Germany on ice

What a great time to go ice skating! But don’t wait for the local pond to ice-over. You might be waiting all winter. Besides, authorities always warn against skating on unguarded lakes. So why not be smart and visit one of the many ice rinks in your area?

Kaiserslautern on Ice
The next rink is just around the corner. “Kaiserslautern on Ice” in downtown Kaiserslautern (Badweiher Strasse) offers skating fun daily from 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. until Feb. 12. Admission costs €3.50 for adults and €2.50 for children under 15. Skate rental costs €3.50. Details on events will be up online soon at www.
kl-on-ice.de.

Eis- and Rollsportclub Ludwigshafen
Another option is the rink in the Eis- and Rollsportclub Ludwigshafen (Saarlandstraße 70, 67061 Ludwigshafen), which is open until mid March. Visitors can skate in- and outdoors or take lessons. The club even offers free public training sessions on Saturday afternoons. Admission costs €3.50 for adults and €2.50 for children. Rentals cost €3.50.

The rink is open daily from 9 a.m. to noon, 2:30 to 5 p.m. and, additionally, from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. On the weekend, enjoy an ice party with hip hop, skate night and ice disco. Details can be found online at www.ercl.org.

The Viernheim rink
The Viernheim rink (Alten Weinheimer Weg, 68159 Viernheim) offers special one-hour training for children 4 and up at 5:45 p.m. every Monday. Viernheim is open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs €5.50 for adults, €4.50 for children 17 and under and free for children under 4. Rentals cost €3.50.

For more information, visit www.ultrabold.com/eissporthalle-viernheim.

Peter Cunningham Memorial Ice Arena
Apart from its regular opening hours (closed on Tuesdays) the Peter Cunningham Memorial Ice Arena Zweibrücken (Flugplatzgebäude 70, 66482 Zweibrücken) has special skating times, such as its Family Day from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays (reduced family tickets cost €3 per person), or Ladies Night from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday (free entry for women). Party people are also invited to the Ice Disco from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

More information can be found online at www.ice-arena.de.

Eisweihnacht
For more then just an opportunity to skate, visit the “Eisweihnacht,” or ice Christmas, at Castle Friedberg (61169 Friedberg) from today through Dec. 26 (closed Dec. 24).

“We have a 400-square-meter rink of real ice surrounded by a cosy little Christmas market with a merry-go-round and a heated tent,” said organizer Alexander Köhler.
The rink is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (until 10 p.m. on weekends). Entry is €4.50. Children and beginners can rent a “penguin,” which is a skating aid with two handles that helps skaters learn how to move on the ice, Köhler said.

For more information, visit www.eisweihnacht.com.

Ice House Eppelheim
Enjoy a disco on ice at the Ice House Eppelheim (69214 Eppelheim) every Saturday. Check out the events online at www.icehouse-eppelheim.de. The rink is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays (except Mondays), 2 to 11 p.m. Saturdays, and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

The Kunsteisbahn Heddesheim
The Kunsteisbahn Heddesheim (68542 Heddes-heim) is open daily from
9:30 a.m. until late in the evening, except for Mondays when there is a children’s afternoon held from 2 to 5 p.m. Admission costs €3.20 for adults and €2.20 for minors between the ages of 6 and 18. Skates can be rented. For more information, check out www.heddesheim.de/ceasy/modules/cms/main.php5?cPageId=59.

Eissportzentrum Herzogenried
There is a lot being offered at the  Eissportzentrum Herzogenried (68169 Mannheim). This sports club offers performance training for curling and Bavarian curling, ice hockey, and speed and figure skating. However, the rink is open to the public (except Mondays and Tuesdays) with special times and aids for children and beginners (10 a.m. to noon Sundays) or seniors (10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays).

For more, visit www.mannheim.de/buerger- sein/publikumslaufzeitenoeffentlicher-lauf.

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If you have no skates of your own, all rinks offer rentals for around €3. Admission fees range from €3 to €4.50. Some locations close for an hour break during the day, so it is advisable to check out the opening hours. Depending on skill level, it might be wise to wear safety equipment like a helmet or wrist protectors.