The Ice Rink

Chill out inside the Valley’s only ice skating rink, managed by volunteer members of the Yakima Amateur Hockey Association. Remember to dress warmly — it’s freezing in there!

Skating and hockey lessons are available, as well as a youth hockey league.

Public sessions are 7-9 p.m. Friday and 5-8 p.m. Saturday.

Cost: $5 admission; $1 skate rental, sizes toddler and up. Concessions available.

The Ice Rink is located at 1700 E. Beech St. in Yakima. For more information, call 469-0597 or 949-6669.

Looking for Christmas lights?

One of my favorite Christmastime traditions is taking a drive to look at the holiday lights and outdoor decorations. I guess I’ve been doing this since before I could say the letter L. My mom says some of my first words were “pretty ites.”

Anyway, my friend Kim at On Magazine does a pretty good job rounding up some of the best and brightest homes in the Yakima Valley. It’s a work in progress this season, but here’s the first list.

Also, the name is a mouthful, but I hear the Sunnyside Lighted Farm Implement Parade is worth a drive to the Lower Valley. There are more than 50 entries signed up for this year’s parade, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The parade has received some national acclaim and this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. Read more about that here.

On Sunday evening, Yakima’s own Holiday Light Parade parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. Put on some gloves, pack a thermos of cocoa and enjoy the show as the parade travels down Yakima Avenue from Sixth Avenue to Third Street. Afterwards, enjoy a choral performance, a visit from Santa and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree across from the Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St.