Kids skate at the rink in Franklin last year, sponsored by Festival Country Indiana. Edinburgh will host the skating rink this year from Dec. 13 to 24 at the Edinburgh Public Library. The skating rink will also be part of Edinburgh’s 12 Days of Christmas, which features holiday events, food trucks, trolley rides, movies, vendors and more.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
EDINBURGH — “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me …”
The classic holiday song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is filled with gifts such as turtle doves, French hens, lords a-leaping and pipers piping. But the town of Edinburgh’s take gives local residents a definite upgrade: 12 days of unique activities, special classes, and for the first time ever, a skating rink.
“This is always such a busy time of year, so we want to offer things that allow people to slow down and enjoy time together with friends and family. That’s what this skating rink and all these activities will let them do that,” said SaraBeth Drybread, director of economic development for Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s 12 Days of Christmas starts today with the unveiling of the rink, made possible with a grant from Festival Country Indiana. Centered around the town’s annual Holiday of Lights, the expanded celebration includes cookie decorating classes, holiday movies at the Pixy Theatre, art workshops, trolley rides and skating every day and night until Dec. 24.
Organizers hope the skating rink and expanded activities open up one of Edinburgh’s best traditions to a whole new audience.
“For us in the southern part [of Johnson County], and being in three different counties here, it’s a great opportunity to showcase some of our downtown businesses. Because of the rink and having it for 12 days, we built around the fun programs and activities and events leading right up to Christmas Day,” Drybread said. “We can provide some fun activities and events for our residents, but also attract new visitors as well during one of the most beautiful times of the year in downtown Edinburgh.”
December is always a special time in Edinburgh’s historic downtown. Businesses paint their windows and decorate for the holidays. During the Holiday of Lights, people enjoy a chili supper at the Edinburgh Presbyterian Church before the parade starts through downtown. A holiday market features original handmade gifts made by local vendors. Carriage rides are available throughout the evening, and kids can get photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the town community center.
But last year, Drybread saw an opportunity to supersize the holiday offering.
After years of discussion about bringing a skating rink to the county, Festival Country Indiana announced plans to offer a grant for a local city or town willing to host a temporary ice skating rink in 2021. As Johnson County’s tourism bureau, the idea was to enhance the winter season with a unique activity that could bring people to the county, said Ken Kosky, executive director of Festival Country Indiana.
“The ice skating rink is an amenity for residents as well as one of the top tourist attractions in the winter. Last year, 60% of the people who visited the ice rink in Franklin were from Johnson County, while 40% were from out of the county. We even had 66 visitors from out of state,” he said. “The ice rink has the added benefit of helping vendors who set up and sell hot chocolate and other things, and it helps downtown businesses.”
Franklin was the first community to receive the $50,000 grant and hosted the rink from Nov. 16, 2023 to Jan. 9, 2024. Officials said 2,428 people came out to skate.
Leaders in Franklin decided not to host the rink this year, which opened the door for other communities to apply to host. Drybread jumped at the opportunity, putting in an application last January.
“Festival Country said they’d love to see the skating rink travel throughout the county each year. I made sure I was at that very first board meeting to ask if Edinburgh could be that community this year,” Drybread said.
The $25,000 grant covers the cost to rent a 2,000-square-foot synthetic ice skating rink from Bouncers R Us Party Rental in Martinsville, as well as for a supply of rental skates.
The synthetic rink is created out of a high-tech plastic that mimics the feel and slickness of ice. The material is eco-friendly and made from a non-toxic, recyclable acrylic material. Because it is synthetic, the rink can be used regardless of weather.
“Edinburgh expressed interest in hosting the rink this year and we thought it would be an excellent addition to their Christmas celebration and a chance to boost their downtown during the holiday season,” Kosky said. “We are also interested in seeing how the rink usage compares to what we saw when it was in Franklin in 2023.”
With the skating rink as an anchor, Drybread went to work organizing a series of events to accompany it.
“We really wanted to build programming that focused on downtown and brought people in for a variety of different activities,” Drybread said. “People can make a gift or attend a class to help you prepare for the holidays.”
The 12 Days of Christmas celebration starts with the opening of the rink on Friday. Public skating will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. that evening. The Holiday of Lights event follows on Saturday, with extended public skating from 5 to 10 p.m.
Each subsequent days features a new unique offering. The Pixy Theatre will be screening “The Santa Clause.” The Gathering Place is hosting ornament making. People can learn cookie decorating and holiday flower arranging.
Art-centric options, including classes to make resin art and dazzler bracelets, are scheduled as well.
Some of the offerings have already sold out, Drybread said. A charcuterie class and “Canvas and Cocoa” painting and hot chocolate night are all filled.
“We’re trying to do a different variety of activities, but also a variety in the cost of those events. You can take everything from a $10 class up to a $60 class, and everything in between there,” Drybread said. “We wanted to build all kinds of activities that appealed to all age groups and interest levels.”
Other activities include a concert by the Edinburgh High School band, trolley rides, a showing of “Frosty the Snowman” and a holiday-themed magic show by Jordan Rooks.
All of it ties together with the final skate from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 24.
“Especially for kids, this is something that will be such a memory to them,” Drybread said. “We really hope the skating rink will help be one of those core memories for kids here in town.
IF YOU GO
The 12 Days of Christmas
When: Today through Dec. 24
Where: Downtown Edinburgh
Public skating hours: 5-10 p.m. Dec. 14, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 13, 15-23, 3-5 p.m. Dec. 24
Schedule of special events
Friday: Skating rink opens, 6-9 p.m., downtown
Saturday: Holiday of Lights, 5-10 p.m., downtown
Sunday: “The Santa Clause,” 2 p.m., the Pixy Theatre, 111 S. Walnut St.; ornament making, 3-5 p.m., the Gathering Place, 106 E. Main Cross St.
Monday: Cookie decorating class, 5:30 p.m., John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St.
Tuesday: Canvas & Cocoa class, 6 p.m., community center
Dec. 18: Resin art class, 1 p.m.; charcuterie class, 6 p.m., community center; Edinburgh High School band holiday concert, 300 Keeley St.
Dec. 19: Dazzler bracelets class, 1 p.m., community center
Dec. 20: Holiday flower arrangement class, 1 p.m., community center
Dec. 21: “Frosty the Snowman,” 6 p.m., skating rink; Jordan Rooks holiday magic, 7 p.m., Pixy Theatre
Dec. 22: Trolley rides, 6 and 8 p.m.
Dec. 24: Final skate, 3-5 p.m.
Information: edinburgh.in.us
