‘Holidays at the Ice Rink': Skate on Real Ice at El Paso County Events Center
El Paso Winterfest’s use of synthetic “ice” at its outdoor rink this year has left many ice-skating enthusiasts feeling disappointed with their experience. If its ice you’re looking to glide on, you do have an option.
The El Paso Hockey Association is opening up the El Paso County Sierra Providence Events Center for public skating every day during winter break.
The El Paso Rhinos’ indoor rink doesn’t have the glitz and glam of the downtown outdoor rink and its Winterfest surroundings, but it is our area’s largest and only indoor professional ice-skating rink.
And if you’d prefer not to skate on “a lubricated surface that simulates ice,” then skating sessions at “Holidays at the Ice Rink” is your best alternative.
Event Center Upgrades
Plus, the County Events Center recently underwent $150,000 worth of rink upgrades after winning the Kraft Hockeyville USA competition. Kraft fixed and insulated the roof, replaced the lights in the concourse and in the arena, added breezeways, and replaced the lights and mat flooring in the concourse.
Check out how shiny and new it looks now.
Holidays on the Ice Rink Skate Times and Days
The El Paso County Sierra Providence Events Center is open every day from December 18 thru January 4, excluding Christmas Day.
There will be two skating sessions daily: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
How Much
The cost to skate is $15 per person. You can either bring your own skates, or if you down own a pair, no worries they got you. I'm told they have over 900 hundred pairs of skates ranging from toddler size 7 to adult size 15.
How to Get There
The Sierra Providence Events Center is located at 4100 E. Paisano in the same parking lot as the El Paso County Coliseum. Pro tip: like all indoor rinks, no matter what the weather is like outside its always chilly indoors, so bring a jacket and a pair of gloves.