Known as "Little Bavaria", Frankenmuth is a charming little town that dates back to the mid-19th century. It's like stepping into a festive postcard. Frankenmuth celebrates Christmas year-round at the world's largest
Christmas store, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland store with over 96,000 square feet of retail space packed with more than 300 Christmas trees. But the town really comes alive in December with tree lighting ceremonies, traditional German fare, horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday-themed historic house tours, and dinner with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the popular Zehnder’s Restaurant.
But all of that aside, it has the nation's #4 rated skating rink in the nation, located in Zehnder Park.
Frankenmuth is THE place to celebrate the holidays - which is precisely where Jay and I decided to spend them.
Stumped as to what to get Ashley for Christmas, I suggested to Jay we invite Ashley and three of her friends from her figure skating class to come along so they could skate the Zehnder Park ice rink and that could be his Christmas present to her. They were at that age where they were beginning to assert their independence and in a little town like Frankenmuth it would be safe to let the four of them go off on their own.
My gift to Ashley was a prepaid debit card I'd loaded with some mad money for the girls to spend shopping, dining out or whatever during our trip.
I got a phone call from Jay shortly before Christmas in which he told me he was surprised I didn't hear the four girls excitedly screaming all the way over here in Wisconsin. LOL
On December 21, he piled the four girls in the Beast, they set off for Wisconsin to pick me up and on the 23rd we set off for our Frankenmuth Christmas.
Frankenmuth at Christmas
We'd booked a King suite for ourselves and a double queen room for the girls at The Bavarian Inn Lodge.
I'd stayed there before, it's in downtown right across the street from the ice rink, and it has a HUGE family fun area with a waterpark, an arcade game room, an 18 hole mini golf course, rope ladder and climbing wall and two on-site restaurants to help keep the girls entertained.
This video will give you an idea of what the Bavarian Inn is like...
The Inn is located at One Covered Bridge Lane. This beautiful covered bridge connects the Inn directly to downtown Frankenmuth so we could easily walk anywhere without being in downtown itself.
My other recommendations:
Located in downtown on Main Street. Provides a free breakfast serving up everything from scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and Belgian waffles to fresh fruit, yogurt and juices.
In the evening, enjoy a daily reception and mingle with your fellow guests while enjoying free beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks.
Great location right on Main Street.
Serves a daily complimentary hot breakfast and this Frankenmuth hotel is just 1.9 mi from Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland.
A microwave, coffee maker and refrigerator are provided. Enjoy their indoor pool and fitness center at the Frankenmuth Holiday Inn Express.
River Place Shoppes can be reached in 2 minutes’ walk.
Right off Main Street. Free parking.
This hotel features a heated indoor pool and complimentary hot breakfast.
Every room at Fairfield Inn by Marriott Frankenmuth has a nice flat-screen TV with premium cable channels, microwave, small refrigerator and coffee maker.
On site fitness center and business center.
Springhill Suites - Marriott Frankenmuth 530 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
Use your points if you are a Rewards Member!
Springhill Suites is right on the main drag, so you can walk to all the restaurants, events, shops and fun because you are in the center of it all!
Offers an indoor pool and a daily buffet breakfast.
The nicely appointed rooms at SpringHill Suites Frankenmuth have a living area and kitchen facilities that include a refrigerator and a microwave.
Our accommodations at the Bavarian Inn
Bavarian Inn offered a variety of (2024) specials and packages, we took advantage of the Winter Getaway deal that was available in booking the room for the girls. Jay also added the Extreme Family Fun Package for $195 (2026 current price.)
Because I'd stayed there before and become a PERKS member at that time, we got reduced room rates and other special offers. It costs $15 to become a PERKS member.
Day 1
Morning: Arrive in Frankenmuth and get settled in your accommodations.
In our case, because the girls wouldn't be home with their families for Christmas, we'd collected all of their Christmas gifts and brought them with us - along with one of my Christmas trees to decorate so the girls would have a tree Christmas morning.
We left it to them to decorate the tree when we arrived.
(They had no idea we had all of their Christmas presents stashed in the Beast's cargo hold for "Santa" to deliver Christmas Eve, We set the tree up in our suite so it would be easy to do this without them catching on to what we were up to.)
If you want to bring a tree along knock your socks off. Just make sure it's an artificial tree that's fire retardant - fire regulations.
Afternoon: We had lunch inside the Bavarian Inn at Oma's. 1 Covered Bridge Ln, Frankenmuth
Oma's Restaurant is a quaint Bavarian theme Restaurant serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Oma's (Meaning Grandma's) is located within the Bavarian Inn Lodge and hosts locals and day trip visitors as well as hotel guests. It is a "best kept" secret for having short or no waits at lunch time in Frankenmuth when other restaurants are lined out the door.
American and German fare are served and pizza is made from scratch to your liking - which of course was a big hit with the girls.
The food was good enough but not fantastic. Service was a little slow but we've come to expect that as a result of the Scamdemic so just take it in stride.
The servers in German garb was a nice touch and they were friendly and a lot of fun.
After lunch begin to explore downtown Frankenmuth.
Make your first stop downtown the Frankenmuth Visitor Center: 635 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
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At the Visitor's Center pick up a FREE Visitor’s Guide and FREE Coupon Book for travel tips, exciting experiences, deals, and more. You might also want to pick up a FREE map of the town.
The coupon book will provide you with discounts all over Frankenmuth. Make sure it includes the Peppermint Perks coupon. (I don't remember if it did or if Peppermint Perks was separate)
Photo credit: Fantasy Carriage Rides
The best way to begin to explore downtown Frankenmuth is to take a horse drawn carriage ride through town.
Not only will you get the layout of everything, traveling at the horse's gait takes you off the fast forward of daily life so you'll see things you'd miss otherwise. And the drivers will share the town's history with you enroute. You'll get a perspective you wouldn't have otherwise,
There are several different kinds of carriage rides available.
We took the Season Special that runs during the holidays. The carriage was adorned with festive decorations, and the air carried tunes of holiday classics. It felt like I’d stepped into a living Christmas card.
Families, on the other hand, will adore the Family Fun Ride. These carriages are larger, accommodating more passengers, and the guides tailor their narratives with interesting facts and stories that keep both the kids and adults engaged. The girls loved the carriage ride. Even if they did spend the majority of it picking out where they'd go shopping, much to Jay's amusement.
We took our ride through Fantasy Carriage Rides: 780 Mill Street, Frankenmuth but there are a couple of other carriage ride companies in Frankenmuth.
We paid $130/30 minutes but that covered up to 6 people (6 adults not recommended).
Other carriage ride companies in Frankenmuth include:
Money $aving Tip: Peppermint Perks Cards: Available at the Frankenmuth Visitor Center, these cards offer a $5 off $30 coupon for 40 businesses throughout town, including carriage rides.
There are so many cool, unique shops in Frankenmuth! Here's a list of them (scroll down the page).
Our favorites:
Cheese Haus
Enchanted Forest
Frankenmuth Taffy Factory
Kernel Benny's Popcorn
Sugarbush Sweets & Treats
Sugarhigh Bakery
Zac & Mac's Chocolate Haus
Funky Skunk (Irish goods)
Rau's Country Store
Just exploring downtown will take you the better part of the day.
Evening: Have dinner at the famous Zehnder's,
Sunday 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
The aroma of their infamous fried chicken and homemade bread will hit you the moment you walk in the door, as servers in period costume hustle past you.
Their meals are served family style and the food just keeps coming!
Their world famous Family Style Dinner enjoyed by millions features platters of golden fried chicken, generous heaps of mashed potatoes, egg noodles, vegetables, and much more!
I don't know what it is that Frankenmuth restaurants do to their fried chicken but it's the best you'll have anywhere.
Zehnder's guests eat 950,000 pounds of chicken per year! That fact speaks to how good their chicken is!
They also have a Sunday dinner buffet that locals told us was the best thing going in town. We'll definitely be back to give it a try!
Day 2
Have breakfast at La Crepe du Jour: 925 S Main St, Frankenmuth.
You can watch them make your crepes in front of you if you like.
Photo credit: Wanderlog
They make just about any kind of crepe you can think of! And they do it without using sugar for the most part.
I decided to go out on a limb and order an Almond Joy crepe: Chocolate, Marshmallows, Almonds & Coconut.
O...M...G! I'll just pitch a tent here in this little creperie and work my way through the entire menu, thank you.
The crepes are pretty large and most cost around $6.50 each.
The girls were stoked to spend the day on the ice at the rink so we let them go do their thing for the day.
This outdoor skating rink is open throughout the winter season and offers rentals, season passes, and opportunities to rent the rink for events. 784 South Main St., Frankenmuth, Michigan.
There is a $10 day-long admission fee to the rink.
Money $aving Tip: Buy 3 annual passes at $50 each and you get the 4th annual pass FREE. We found with as much skating as the girls wanted to do, buying the annual passes was much cheaper than buying $10 day passes each time they wanted to skate and we got one of the girls a free pass.
The annual pass gives you access to the rink all season long.
Jay and I made a 20 minute drive to Saginaw's Hoyt Park: 1574 S. Washington Avenue, Saginaw MI to do some snowboarding.
Hoyt Park offered only sledding and snowboarding hills during the winter season, however, in 2013 the park opened itself to much more. For the first time in a decade, Hoyt Park is now home to an outdoor winter ice rink for ice skating complete with a warming house, hot chocolate, and skate rentals.
You can also sled there too.
No admission fee but you do need to bring your own snowboard or sled.
This is a family friendly park the kids will like.
After snowboarding most of the morning we were ready to head back to Frankenmuth for some lunch.
Since we didn't have the girls along we went to
Prost Wine Bar & Charcuterie: 576 1/2, S Main St, Frankenmuth.
Photo credit: Wanderlog
Offering a wide selection of wine and beer from around the globe, along with perfectly crafted cocktails. Their menu encompasses the European culture from imported charcuterie and cheese, shareable plates, salads, paninis and heartier dishes.
We ordered the German charcuterie board which was more than enough for the 2 of us and delicious! $28 current price.
They also serve paninis, shareables, handhelds, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees.
They do have a limited kids menu.
Monday-Thursday 11-10PM
Friday & Saturday 11-12
Sunday 10-10PM (Brunch served until 3PM. Kitchen reopens at 4PM)
After lunch Jay wanted to try his hand at blacksmithing. Head to the Bavarian Blacksmith Experience: 925 South Main St. Unit D6, Frankenmuth.
The blacksmith shop is just a few minutes walk from downtown Frankenmuth, and the famous Bavarian Inn Lodge and Restaurant!
This isn't a just watch the blacksmith at work experience! You actually make something yourself. You become your own blacksmith and take home what you make.
Since he was new to blacksmithing, he did the $35 Anvil Spot - Choose Your Item experience. I had more fun watching him than trying to make something myself - he was INTO it and made the coolest dagger with sheath.
After his blacksmithing lesson we were both beginning to feel the effects of our snowboarding so returned to our suite to soak in the whirlpool until the girls returned from skating.
I'm told I make a wicked mint hot chocolate so I whipped up a batch for when the girls returned and we put out some various flavors of popcorn we'd gotten at Kernel Benny's to snack on.
Great way to spend a relaxing pre-dinner "cocktail hour" with four pre-teen girls!
Evening: Have dinner at Bavarian Inn Restaurant: 713 S Main Steet, Frankenmuth.
There's a running 'competition' between Zehnders and Bavarian Inn as to who has the better family-style fried chicken dinner so we decided to judge for ourselves. (Both are fantastic)
While famous for their chicken dinners, the restaurant also serves up other flavorful dishes. Visitors can also purchase their jams, spices, noodles, and Moms Michigan Made Cookies online or at the restaurant.
Local & seasonal produce is used in the food at this bar & grill restaurant with a German vibe.
Note: If you're a member of their PERKS club you get a free chicken dinner here.
Being no spring chickens anymore Jay and I were ready to call it a night at that point. But the girls wnated to skate the rink at night when it was all lit up and wanted us to go with them. We still had all those Christmas presents in the Beast's cargo hold to haul up to the suite so weren't really up for ice skating but the girls insisted we come along. (Groan) Oh to have their endless energy again!
As full of fried chicken as we all were, I'm surprised we could even bend over to tie our skate laces!
Thankfully we only skated for about an hour before the girls were ready to call it quits.
Jay hauled all of the Christmas gifts up and played "Santa" while I made a breakfast casserole we could eat the next morning in our suite.
As sore as we both were we briefly considered another whirlpool soak but decided not to tempt fate. The girls finding us drowned because we'd fallen asleep in the whirlpool might put a slight damper on their Christmas morning and all that...
Day 3
Christmas
Free day to celebrate Christmas
I spent the first part of the morning desperately hoping "Santa" had seen fit to stuff a big honkin' tube of BenGay in my stocking.
The sun wasn't even up yet when I head the girls' key card being inserted in our door and the door handle turning. They were trying to be quiet...until they saw the Christmas tree at least.
"YOU GUYS! LOOK AT ALL THE PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE!"
"HEY OUR STOCKINGS ARE HERE TOO! AND THEY'RE FULL OF STUFF!"
They were loud enough to wake the nearly comatose Jay.
"Rise and shine, Santa," I sighed. "We have company and it ain't your elves."
In spite of our sleep deprivation and aching muscles we had a terrific Christmas morning. The girls were over the moon that they'd still had Christmas, which made all of our work worth it.
Approximately 9.5 miles paved, flat, and well maintained from trailhead to trailhead. No amenities such as restrooms, water, or trash cans. Online indicates that Kueffner Park has restrooms .5 miles north of the trail on the NW corner of Towerline and Janes in Buena Vista Township.
It crosses about 8 county or state roads and has 10 benches on the trail with minimal shade available. Views of Wildlife, creek crossings, and farm fields.
The estimated grade is mostly gentle (5% or less). This trail will likely be navigable for most wheelchairs/mobility equipment or stroller users. There are benches along the route for resting.
Jay had asked me to find a snowshoe kit on sale and I had, so "Santa" had left each girl a snowshoe kit to use on our trip.
Anxious to try out their new snowshoes the girls blazed their own trail in the vicinity of the Inn.
When Jay and I were a bit more awake and firing on all cylinders, we all piled in the car and drove to Saginaw to the Harger Line Rail Trail to snowshoe it.
Summer view of Harger Trail / Photo credit: All Trails
Evening: Make reservations ahead to have the Christmas buffet at Zehnder's.
From tender Grill Specialties like Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chops and Half Roasted Duck to flavorful seafood specialties like Great Lakes Perch, each dish is expertly prepared to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
After dinner we hit the Family Fun Center back at the Inn. The girls swam and played arcade games whil Jay and I relaxed in the adults only pool, whirlpool and lounge.
Day 4
Morning: Have breakfast at N'Orlins Beignets & Coffee: 925 S Main St D9, Frankenmuth.
Enjoy your French donuts with a cup of chicory coffee or a cup of Cafe’ au lait. You’ll think you’re on Decatur Street in New Orleans.
These delectable treats come with an array of dipping sauces for added flavor. Located at River Place Shops, this spot offers a sweet escape into the culture of New Orleans.
Warning: Take it from me...Beignets are addicting!
We gave the girls the choice of what they wanted to do and they chose to explore Bronner's Christmas Wonderland with us: 25 Christmas Lane, Frankenmuth.
Visit Bronner's Christmas Wonderland any time of year! Find one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments and Christmas decorations at the incredible Frankenmuth Christmas Store.
I could spend all day in that store just browsing! The again, it is the largest Christmas store in the entire U.S.
This is the largest Christmas store in America. To fully browse the shop will take you hours.
Making Christmas memories since 1945, Bronner’s is a shopper's dream - especially for Christmas lovers! Over 50,000 trims and gifts, with 8,000 styles of ornaments (including Bronner’s exclusive designs), personalized stockings and ornaments, lights, Nativities, Advent calendars, and a wide variety of collectibles in a complex the size of 1.5 football fields. Season’s Eatings snack area is available for light refreshments. Silent Night Chapel open daily. Christmas Lane illuminated nightly.
You can find anything Christmas here. Each of the girls bought an ornament as a souvenir of their trip.
Money $aving Tips: $5 off your next purchase when you sign up for their email newsletter.
RetailMeNot has coupons and promo codes here
Evening: Have dinner at Poblano's Tex Mex Grill & Cantina: 171 E Jefferson Street, Frankenmuth.
Large menu of Mexican fare at reasonable prices. The food is delicious, the service great.
Money $aving Tips: Check out Pablano's Specials page
Day 5
Morning: We were finding breakfasts in Frankenmuth to be somewhat limited to the same places so we stopped at Kroger to pick up groceries to make our own breakfasts since our suite had a full kitchen.
After breakfast we returned to Main Street having seen something we wanted to try: the Ultimate Mirror Maze: 925 S Main Street, Frankenmuth.
The maze consists of over 2000 square feet of mirrors, endless hallways and dead ends. Your challenge is to get lost, and then find your way out. Backwards or forwards, it is never the same experience twice. It just may be the most bewildering experience you have ever encountered. We never laughed so hard or bumped into so many mirrors trying to find our way out...
Afternoon: Have lunch at Tiffany's Food & Spirits: 656 S Main Street, Frankenmuth.
Photos credit: Tiffany's
After lunch we went to Great Lakes Escape Room: 925 S Main Street, Frankenmuth.
There are 4 different escape room quests to play:
Lucky Duck Speakeasy, Black Beard's Brig, The Heist, Immunity Quest.
Tiffany's Food & Spirits is a vibrant bar and grill located in a historic hotel dating back to 1904.
The venue features stained-glass lighting, murals, and an inviting outdoor patio. Adorned with Tiffany lamps and original tiling, the restaurant offers a diverse menu including delectable options like the Garlic Bread Deluxe topped with melted cheese and served with pizza sauce.
Additionally, their selection includes pizzas, pasta dishes, and sandwiches.
Tiffany's Lasagne
At Great Lakes Escape Game, you and your team are locked in a room filled with intriguing gadgets to explore, captivating puzzles to solve and cryptic clues to decipher. Manipulate everything that’s not bolted down as you search for answers. Act fast. You only have 60 minutes to escape. Either solve the puzzles and break out of the room or run out of time before exposing all the secrets concealed within the game.
The friendly staff provides guidance and support throughout your experience. They are on hand to help if you get stuck or need a hint, ensuring everyone has a great time. Don’t worry if you don’t escape in time; it’s all about having fun!
The cost per player is $30. Advance booking recommended.
They offered a 5 course meal for $99 that was scrumptious. You could also add a wine pairing for an additional cost.
Station 100 is top notch all the way and some fine dining was a nice break from pre-teen "We want pizza!"
We had a totally relaxed, great adult evening out together.
The girls wanted to spend the rest of the day shopping and have dinner on their own.
If you have any shopping left that you want to do, now is the time to do it.
Evening: Jay and I returned to the Inn to play 18 holes of miniature golf before enjoying some fine dining at The Station 100: 100 S Main Street, Frankenmuth.
Day 6
Last day in Frankenmuth.
Morning: Have breakfast at your restaurant of choice.
We all wanted more crepes so returned to La Crepe du Jour.
The girls spent their last day on the ice rink, having lunch together and doing some last minute shopping.
Jay and I were out of steam so booked a couple's massage at Serendipity Wellness Spa: 925 S Main Street, Frankenmuth.
This spa offers a wide range of services, from manicures to massages, providing more than just beauty treatments. Located within the charming river shops of Frankenmuth, it's an ideal place to unwind and pamper yourself. The friendly and expert staff ensure top-notch customer service.
We felt like we'd died and gone to heaven.
For your itinerary do anything you want to do but haven't fit into your schedule yet. We kept it low energy given the long drive home Jay and the girls would have the next couple of days.
Evening: We had our last chicken dinner in the Inn so we didn't have to go out anywhere.
Day 7
Say goodbye to Frankenmuth, hopefully bringing some warm Christmas memories with you.
A word about Snowfest...
If you're in Frankenmuth the last week of January and into February, attend their Snowfest! It's a great excuse to bundle up in the middle of Michigan's winter and eat some famous Frankenmuth fried chicken, shop at the River Place Shops and of course, watch amazingly talented ice artists carve massive slabs of ice into sculptures. Plus, you can get some shopping in at the Frankenmuth Riverplace shops.
There are so many fun things to do at Zender's Snowfest! Enjoy the warming tent, a fireworks display, ice sculptures, exhibit booths, pony rides, petting zoo and children’s activities and more.
Some Snowfest insider tips:
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If you are looking to enjoy this Frankenmuth ice festival without mass crowds, I would recommend going during the week and arrive before noon. The only thing to know is that the sculptures will not be finished yet.
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If you want to indulge in a famous chicken dinner, I would make reservations immediately upon arriving.
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Weekday visits have less visitors so it's easier to park and navigate.
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Bathrooms are located in the Bavarian Inn and Zehnder's restaurants.
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If the weather is exceedingly cold at Frankenmuth Snowfest, check out the warming tent located in Zehnder's parking lot. They also have maps of the festival. The best place to park, in my opinion, is right behind Zehnder's Restaurant. They have a monster paved lot, but it will be packed after noon.
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If you are limited on time, the majority of the ice sculptures are located within Zehnder's and Bavarian Inn's parking lots.
Given I live on a lake where we make our own ice rink each winter, I've thrown a few skating parties = so have learned a bit by trial and error. Mostly error. LOL
It's not that difficult to build a DIY ice rink in your backyard if you have the room.
If you don't have the room to do that don't panic. Even most small towns have public ice rinks or you can rent ice time at an indoor rink for your skating party.
The great thing about a skating party is that you can adapt it to almost anything - ice skating, hockey, roller skating, skateboarding, even skiing.
Over the years I learned to start decorating as though I'm decorating for a Winter Wonderland party, then add skating elements to that.
For example, this was a backdrop I made for one of the Winter Wonderland parties I did...
I constructed that wooded backdrop to fold down flat for storage. I added hanging snowflakes I cut with my Cricut. The bench came from my yard and I hung my own skates over it. The warming hut I made as well but it's a pretty complex and time-consuming project so it would be much easier for you to make a corrugated cardboard skating warming hut like the one below.
I used a couple of styrofoam pieces on the ends of the rink wall to make it stand out more from the photo backdrop and give it more dimension, then added a couple of balloon arches and a birthday banner.
That hut is designed to fold down flat for storage as well.
Project Little Smith’s DIY cardboard play house project. The tab and slot system makes construction easy and accessible.
Just Google "Corrugated Cardboard Huts" or "Corrugated Cardboard Playhouses" and you'll find endless tutorials for different styles of huts, including video tutorials.
You can use a photo backdrop of a skating rink and use styrofoam sheets to construct the rink walls...
There are any number of things you can use in decorating for a skating party.
Giant snowflakes cut from corrugated (left) and painted white and/or silver can be used to make a big wall collage to cover large areas. The collage is visually pleasing as well.
Frozen window clings are inexpensive and can be used to decorate your windows.
Use glitter glue or craft glue to draw snowflakes and icy swirls on wax paper, then peel them off once dry.
Stick them directly to your windows.
Icicle curtain lights can also be used to cover large wall spaces.
Food/Menu
S'mores Charcuterie Board
Frosted Berries
White Hot Chocolate Buffet
SKATE COOKIES
Frozen Bark
Blueberry Yogurt Parfait
WINTER CAKESICKLES
ICE SKATE CUPCAKES
WINTER ICE CUBES
WALKING TACOS
Easiest meal for kids ever and they love eating out of the bag!
Super easy cleanup...just throw the bag and the fork out.
Tablescape
Variegated blue and white glitter tablecloth with pale blue tulle snowflake pattern overlay.
Figure skating themed disposable dinnerware with silver snowflake charger.
Matching napkins with blue and silver snowflake napkin holders.
Blue glitter plastic disposable silverware.
Blue plastic goblets.
I made the skate boot centerpiece with one of my old skates and materials from the dollar store.
FAVOR BOXES
Rather than fill the favor boxes with candy and such I filled them with things skating girls could actually use since they're always watching their weight.
Skate shaped soap
Activities
This contribution from Ashley, her figure skating friends and Ice Skating Guru.
You can download and print out the FREE skating moves charts here.
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One of the things the girls liked doing on our trip was after a day on the rink, dig into some Frozen popcorn and a mug of my mint hot chocolate while watching skating movies:
Ice Princess
Cutting Edge series
Blades of Glory
Ice Castles
Ice Girls
Have some skating movies on hand for your future Olympians, especially if your party includes a sleepover.
COLORED EGGS
Have one person be “The Wolf” and have each person think of a color for their “egg”. Choose home base (one end of the rink makes sense).
Have the wolf start guessing colors. If he/she calls out your color, you have to run past the wolf and back to home base without getting caught.
FILL THE BUCKET
If you want a silly game that kids love, it doesn’t get more simple than Fill The Bucket. All you need is a huge basket of balls, they can be small ball pit balls or larger soccer sized balls.
All you have to do is split the kids into teams and give each team a large bucket. Then tip all the balls out on the ice and get the kids to collect them. Whichever team has the most balls in their bucket at the end is the winner.
FOUR CORNERS
Number each corner of the ice skating rink. Write the numbers on pieces of paper and place them inside of a bag or pot.
Play some music and have the kids skate around the rink. When the music stops, everyone must skate to one of the corners. Pull one of the notes out of the ice skate and call out the number or color.
Everyone in that corner is out of the game. Put the paper back into the skate, start the music again and continue playing until only one skater remains. That player is the winner.
BALLOON RACE
Spilt the group into teams and they have to try and get a balloon all the way down the ice without it ever touching the ice surface. If it hits the ice – you go back to the start line and begin again.
ICE HOPPER
The floor is freezing cold, and the only way to cross is by hopping from iceberg to iceberg! Kids race to the other side of the room using just two foam “icebergs,” stepping only on them to stay out of the icy water. If they touch the floor, they have to start over again at the beginning.
SKEEBALL
You'll need:
26 plastic cups
A numbered paper to fit in the bottom of each cup
Hot glue gun to glue the cups to a backing
A number of ping pong balls to throw
Arrange and glue the cups as seen in the video.
ICE SHOW
If there's an ice show in town, consider taking the kids to an ice show like Stars on Ice or a Disney themed ice show.