Blog: City Blog

Holidays on Ice Returns to Market Square!

You may not recognize winter is coming by the temperature outside, but if you are out near Market Square you’ll notice construction for one of Knoxville’s biggest winter attractions, Holidays on Ice 2016! The event is celebrating its 11th year as “Knoxville’s only open-air ice rink.”

Construction began on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and the rink will open for business on Friday, Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving. It will be open daily (except Christmas) until Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, and it’s sure to bring good times and the Holiday spirit to Knoxville.

Holidays on Ice have not just drawn people from all over Tennessee, but all from 19 states and 2 countries. The attraction has been great for local business, especially in Market Square. Bliss, a local retail store, is one of those businesses who benefit from Holidays on Ice.

Nick Morrissey, Bliss Assistant Manager, said this about the event, “We love it. It brings a lot of traffic that hits every department in the store. It’s a great part of Knoxville, and it brings everyone together and on the same page.”

Holidays on Ice is presented by Home Federal Bank, and the 2016 edition aims to become even better. This year the rink will have clear dasher boards that will enhance the open-air experience that everyone enjoys. There is also hope to see a record breaking crowd at Holidays on Ice. Last year’s attendance of around 16,000 people was affected by a handful of days when temperatures were too warm to open the rink. The all-time record was set in 2011 when 19,160 attended Holidays on Ice.

There will be a variety of special events and discounted nights. Kids can meet official Christmas in the City mascot Peppermint Panda every Wednesday at the ice rink. There will also be special hours on Christmas Eve form 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information on times and special events just click here. Also note that the rink will close in the event of dangerous weather or unseasonably high temperatures.

-- Communications Intern Tyler Cookston

Posted by On 07 November, 2016 at 9:09 AM