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 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 .