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Winterfest planned for downtown Peoria

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Beginning this winter, Peoria will have an outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of downtown, just in time for the holidays.

This week PNC Bank and the Peoria Civic Center announced the inaugural PNC Winterfest, which both entities hope will become a new holiday tradition to bring more people downtown.

Beginning Nov. 27 and lasting through Jan. 4, 2016, the skating rink will be open at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Fulton Street, in the space next to the Civic Center and City Hall.

“The Peoria Civic Center is delighted to be working with PNC to bring this event to downtown Peoria,” said Anne Clayton, interim general manager for the Peoria Civic Center. “This event has worked well in other SMG facilities, and we know Peoria will come out and enjoy it.”

The skating rink will be the featured attraction of PNC Winterfest. Visitors can bring their own skates or rent them from the skate shack. Spectators can watch the action from a heated tent with seating and refreshments. There are plans for themed nights and a live entertainment stage. A promotional calendar will be available at PNCWinterfest.com by Nov. 1.

“Providing quality entertainment opportunities for residents of Peoria at the same time we contribute to the mission of the Peoria Civic Center is a winning formula,” said Doug Stewart, PNC Bank regional president for central Illinois. “We also expect our PNC family, employees and their relatives, to enjoy this holiday tradition.”

The skating rink will be open to the public beginning Nov. 27 at a time to be announced for a special opening ceremony.

Normal hours will be Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 28 through Dec. 20 and noon to 10 p.m. Dec. 21 through Jan. 3. Fridays and Saturdays it will be open noon to 11 p.m. and on Sundays noon to 10 p.m.

Special holiday hours on Dec. 24 and 25 and on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 will be announced later.

Individual rates for 90 minutes of skating during public skate times will be $10 per person (skate rental included) or $8 a person with their own skates, and $5 for children 3 and under, skate rental included. Spectators can enjoy the spectator tent at no charge.

Group rates will be available during public skate times for groups of 10 or more.

Also, the rink will be available for private group events during non-public skate times. Contact Jenny Winne at (309) 680-3551 or at JWinne@PeoriaCivicCenter.com to make reservation. Reservations must be made one week prior to the desired event day. Payment is due in advance.

Group rates are for a two-hour block of time and include skate rental. They are $7 per person for groups of 20-30; $6 per person for groups of 31-50; and $5 per person for groups of 51 and more.

For more information visit www.PNCWinterfest.com or find it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

About the Author
Paul Gordon is the editor of The Peorian after spending 29 years of indentured servitude at the Peoria Journal Star. He’s an award-winning writer, raconteur and song-and-dance man. He also went to a high school whose team name is the Alices (that’s Vincennes Lincoln High School in Indiana; you can look it up).