Ice skating is open daily at The Pavilion.

After stepping out into the icy wind last Saturday to go ice skating, I darted back inside my cozy home to grab an extra layer. With it being one of the first days to actually feel like winter, my body had yet to adjust to the chilly temperatures.

Once I arrived at The Pavilion, I waited inside behind a long but quickly moving line of others waiting to purchase tickets and ice skate rentals. The energy was high, and the room was filled with the excited chatter of young families and adults prepared to hit the rink.

The ice rink itself was hopping. The well-kept, sleek ice and hit music playing over the loudspeaker made it easy to enjoy laps around the arena. But each time I approached the side of the rink with doors for skaters to exit and enter, the moving traffic would bunch up, and I had to take extra care to avoid both the skaters zooming past me and those slowing to a crawl in front of me.

I asked a group of young professionals visiting The Pavilion on a work retreat from Bozeman, Montana, about their experience. They had hoped to go climbing, but the blustering winds led them to their backup plan, ice skating.

“It’s been chaotic, almost because of the chaos, it’s fun,” Tyler Tennant said. “And it’s covered. And it’s cold, but you work up a sweat.”

“The rink is really pretty,” said co-worker Mallory Fisher. “And although the weather is not so friendly, it’s a very welcoming environment here.”

The Pavilion will be welcoming winter with open arms at the Winter Solstice Celebration Friday. The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation to benefit NeighborImpact, with which they’ll receive a discounted $6 admission price including skate rental. Among twinkling lights, Bend Ice Figure Skating Club will perform at 6:30 p.m. and special treats will be offered to ice skaters.

“We didn’t host it last year because of COVID, but it’s been one of our most popular events in the wintertime. We’ve done it since 2016,” said Kevin Collier, Pavilion supervisor, noting that the ice conditions are expected to be desirable this weekend.

Extended open skate sessions called Holiday Skate will be offered at The Pavilion from Dec. 18 through Jan. 2 for the cost of $12 per adult and $10 for kids ages 3-18 including a skate rental. The Pavilion expects the ice-skating season to last until mid-April and is currently targeting closing weekend on April 10.

If you’re looking for additional options for ice skating, but with a twist, Seventh Mountain Resort encourages ice skaters to come dressed in costume for a country night every Thursday and cosmic skate night on Fridays. Admission with skate rentals is $15 for ages 11 and up and $10 for ages 10 and under with discounts for bringing your own skates, dressing in costume and donating to their food drive. Reservations are highly recommended and open skate sessions take place every day of the week except Monday.

Another option for spending time on the rink this winter is at the charming Village at Sunriver. Practice your on-ice moves to hit music at this covered rink and then explore the village’s nearby shops and restaurants afterward. Reservations are not required, and ice skating is offered daily weather permitting. Ages 13 and up skate for $15 and kids under 13 for $11 with a skate rental included.

For the best deal on ice skating, head to the Redmond Ice Skating Rink located in Redmond’s downtown plaza. It just opened to the public Thursday and offers ice skating for $5 per person with a skate rental, or just $1.25 per person if you bring your own skates. You can even skate for free from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, just be aware the ice is not groomed and skate at your own risk.