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BY NIC MILLER
STAR STAFF
nic.miller@elizabethton.com

The Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department will host a series of events over the upcoming weeks to celebrate the holiday season.

The synthetic ice rink opens Saturday and will be open through Jan. 16.

“This is a first ever for Elizabethton, and we are partnering with the Elizabethton Chamber of Commerce and the County Commission to host this event,” said Kelly Kitchens, special events coordinator for the parks and recreation department. “Carter County Bank is our rink sponsor for this, and we are excited to partner with them as well as our other sponsors that will be posted throughout the rink.”

The rink will be open for public skating 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays; 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays; and 3 to 10 p.m. on Fridays. The cost per person is $10 per hour and includes skate rentals at no additional cost. Tickets can be purchased at skatebythedoe.com.

Private rentals will be available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. “Those days will be reserved for private rentals, corporate events, and photographers to be able to capture a moment on the ice,” said Kitchens. Anyone wanting information on rentals should call (423) 547-6441 or email Kitchens at kkitchens@cityofelizabethton.org

The recreation department is offering activities each weekend through December.

“This Saturday, we are hosting ‘The Polar Express’ at Edwards Island Park adjacent to the Covered Bridge, and that event will begin at 4 p.m.,” Kitchens said. “From 4 until 5:30, participants will be able to enjoy Santa and Mrs. Claus, roasting marshmallows, free hot chocolate and cookies, and kiddy train rides.

“At approximately 5:30 we will begin showing the movie so we encourage everyone to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the showing,”

This event is also sponsored by Carter County Bank. Free horse-drawn carriage rides around Covered Bridge Park will be offered from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, also sponsored by Carter County Bank.

Dec. 4 will feature “Christmas in Oz” from 3 to 5 p.m. at Covered Bridge Park. Characters from the Wizard of Oz will help bring in the Christmas spirit.

On Dec. 11, “Christmas at Covered Bridge Park” is from 2 to 5 p.m. Activities will include free horse-drawn carriage rides, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and story time with Santa from 2 to 3 p.m.

The annual Elizabethton Christmas Parade will take place at 6 p.m.

To cap off the holiday events, Dec. 18 will feature “Grinchmas,” where the Grinch will destroy all of the unclaimed ginger bread covered bridges that were entered into a contest hosted by the Elizabethton Chamber of Commerce and that will be on display until that weekend.