BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lace up those skates, Lehigh Valley. A brand new attraction on the ArtsQuest campus in South Bethlehem will soon be open for the season.
An authentic ice rink has been built at the base of Bethlehem Steel's iconic blast furnaces.
Construction started just after Halloween on the lawn in front of the Levitt Pavilion, with workers adding the finishing touches this week.
The venue is presented by Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital and it will be open daily – including holidays – from Tuesday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Jan. 1.
The process of laying the surface under the ice started Monday, Nov. 7 with the arrival of the necessary equipment, including a giant chiller. Ultimately, water was added and the ice was frozen one level at a time earlier this week.
You can watch the entire build in a time lapse video featured above. It was produced by the team at PBS39 thanks to a camera mounted on the Univest Public Media Center.
Rink Management Services Corporation oversaw the venue’s transformation. The company will be in charge of maintaining fresh ice throughout the day as the rink is used for open skating and group events such as birthday parties.
According to ArtsQuest, skating sessions will run for 75 minutes, starting every other hour at half past the hour.
Costs to skate are:
- 14 and older: $9
- 13 and younger: $7
- ArtsQuest member: $6
- Skate Rental: $6
- Group Rate (15 or more): $6 per person (not including skate rental) or $12 per person including skate rental
- Locker rental (optional/first come, first served): $10
- Skate aids (first come, first served): $10
ArtsQuest said it will open the rink every day, barring inclement weather or warm temperatures, and may have days where the rink will be closed if conditions are unsafe. That information will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
