Nov. 29, or when the bus is filled. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To register, or for more information, call the parks office at 317-776-6350, or visit www.noblesvilleparks.org.

Holiday Market

Noblesville Main Street’s annual Holiday Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville. This year’s market will feature more than 70 vendors with a variety of gift and food options. For more, visit Noblesville Main Street’s Facebook page.


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