ICE SKATING UNDER THE BRANSON FERRIS WHEEL RETURNS

FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON

The 7200-sq-ft. ice rink is same size as Rockefeller Center in New York City

BRANSON, MO.– Come and enjoy a quintessential winter activity for the third consecutive year in Branson. Continue the tradition of gathering your family during Ozark Mountain Christmas at an outdoor, real ice skating rink. The Track Family Fun Parks has once again partnered with The Holidays on Ice to install and operate a 7,200-square-foot ice rink from the weekend of November 19 until at least New Year’s Day. It is located adjacent to the Branson Ferris Wheel and the “We All SHINE ON!” 39-foot-tall community Christmas tree display.

“We are thrilled to welcome The Holidays on Ice back to Branson,” said Craig Wescott, Senior Vice President of Five Star Parks and Attractions (parent company of The Track Family Fun Parks). “After Mother Nature did not cooperate very well last year, it makes us all the more eager for the ice skating tradition under the Branson Ferris Wheel to continue. We love providing such a wonderful location for Branson residents and visitors to gather during the Christmas season.”

The oval-shaped ice skating rink will be 72 ft. x 100 ft. It is the same size as The Rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The operating hours will depend on weather, but the tentative plan is 4:30-9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 4:30-10:00 p.m. on weekends. Skaters will not only enjoy the light shows on the Branson Ferris Wheel, but holiday lights strung around the rink itself and fire pits to create holiday ambiance.

“There’s just really something special about the people and holiday spirit in Branson,” added Rich Yakkey of The Holidays on Ice, whose family has owned and operated the company since 2014. “Last season wasn’t the best ice skating weather, but we still saw that people loved ice skating on real ice below an iconic Ferris wheel. We’ve always been on the search to find a holiday town where ice skating could be a yearly tradition. Our hearts say we’ve found it in Branson.”

The ice skating rink is located at 3325 W. 76 Country Blvd. next to the Branson Ferris Wheel, featuring Christmas Electrify: A Music and Light Spectacular with 2 Christmas light shows that ignite the night with 16,000 LED lights dancing to traditional and rockin’ Christmas music every hour on the hour after dark.

More events are forthcoming, but there are already two public events planned at the ice rink this season. On December 1, Santa Claus and friends will fly in by way of neighboring Branson Helicopter Tours to welcome the ice rink back to town and to skate with all the good boys and girls. On December 8, local fire and law enforcement leaders will compete in the third annual “turkey bowl” to benefit the Salvation Army, where they will roll frozen turkeys into bowling pins on the ice rink and compete for the coveted golden bowling pin trophy.

For more information about The Track Family Fun Parks, please visit the website at www.bransontracks.com, email craig@bransontracks.com or call (417) 334-1612. For specific questions about ice skating, please email theholidaysonice@yahoo.com

or call (760) 470-3466.