Jessica DeTienne and her daughter Mikayla laced up their white ice skates at the Memorial Park warming house Monday afternoon, eager to get the brand-new blades out on the ice.

Mikayla, 7, said she is a pretty good ice skater, but Jessica didn’t share in her confidence.

With three years of skating under her belt, Mikayla said she learned at age 4 by just moving her feet back and forth, in and out. Jessica laughed and said the key is to wear lots of padding.

The DeTiennes were among the first skaters at the rink Monday, but Jannice Odermann, recreation supervisor with the city of Helena, was preparing for another busy day.

“It’s been packed,” she said, adding that about 150 people have visited the rink each day over the holiday break. “It’s very affordable family fun.”

The cost is $1 for kids under the age of 17 and $1.50 for adults, which includes rental skates with recently sharpened blades.

“Basically you’re paying for the use of the warming house,” Odermann said.

The rink is generally open each day, and visitors are free to use it at their leisure, she added.

Tamara Freiburg, 16, was at the rink dressed in enough protective gear to make her look like a professional hockey player.

Freiburg said her favorite team is the Helena Bighorns, and she hopes someday to play on a team. Until then, she’s happy to get in some practice time with little expense or injury.

Joe Horner moved to the Queen City from South Dakota this past year and brought his two sons, Ty, 6, and Liam, 2, for their first skating experience.

Ty was a good sport about the family endeavor, but shyly admitted he fell down a lot.

Odermann remembers going to the rink when she was little and said she always remembers it as a place where people are all smiles.

More than 30 years later, she said, it’s still a place to go for a good time, but with some improvements over the good ol’ days.

The bathrooms have recently received an upgrade; there are a couple of couches donated for lounging in the warming house; helmets are offered, and a back room is available at no charge for families to use for parties.

Donations of skates are always welcome, and larger men’s sizes are always needed.

Opening hours

The ice skating rink at Memorial Park is a popular spot for families during Christmas break. It’s open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Saturday, Jan. 3, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.

After the holidays, the outdoor rink is open Fridays 4-8 p.m., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays through mid-February, weather permitting.

For information about the conditions at the rink, call 443-8774.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com