The cooling systems are up and running, the water is frozen and the finished ice on the rinks has been polished smooth: Many ice rink operators in Saxony have started the winter season. The peak season is now underway. "The weekends and Saturdays in particular are currently going extremely well," says Elfried Börner from the Zwickau ice rink. At peak times, up to 250 guests a day flock to the 800 square meter natural ice rink, which has been operated by Diakonie Westsachsen since last year.
"For many Zwickau residents, we are the only place to go for winter sports. Otherwise, there are hardly any opportunities in the city and with so little snow," says Börner. Last season, there were only two weather-related closing days due to thawed areas on the natural ice rink. Almost 11,000 guests came together. "Otherwise, the cold night-time temperatures and our cooling system were sufficient." In the coming weeks, there will be Santa Claus events, which are free for children up to the age of 14, "Parties on Ice" until 10 p.m. and a Valentine's Day event where two priests will bless couples.
Winter atmosphere with mulled wine
The concert area at the Weißer Hirsch in Dresden has also been transformed into an ice rink covering 1,250 square meters under the motto "Dresden Winter". The weather factor plays a major role in the open-air ice rink, says Manuela Gräber from the event organization bean&beluga Betriebs GmbH. Ice masters and appropriate cooling technology keep the surface stable up to a temperature of twelve degrees Celsius. "We are looking forward to snow, because nowhere else in the middle of the city can you find more romance and Christmas spirit than in a snow-covered forest with an ice rink, mulled wine and quark balls." In addition to regular ice discos and offers for children's groups, the Dresden ice rink also focuses on events in addition to skating: with puppet theater, a market for handmade goods and a winter hut.
Curling - in which a kind of small cone glides over a prepared track - is being offered on more and more ice rinks. At the natural ice rink in Seiffen in the Ore Mountains, for example, the old popular sport now plays an important role in the run-up to Christmas, says Bettina Preußler from Sportwelt-Preußler. "Companies and clubs use it as a sociable way to celebrate Christmas or other get-togethers." The operators of the natural ice rink in Seiffen have invested. The construction of a roof for the 700 square meter ice rink is "in the final stages", says Preußler. The costs amount to half a million euros, with funding coming from the state of Saxony. "Rain, snow and sunlight are taking their toll on the ice rink. The roofing was an important step."
Good visitor interest and many bookings
On the ice rink at Freudenstein Castle in Freiberg, there are only a few dates available for curling this year, says Annett Geppert from Gastro-Service-Mittelsachsen GmbH. "In January and February, however, there are more opportunities." Regardless of this, the 525-square-metre ice rink is open daily until eight o'clock in the evening and until 2 March 2025. The open-air ice rink remains exposed to the weather despite the protective castle walls, says Geppert. "This not only affects our visitor numbers, but also the quality of the ice." Nevertheless, visitor numbers have remained stable over the years, adds Geppert.
In the municipal ice sports center Chemnitz, two artificial ice surfaces with a total area of 7,400 square meters are available to the public in the covered ice rink and outside on the 400-meter track, says spokeswoman Claudia Simbürger from Eissport und Freizeit GmbH Chemnitz. In addition to curling and an ice disco, children's birthday parties or specially organized ice skating camps for kindergartens and schools can also be booked.
On average, more than 2,000 guests flock to the ice sports center, which is also known as "Jutta Müller" and looks back on a long tradition: The famous GDR ice skater and Olympic champion Katarina Witt has already trained here.
Admission prices at the ice rinks in Saxony range on average from five to nine euros for adults and four to six euros for children.
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