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Bentonville Spreads Holiday Cheer with Outdoor Ice Rink

If you are looking to spread some holiday cheer this year, head out to Bentonville’s Lawrence Plaza, where you’ll find the only outdoor ice skating rink i...

If you are looking to spread some holiday cheer this year, head out to Bentonville’s Lawrence Plaza, where you'll find the only outdoor ice skating rink in the area.

"We are pretty fortunate to have this outdoor ice skating rink. It is the only permanent ice skating rink in Northwest Arkansas,” said Lee Farmer, Bentonville Recreation Programs Supervisor. “It brings lots of people in from areas that do not have that in their community."

After months of planning and preparation the city of Bentonville is almost ready for their annual holiday celebration.

Lawrence Plaza is unique to Northwest Arkansas because it changes with the seasons.

"That's one of the neat things about it, it's a splash park in the summertime and then they convert it to this ice rink for the winter so there is always something fun outside to do, even in the winter," said Carletta Ross, a Bentonville Parks and Recreation employee.

Downtown Bentonville will also deck the halls Saturday with a lighting of the Square ceremony at 6 p.m.

With some unseasonably warm temperatures projected in our forecast, keeping the ice from melting can be a challenge.

"You can't beat Mother Nature, she'll always win,” Lee said. “If we ideally have to close it down for a temporary time period, we will do so. We will rebuild it and open it when the ice is ready to skate on."

The ice rink will be open daily through January 20 but will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.

Admission is $3 per person and skate rental is $2.

The ice rink at Lawrence Plaza opens Saturday at noon.

The Bentonville Square ceremony is Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

The Arkansas Figure Skating Association Skating Exhibition at Lawrence Plaza will be at 7 p.m. Saturday and the Lawrence Plaza movie, ‘It`s a Wonderful Life' will play at 7:45 p.m.

 For more information, click here.

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