Community Corner
Ice Skating at the Reston Town Center Pavilion
Put skates on with the whole family and enjoy some winter fun.
I’ve spent the last several years admiring the ice skaters on the rink at the Reston Town Center Pavilion, but this year I finally decided to strap my shaky feet into skates and give it a go. This family outing was easy for me - the incompetent skater - since I only had to grasp the wall while my husband spent the evening holding our little one up on the ice.
We arrived at the Pavilion around 5 p.m. on a Sunday and were among a crowd of people at the skate shop - the same unit where the restrooms and security desk are located year-round. Everyone was clamoring to hand over their shoes in exchange for skates, and we got in what seemed like a line to give the attendant our shoes. There was some confusion since we did all this before any money was exchanged, but when we went to the register, we were nicely told that we should have paid first. It was chalked up to the commotion, and then about 10 minutes later, the skate shop was practically empty. It seems we were just part of an odd rush.
My husband and I got laced up and then helped our little one into the tiniest ice skates I’ve ever seen: a toddler size 7. The Zamboni had just cleaned the ice and we stepped onto the glistening rink for my daughter’s first skating adventure.
She had seen people ice skating in pictures and on television so she was excitedly chanting “I want to ‘kate!” as we approached the rink, but she fell silent with wonder once her daddy began gliding her along the ice. It was busy that night, but we didn’t feel exceptionally crowded and people of all skill levels joined us on the ice.
While I didn’t stay far from the wall myself, I watched other children skating in circles and hoped that mine was off to a good start. I hope we will enjoy this winter pastime for years to come.
COST: Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children under 12. Skate rental is $5 per person. Season passes and skating classes are available.
THE BASICS: Ice skating at the Reston Town Center Pavilion is a seasonal activity open until March. Hours are Sunday - Tuesday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Holiday hours vary, check the Reston Town Center website. Admission and skate rental are purchased in the skate shop, where restrooms and security are located. Lockers are also available.
