Who says there is no such thing as a semi-outdoor skating rink in Florida? Surely not All Campus Events (ACE) and the City of Winter Park, who hosted the opening of the second annual Winter in the Park skating rink on Nov. 19. Though Winter Park had run the event last season, this year the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership (OSIL) and ACE decided to designate one night when Rollins students could walk down Park Avenue and use their RCards to get a discount at the skating rink.
Jerrid Kalakay, an OSIL advisor, explained that “Winter Park had reached out to OSIL and ACE to get involved.” He added that “ACE is always looking for ways to involve Rollins and the Winter Park community,” which is how Rollins ended up sponsoring an evening of fun for its students.
In addition to the rink, there was also a snack bar that provided the skaters with hot chocolate and other winter treats, giving them the necessary sustenance to skate. Festive music also played over the speakers, with plenty of Christmas lights and other decorations to set the mood. On Friday night, several Rollins students were in attendance, happily enjoying the holiday atmosphere, as well as the discount, that ACE and Winter Park had created. “It’s fun to get away [from campus],” Lawna Hunter ’12 said. Her friend Jessica Moreland ’11 added, “It’s really cool. I like that they have an ice rink here in Florida.”
As for future ACE holiday festivities, on Dec. 2, Rollins will host a “Snow Day,” which will include cookie decorating, gingerbread house building and, of course, snow. ACE is also contributing to Rollins’ Holiday Fun Fest on Dec. 8. For the time being however, ACE is satisfied with its involvement and success with Winter in the Park. “We are looking to make it a bigger deal in the future,” Jenn Shea ’11 said, explaining that next year ACE plans to advertise Winter in the Park and the Rollins discount even more so that the turnout will top this year’s. Winter in the Park will continue through Jan. 9. It is only $10 to rent a pair of skates, so walk down Park Avenue and take advantage of this opportunity to say that you went ice skating in Florida!
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