Editor's Note: Call ahead as blizzard expected.

BY GABRIELLE KROEGER
For North Country This Week

Recreation Centers in Massena and Ogdensburg have holiday skating events planned for the week of Christmas break for people of all ages to attend.

Free skating over the holiday break and a chance to share the ice with Santa just before Christmas are among the offerings across the arenas.

Massena

“We’re offering free public skating, sponsored by local businesses and charity groups,” Massena’s Recreation Director, Mike McCabe, said. “That will take place during all the days that the kids have off of school for the winter break.”

While the skating is free for anyone to attend, skate rentals are $3 for anyone who needs them.

There will be open skating offered at the Massena arena starting on Dec. 23 and going until Jan. 2. There will not be skating on Dec. 24, 25, 31, or Jan. 1. Open skating will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. everyday.

Ogdensburg

The Ogdensburg Recreation Department will be putting on a Skate with Santa on December 23 at the Richard G. Lockwood Civic Center, Recreation Director Mackenzie Cole said.

“The age group is second grade and under at 1 to 2 p.m. and third grade and up at 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.,” Cole said. This event has an admission fee of $2 and there is also a $3 fee for skate rentals.

Canton

The Canton Recreation Center is also hosting a Skate with Santa on December 23 at the Canton Pavilion Ice Rink from 3 to 4 p.m.. They have free open skate sponsored by the Canton Rotary Club on December 27, 29, and January 1 and 3.

They also will be having regular open skate on Dec. 26 from 7 to 8:20 p.m., December 30 from 2:30 to 4:20 p.m. and January 2 from 10 to 11:20 a.m.. Admission costs $2 and skate rentals are $3.

Potsdam

The Potsdam Recreation Department is also putting on free, sponsored skating for anyone to attend. The skate rental costs $3, but there is no admission fee.

“The one thing that we do pride ourselves on around the holiday and Christmas break is the Raquette River Lions Club free sponsored holiday skate,” said Trey Smutz, the Recreation Director at Potsdam.

This will be taking place at the Pine Street Arena from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and it starts on Dec. 26 and continues for the rest of the week. There will be no skating on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, and the last day will be Jan. 2.

“We see a lot of children at that time with that being a session when they are not going to be in school with the holidays, but we see the range probably anywhere as young as three to four, all the way up to 50 plus,” said Smutz.

Compared to previous years, the Potsdam Recreation Department added new skate helpers to help with people who are new to skating, or anyone who wants to learn how to skate. These will be available during these open skating events.