Student Government and Campus Recreation invite students to join them on Friday to attend the AT&T Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink Opening Celebration in downtown Raleigh.
Student leaders from both Student Government and Campus Recreation will be serving hot chocolate and ice-skating on the rink during the event, which focuses on the natural ice skating rink that is opening.
According to Jeffrey Johnson, a junior in business administration and a member of Student Government, Campus Recreation has bought 50 skate passes to hand out to the first 50 students who show up to skate. Otherwise, skating will cost $6 a person, including the skate rental.
“I was talking with Campus Rec on a lot of different things and this came up that they were doing this. We thought this would be something cool to do,” Johnson said. “A big part of being a student is experiencing the community as well as the University.”
According to the Downtown Raleigh Web site, Winterfest is a two-month-long extravaganza featuring an outdoor skating rink with natural ice.
The event marks the opening of the ice rink and the lighting of the Christmas tree in the new City Plaza. There will also be a performance by the University’s own Jazz Band, singer Michelle Branch, a visit from Santa Claus, a reading by Theatre in the Park’s Christmas Carol Star Ira David Wood III and other activities.
The event, which lasts from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m., is expected to draw around 20,000 people from all over Raleigh.
Johnson said due to the expected crowds, parking downtown may be difficult. He encourages students that want to come out to carpool or take the WolfProwl, which will be running to and from the event.
Samantha Leibowitz, a junior in communication, is hoping to make it out to the event. She received a Facebook event invitation that Campus Recreation and Student Government created to bring attention of the event to students.
“I hope I can go and I’m really excited to go if I get the chance,” Leibowitz said. “It’s nice that they are planning something, especially around the holidays.”
Students who want to go out to the event Friday, but cannot make it, need not worry. According to Johnson, there will be two times in January that the ice rink will be rented out specifically for students.
Morgan Kelly, a senior in psychology, said she wants to go out Friday, but will not be able to attend.
“It sounds like a lot of fun to go ice skating and see the Christmas tree lighting. I’m sad I can’t go Friday, I grew up watching Ira David Wood in a Christmas Carol and I’m a big fan,” Kelly said. “I hope I get to make it out to the rink in January.”
Johnson said this is a way for students to enjoy each other before a week of exams.
“It’s the last day of class before exams start,” Johnson said. “It’s a way to go out and have a good time in the city of Raleigh at this big event and just have fun with each other.”