Lace up your skates for these rinks around Okanagan, Kamloops
Lace up your skates for these rinks around Okanagan, Kamloops
With temperatures dropping below the freezing mark at night, residents waiting to hit an outdoor rink in the Okanagan and Kamloops won't have to wait much longer. Preparations are underway for Kelowna’s popular outdoor skating destination Stuart Park. The rink is set to...
With temperatures dropping below the freezing mark at night, residents waiting to hit an outdoor rink in the Okanagan and Kamloops won't have to wait much longer.
Preparations are underway for Kelowna’s popular outdoor skating destination Stuart Park. The rink is set to open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, according to a press release from the city.
“We know residents look forward to the Stuart Park outdoor skating rink each and every year,” recreation supervisor Steve Hebden said in the release. “Crews are in the finishing stages of creating the ice, including a fun nod to Kelowna hosting the 2025 Brier, and we look forward to seeing our community come together to create lasting memories on the ice.”
This year the rink will have rings to celebrate the 2025 Montana’s Brier curling championship at Prospera Place in February.
READ MORE:Kelowna selected to host the 2026 Memorial Cup
https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-selected-to-hostthe-2026-memorial-cup/it107294
The rink is outside so it’s weather dependent but if all goes well it should be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the season. It closes on Mondays from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. for maintenance. Skate rentals are available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday except Christmas day. Click here to view the live camera to check rink conditions.
https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/parks-beaches/parks-beaches-listing/stuart-park
Folks who prefer to skate indoors can find drop-in public skating at MNP Place
https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/mnp-place
, Memorial Arena
https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/memorial-arena
and Rutland Arena
https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/rutland-arena
.
VERNON
Vernon’s Centennial Outdoor Rink
https://www.vernon.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/centennial-outdoor-rink
is set to have its first public skate at 9 a.m. on Dec. 1. It’s also weather dependent, but doesn’t offer skate rentals. The Centennial Outdoor Rink is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. but it has different times for public skate, senior skate, parent and tot and hockey.
Indoor skaters in Vernon can go to Priest Valley Arena and Kal Tire Place North
https://www.vernon.ca/parks-recreation/programs-schedules/skating-schedule-rates
at set times for public skating and hockey.
A short drive from Vernon will take you to SilverStar Mountain Resort where Brewer's Pond awaits. The 2.5-acre natural ice rink is tentatively set to open on Dec. 15. Go to SilverStar's website here for more information.
https://destinationsilverstar.com/experience/ice-skating/
PENTICTON
The non-profit Activate Penticton
https://www.activatepenticton.com/home
hasn’t announced an opening day for its downtown outdoor rink yet, but last year the rink opened on Dec. 16.
Fear not skaters in South Okanagan because Apex Mountain Resort’s outdoor skating loop
https://apexresort.com/adventure-skating-loop/
is scheduled to open on Dec. 7, and a skate pass is $5.
McLaren Arena
https://www.penticton.ca/parks-recreation/facility-hours-rates-bookings/mclaren-arena
in Penticton offers public skating at set times all year long.
KAMLOOPS
Kamloops residents are still waiting for their outdoor rink at Riverside Park. The $5.4 million project was approved in April 2023, and the goal is to have skaters on the ice next winter.
Skaters in Kamloops can get their fill of skating indoors
https://www.kamloops.ca/recreation-culture/programs-activities/skating
at set times at Brock Arena, McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, Memorial Arena, Sandman Arena, and Valleyview Arena.
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort
https://sunpeaksmunicipality.ca/skating-rink
also has a covered ice rink that's already open. It offers stick and skate rentals, but public skating is restricted to certain times.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas
mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca
or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor
mailto:news@infonews.ca
. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom
mailto:tips@infonews.ca
and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here.
https://infotel.ca/newsitem/code-of-ethics/it106782
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here
https://infotel.ca/newsletter
.