Sharpen up those blades and get ready to glide into winter with a little holiday ice skating fun in the Magnolia State.

And yes, you read that right—even in a state famous for water skiing weather, you and your family can still find rinks dedicated to ice skating throughout Mississippi.

There’s nothing better than bundling up, putting on a pair of ice skates, and soaking in the holiday cheer with some ice skating. Whether you’re in the mood for some serious skating, a simple afternoon with friends, or an entire day full of festivities, these two rinks are the very best that Mississippi has to offer when it comes to ice skating.

Mid-South Ice House

The ice rink at Mid-South Ice House in Olive Branch isn’t just a typical ice rink. Oh no, it’s an NHL regulation-size rink, which is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. In total, the rink is 17,000 square feet, making it the largest ice skating rink in Mississippi. The facility hosts public skate sessions throughout the week, all year long, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to show off or learn a few skills on the ice.

It opened in 2011 and offers something for ice skaters of all skill levels—from the occasional skater to hockey players and figure skaters. Mid-South Ice House also offers a wide spectrum of classes, from learning the basics of staying upright on ice to learning complex figure skating and hockey moves.

Mid-South Ice House also offers a variety of skate-related programs such as learn-to-skate classes and hockey camps. Thinking about joining an ice skating curling league? They have those, too, and if you don’t know what curling is—you can take a class.

And if you have a true passion for ice skating you can also rent the rink for memorable celebrations such as birthdays, graduation, or retirement parties.

Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center

The Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi is the largest beachfront multi-purpose arena in the south and also has an ice skating rink for classic cold-weather activity.

The rink opened to the public in November and you must purchase a $13 ticket, which includes admission and skate rental.

With numerous holiday events like skating with Santa or ugly sweater night, there is fun for the entire family. And if you have inexperienced skaters in the crew, a popular skating aid, Bobby the Seal, is available to rent for $10. It provides young skaters with something to hold onto and virtually eliminates falls.

Several other notable rinks that are lots of fun on the ice are Rowdy’s Rolling Rink in Ocean Springs; Bancorp South Center in Tupelo; Petal Roller Rome in Petal; Brookhaven Skating Rink in Brookhaven; Fulton Skateland in Fulton; the Ice Park in Flowood; and Oak Grove Skating Rink in Hattiesburg.

Cherie Ward is an award-winning Mississippi Gulf Coast journalist with decades of experience in writing and photography. Connect with her by email at chereliseward@gmail.com with story ideas or find her @cherieward on Instagram. She would love to hear from you.

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