MOSES LAKE — Over a hundred children, parents and young adults decked out in winter hats and gloves flocked with skates in tow to the opening weekend of Moses Lake Parks and Recreation’s ice rink, located at the Larson Playfield.

Couples skated around the rink hand-in-hand, kids involved in the seasonal hockey program slid at high speeds on their kneepads, and children (and a couple of adults) who felt uncomfortable on the ice made use of “walkers” that helped provide a little stability. So many skaters came out to the rink’s opening night that the rink had to be shut down for about five minutes halfway through the night to buff out the notched ice.

This is the twelfth year that the city of Moses Lake has opened the ice rink to the public. Though the rink has typically opened a week or two earlier in past years, a relatively warm winter delayed the Parks and Recreation’s efforts to freeze the rink layer by layer. Still, with weeks left before Moses Lake freezes enough to allow for skating on the lake, this is the only game in town, making it a popular site for family-friendly winter fun. Moses Lake Parks and Recreation has also committed to make up all skating and hockey sessions missed to the delay.

Now that the rink has opened, it will remain open until the last week of February, depending on weather conditions. During that time, the rink is open to public skating from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Other special schedules are listed on the city of Moses Lake’s website, or call the Skate Shack at 509-764-3836 to confirm hours. The rink will not open early on Moses Lake School District’s snow days.

The Parks and Recreation department’s Pink Guards will be on duty during normal business hours to supervise and assist anyone who needs help.

Skates can be purchased at local sporting goods stores or rented for $5 from the same kiosk that participants use to pay for general admission, which is $3 for adults and $2 for youth ages 5-17 and seniors over 65 years of age. Children 4 and under can skate for free.

For more information about activities involving the ice rink, including hockey and skating lessons and sports leagues with options available for participants of all ages, visit mlrec.com to learn more and to register.