At the end of November, Moscow opened the largest open-air ice rink in Europe at the VDNKh exhibition centre. With 20,000 m2 of ice surface, which is almost the size of three football fields, and the capacity of 4,500 people, the ice rink is one of the biggest attractions of the Russian capital.
This year’s theme of the open-air ice rink is connected to the federal forum “Arctic Days” and the Year of Ecology. The decorations of the rink are of arctic characteristic, such as northern animals, and aurora paint. In the center of the rink an art object will be established with Christmas trees with lights, figurines of animals – bears, moose, deer and others.
As a whole, the complex consists of many parts. The main part is the main ice rink including circles and two fountains that are reserved for free skating. Other than that, pedestrian bridges, a children’s ice rink of 900 m2 or the “Avenue of Love” are other integral parts of the complex offering services and entertainment to people of all age groups.
The complex is also equipped with warm changing rooms as well as toilets, restaurants and a variety of pavilions of different manner. Ice hockey enthusiasts can also satisfy their needs, as a hockey box area for amateur hockey tournaments of 1058 m2 is located within the complex.
“The visitors of the main open-air ice rink of the country will be provided with an unprecedented program for the New Year’s Eve, Christmas, Student Day, Valentine’s Day, and Defender of the Fatherland Day. The guests of the rink at the VDNKh will also be able to attend daily dance workshops and morning exercises. The youngest visitors will be accompanied by their favorite cartoon characters for their first steps on the ice,” the press release specified.
The open-air ice rink is open from Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 to 23:00 and from Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 23:00 local time. Tickets can be bought online or at the entrance of the rink.
However, this is not all regarding the winter entertainment in Moscow this season. Earlier this year, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 187 skating rinks with artificial ice will be opened in the Russian capital. In addition, every district will open about 1,500 ice rinks, ice slides, and ski trails.