COEUR d’ALENE — Families with children on winter break or adults looking to embrace their inner childlike wonder joined in the fun Wednesday at Frontier Ice Arena.

Five-year-old Livia Kjell had never been on the ice before, but she had Laima Langley there to begin learning and start to get her bearings during the holiday-themed skate session.

“It was her first time practicing. Right now, she’s just holding on to me,” Langley said with a laugh before they took to the ice for the second time. This time, they were armed with a seal skate training aid to make their laps around the rink a little less taxing on both of them.

Birthday girl Kyah Webb was pushed around the rink in style by friend Abby O’Malley, who is working on teaching herself figure skating.

On the other side of the protective panes separating the rink from the spectator seats, Amy Cross watched as her kids swirled around the ice together with family friends. Watching on the sidelines wasn’t her preference, but having had recent foot surgery, she wore two hats and a blanket over her coat as she ruefully followed doctor’s orders.

“I’m usually a participating kind of parent,” Cross said.

It was the family’s first time at the ice rink and sisters Bria Cross, 17, and Charlotte Peacock, 7, got the most out of the experience by renting one of the seal skates to zoom around.

General manager Dan Eloe said that, the day before, about 350 people had taken to the ice to get their fair share of seasonal spirit as the Christmas tree-laden rink bustled and holiday tunes played for all.

“Around this time of year, we do Christmas skates, it’s kind of a wholesome way to spend time with family and friends. Kids and families are out of school and if they’re looking for things to do, or maybe the weather isn’t cooperating, we offer public skating. We’ve been here for over 22 years, and a lot of people don’t even realize there’s a full ice skating rink here in Coeur d’Alene,” Eloe said.

With festive hot cocoa and other concessions, skaters have a few days left to skate for a full afternoon for $7. Skate rentals are $2. 

“People can come out and if they want to skate for five-and-a-half hours, they certainly can. Come out, bring your family and friends and skate around,” Eloe said.

The 12 Skates of Christmas open skate sessions are open from noon to 5:30 p.m., now through Jan. 1 at Frontier Ice Arena, 3525 W. Seltice Way, Coeur d'Alene. The New Year's Day skate will be from noon to 3 p.m. 

Information: 208-765-4423 or frontiericearena.org.

    Though sisters Bria Cross and Charlotte Peacock were born a decade apart, their age gap has never stopped them from having fun together.
  

    Laima Langley and Livia Kjell make their way around the rink together as Livia learns to skate.
  

    Alexis Jade turns to look for her family to share a moment of fun at Frontier Ice Arena.
  

    Kyah Webb celebrated her birthday on the ice Wednesday afternoon and was pushed around on a plastic seal by Abby O’Malley.
  

    Sheyenne Shamburg and Summer Shamburg stopped by Frontier Ice Arena Wednesday for some bonding time on the ice.