The three-day Skate into Summer event at the Ararat Town Hall last weekend was a resounding success, bringing together the Ararat Rural City community, as well as people from across the region and beyond.
Visitors of all ages enjoyed the ice-simulation skating, with children aged 4-16 seeming to love the event the most. Adults embraced the fun too, and the event's popularity was clear in ticket sales with around 1,000 tickets sold across the weekend.
Fun seekers even travelled from as far away as Hopetoun, Horsham, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Melbourne and Gippsland!
On opening night (Friday), the addition of food vans at the front of the town hall was a hit, giving people the chance to catch up with friends and family before or after skating. Even those who weren't skating could enjoy the balmy evening, try some unique foods to Ararat and soak in the festive spirit.
Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said, "I'm so pleased with the way the community came together to support this event hosted by Ararat Rural City Council. People often say there's nothing to do in regional areas, but Skate into Summer proves that if you put something on, people will show up. The lovely warm weather and the start of the school holidays made it even better."
Saturday night's over-18 karaoke event in the town hall foyer was another highlight, with participants ice skating first and then dancing and singing together-a lively and fun way to round out the day.
The sensory sessions over the weekend also proved worthwhile, attracting 25 children and 18 adults who wanted to enjoy the ice skating experience without the sound and lights. Thanks to the YEAH Crew (a youth group facilitated by Ararat Rural City Council), a chill-out area was created for participants who needed a quiet break, making the session inclusive and enjoyable for all.
Cr Sanders said it was also good to see some local businesses opening late, giving people the chance to shop outside normal hours. He said to top it all off, the Carols by Candlelight event at Alexandra Gardens brought hundreds of locals together at this special time of year.
"It's activities like this that get us excited for summer and Christmas, allowing us to slow down a bit and enjoy time with family and friends," he said. "Skate Into Summer was a great reminder that if we all work together, we can bring people together and create lasting memories, especially for the kids."
