From press release

Frosty and Friends Ice Skating event—Bring the family to Rockford Park District’s Carlson Ice Arena for an afternoon of indoor recreation fun at the
Frosty and Friends Skate

public ice skating session, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2-4 p.m. Activities will include free skating lessons with professional instructors, music by a live DJ, and giveaways from U.S. Figure Skating, in celebration of National Skating Month. Admission including skate rental is $5; free for ages 2 and younger. (No discount coupons accepted for this event.) Carlson Ice Arena is at 4150 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park. For more information, call (815) 969-4069. For information about accessibility and adapted equipment for skaters with disabilities, call (815) 987-8800.

Learn to Skate or Play Hockey—Rockford Park District wants to help you learn to ice skate or play hockey! The Learn to Skate and Jr. IceHogs/Learn to Play Hockey programs offer people ages 3 through adult of all abilities the opportunity to learn skills to enjoy ice sports recreation for a lifetime. Registration is under way for upcoming six-week sessions, which meet at Carlson Ice Arena in Loves Park once a week for 30-50 minutes; the next session begins the week of Feb. 18. Discounted registration fees for figure skating are available for multiple family member enrollments; fee assistance may be available to those meeting program qualifications. Register online at www.rockfordparkdistrict.org by mail, fax, or at Customer Service locations in downtown Rockford, or at Carlson Ice Arena, Riverside and Perryville, Loves Park. Registration information and class descriptions, schedules, and fees are available online in the Park District’s Winter/Spring Guide (combined youth and adult editions), at Park District Customer Service and facilities, or by calling (815) 969-4069 or (815) 987-8800. For information or support and adapted sports programs for skaters with disabilities, call (815) 987-8800.

Snow Sculpting Competition Jan. 20-23—The 24th Annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition presented by Rasmussen College is scheduled for Jan. 20-23, 2010, in Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St., Rockford. Thirty-one teams of sculptors—16 state teams, 13 high school teams, and an exhibition team—will create frozen works of art. State teams begin Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 9:30 a.m., and high school teams begin Thursday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. The exhibition team is the winner of last year’s event, and will also be competing in the national competition in Lake Geneva, Wis., in February. Work on competition sculptures for all teams continues through 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23. People’s Choice voting will take place Saturday from 8:30 to 11 a.m., followed by the awards ceremony Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Sinnissippi Park maintenance building. If conditions prevent the competition from being held Jan. 20-23 as scheduled, postponement dates are scheduled for Jan. 27-30, 2010.

This is a free event, and park visitors are welcome throughout the competition to see the snow art in progress; the sculptures are lighted for night viewing. For more information, visit www.snowsculpting.org or call (815) 987-1603 or (815) 987-8800.

From the Jan. 13-19, 2010 issue.