It's Time for 'Skate Woodbury Magic'

The Ice Arena will be transformed into a colorful and spectacular place for “Skate Woodbury Magic," the upcoming youth ice skaters showcase event.

“If you’ve never attended our annual ice show event, you won’t want to miss this year’s, as we’ll be performing some real magic on ice," Woodbury skating director Brenda Leonard said.

Leonard has been creating her own magic for the city’s ice skating program for more than 16 years.

“We average approximately 375-plus kids who participate in our programs,” Leonard said. “Skaters can start as early as age 3.”  

The annual event "is a time when skaters get to show off their skills they've learned throughout the year,” said Leonard. “We decorate and transform the ice arena into a whole new place. Spectators say they can’t believe it’s the Bielenberg Ice Arena.”

According to Leonard, many kids learn how to skate in the city’s programs, progress a few levels, and then move on to play ice hockey, too. 

“It’s a great program for a child to initially learn the basics of ice skating before deciding which ice direction they want to head,” Leonard said.

With all the kids she has in the program, Leonard admits one of her biggest challenges is finding enough ice time.

“Each year our ice skating program has grown in participant numbers and finding enough ice time for them all becomes very challenging,” she said.

Nonetheless, Leonard always seems to work her magic to find that ice time.

“The skaters love inviting their parents, neighbors, school friends and grandparents to this event, as it’s really their year-end ice recital. Just like a professional ice show, our skaters get to dress up in colorful costumes and skate to music under the spotlights,” Leonard said.

It’s also a year-end treat for the parents, who spend hours at the ice arena watching their children skate. One such parent is Dina Livingston, who said when her daughter was in second grade she watched the movie, Ice Princess, and decided then she wanted to skate. 

“Paige is now 13 years old and in an advanced skating program called 'Freestyle 5.' She just loves her synchronize skating team,” said Livingston. “The city’s ice skating program is a really easy program to do if you want your child to learn how to skate.”

According to Livingston, her daughter spends about six hours a week working on her skating and loves every minute of it, whether competing solo or with her synchronize skate team. Livingston said Paige has enjoyed the city’s program so much that she hopes to help teach group lessons when she gets in high school.   

If You Go:

“Skate Woodbury Magic”

Fri: April 29, at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sat: April 30, at 11 a.m.

Woodbury’s Bielenberg Ice Arena

Tickets at the door: $6 adults and $4 students