Skate Westgate in Glendale is opening for the second straight year
Nov 20, 2017, 4:27 PM | Updated: 5:08 pm
PHOENIX — Skate Westgate will be opening for its second winter season with a tree lighting ceremony and professional skating show on Tuesday adjacent to Fountain Park in the Glendale.
Along with the tree lighting and professional skaters, Westgate will have free horse-drawn carriage rides, fake snowfalls and visits with Santa on a nightly basis. The lighting of the towering 36-foot holiday tree signifies the opening of the outdoor ice skating rink, one of few in the Valley.
More than 7,000 people are expected to attend the opening ceremony alongside Westgate Boulevard in front of Yard House in Glendale. The skating rink will run for seven weeks from Nov. 21- Jan. 7. Last year, 4,000 people attended the opening night ceremony and the popularity of the event encouraged organizers to bring it back for a second year.
The tree lighting event is free but prices for skating ranges from $11 for adults and children who bring their own skates, or $15 includes skate rental. Military and toddlers can rent skates for $11 and a season pass goes for $99.
Fountain Park, adjacent to Skate Westgate, is hosting nightly snowfall shows at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The snow shows last for eight minutes and will run every hour from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. There are no snow shows on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
There will be four horse-drawn carriages offering free rides on Fridays and Saturdays that tour the Westgate Entertainment District including the nearby home to the Arizona Coyotes, Gila River Arena. The rides will run from 5 p.m.- 9 p.m.
There are many ways to get in the spirit at Westgate, as the area will offer a full slate of holiday events.
