Ice Skating Rink Coming To Pier Village In November

Long Branch - If you want to go outdoor ice skating, but don't want to make the trip into Rockefeller Center, now you can do it much closer to home.

Just in time for the holidays, Pier Village in Long Branch is slated to open its own rink at Festival Plaza, according to Karen Zabarsky, creative director for Kushner Companies.

The rink will be open from Thanksgiving Day to Presidents' Day on Feb. 20, she said.

"We're very excited to bring an outdoor ice skating rink (to Pier Village) this winter," Zabarsky said. "Pier Village is already the go-to oceanfront destination for tourists and locals. Now, we're really hoping to build off that energy from the summer."

The skate rink will be open Thursdays through Sundays, and will be available for private parties and corporate events Mondays through Wednesdays.

Skating admission costs $12 for adults, $8 for those under 12. Skate rentals cost $4.

"The idea has been floating around ... we feel like this is the right time," Zabarsky said. "We're hoping to collaborate with retailers that are in Pier Village to add promotional and ticket events."

The tentative soft opening weekend is scheduled for Nov. 18 to 20.

Visit http://www.iceatthepier.com/ for a schedule of events.

Image: Kushner Companies