Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Apr 26, 2025

Opening weekend of Ice Skating Rink a smashing success

Opening weekend of Ice Skating Rink a smashing success

The opening of the territory’s first-ever synthetic ice-skating rink was considered a success as it welcomed in excess of a hundred patrons at the Virgin Islands Search & Rescue’s (VISAR) Winter Wonderland at the Cyril B Romney Tortola Pier Park throughout the weekend.

VISAR’s Executive Creative Director Julie Schneider told BVI News the demand to participate in the rink resulted in consecutive days of the activity being sold out.

She said due to the COVID-19 pandemic and protocols, a maximum of 20 persons are allowed per session which lasts for 30 minutes. After each skate, the rink undergoes a 15-minute turnover session which involves sanitary cleaning.

“We had about 80 people on the rink on Saturday throughout the four sessions and we booked a good amount of future sessions as well, and the age ranges were from about four years old to persons in their 60’s,” Schneider stated.

She added: “Last night we had four sessions and all of them were sold out and it was received really well. We had a parent and a child come off the rink and both responded it was so much fun. So the dad had just as much fun as the little one and I walked past a few patrons who said it’s just so nice to see kids smiling and having fun again.”

Booths doing well


In addition to the response to the rink, Schneider said the booths have also been reaping success with a lot of activity resulting from the flow of traffic.

“The merchandise booth; we did really well last night. It was really great to see the little kids walking around with the headbands on and the Santa hat … The merchandise booth has VISAR-branded gear like T-shirts and sweatshirts and holiday antlers and headbands. And then we have little craft kits that kids can view while they wait. The other booth starting next week will sell popcorn and cotton candy, and then Myett’s is doing refreshments.”

Goal to raise $100K for rescue vessel


The purpose of the fundraising event is to raise money for VISAR intended projects and initiatives which will benefit the people of the territory.

Schneider said proceeds from the rink and the booths will go towards securing a vessel intended for the sister island of Virgin Gorda.

“We had a different goal in mind before COVID and now with COVID, we are just happy to be able to bring the rink to the community and let them have a good time. We do have a balance of $100,000 left to pay for a rescue vessel for Virgin Gorda and anything that we make this year will be going towards that boat and we will be happy with any amount that we make,” she stated.

Businesses community chips in


The executive creative director further said the business community has also joined in to enhance the experience of the children. Their contribution comes in the form of a storytime session involving craft where a maximum of 20 children will be allowed to participate in the scheduled activities every Sunday for free.

“I think the first one is going to be a kid’s paint and sip, so they’ll be doing a scene out of one of the books that we read. The second week is Hanukkah. We’re going to be painting dreidels and then reading books about Hanukkah and playing dreidels at the end, and the third one is sponsored by CCT and they’re doing a whole Christmas thing. Then the last one is celebrating Quanta, and each of those events is sponsored by a particular business,” she explained.

The opening hours are from 2 pm to 7 pm on weekdays and from 2 pm to 10 pm on weekends.

The rink will be operating until Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
Nightlife in the streets of Manchester
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
×