Ice Skating by the Wharf is back in the Monterey area for the holidays

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Holiday cheer is officially here on the Central Coast with the ice rink open for the season near Old Fisherman’s Wharf.

Brian Nichols lives in Seaside and has worked for the rink for the past four seasons. He said bringing the rink in the hotel plaza was no easy task. 

“A lot of us came in, like a week before, and put up a lot of the boards,” Nichols said. “And set up the ice, start filling the rink, and so on and so forth.” 

The final product gives people on the Central Coast a chance to ice skate with the Wharf as a backdrop. Mary Lamb who lives in Prunedale said she loves being able to skate outside. 

“It's not too cold here,” Lamb said. “But I think the sun just makes it even more fun to come outside because you're never going to be cold.” 

The rink also brings lots of kids out, just like Joey Lord from Monterey. He said it’s one of his favorite things to do during the season. 

“I’m just here ice skating. I do this about every year,” Lord said. “It’s calming, it’s difficult, it’s just fun in general too.” 

For some, the rink is more than just a place to skate, the ice became Olivia Brooks launching pad to take her skills to the next level. 

“I've been skating here about two years ago now, every season, and then I started skating competitively,” Brooks said. “I come here basically every day, as long as I can, and as long as it works, I come.” 

The rink will be open every Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 - 8 p.m. all the way until January 4. There will be special hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Years Eve and Day.