THE COUNTDOWN to Christmas continues in Leicester with discos on ice, a last chance to see Santa and traditional panto at De Montfort Hall.
Leicester’s festive ice rink in Jubilee Square marks the start of the school holiday this Friday (16 Dec) with a Christmas disco on ice from 6pm onwards. Skaters can enjoy a disco-themed skating session every Friday and Saturday night except Christmas Eve, due to early closing.
Teenagers can skate unaccompanied, and the new Alpine Tavern lets parents relax with a drink and a snack off the ice, without the need to buy a ticket.
Leicester’s ice rink is open every day until Monday 2 January, apart from Christmas Day.
Skaters can get their New Year’s Eve celebrations underway with disco sessions on the ice from 6-9pm on Saturday 31 December and – for the first time – people can even resolve to take to the ice on New Year’s Day.
And there’s no need to worry about the weather – come rain or shine you skate under the twinkling lights of this fully covered, 680m2 real ice rink.
Skate hire and a 45-minute session on the ice costs £9.50 for children (under 16) and students, or £8.50 at off-peak times which include the new daily 9pm sessions. Tickets for adults cost £12, with a £2 discount at off-peak times. Discounts are available for groups of four or more.
People can book their 45-minute sessions on the real ice rink via Leicester’s dedicated Christmas in Leicester website, from the Visit Leicester information centre inside the King Richard III Visitor Centre on St Martins, or from the ice rink ticket office in Jubilee Square.
Skating aids for young children – in the shape of penguins and seals – are available and can be hired on the day at the ice rink, subject to availability.
Families with younger children have just a few days left to visit Santa and his elf helper at their snow-covered chalet in Town Hall Square. Visits are free of charge – and every child will receive a small gift.
Santa in the Square is open every day until Friday 23 December. Opening hours are 11am-2pm and 3pm-6pm on Saturdays, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm on Sundays, and 12noon-2pm and 3pm-6pm Monday to Friday.
People can also enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city’s Christmas lights from a 110-ft Ferris wheel in Jubilee Square. The Christmas Wheel of Light is open until Monday 2 January, with prices at £7 per person or £5 for small children (under 1.4m). Tickets can be purchased from the onsite booth. A ride is approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
And De Montfort Hall’s panto Cinderella continues its festive run until Monday 2 January. The traditional panto features TV favourites and dancing duo AJ and Curtis Pritchard alongside Evie Pickerill from CBeebies and offers song, dance, laughter and silliness that all the family will enjoy. Tickets can be booked online here
For details of these and lots more festive activities taking place in Leicester during the final countdown to Christmas visit www.ChristmasInLeicester.co.uk