New Year's Eve Skate Planned for Lake of the Isles

Three neighborhood associations team up for a free, family-friendly evening on the ice — weather permitting.

The Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association, the Kenwood Neighborhood Organization and the East Isles Neighborhood Association are again planning a free New Year's Eve Skate on Lake of the Isles, held at dusk on Dec. 31 with support from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The exact start time and the all-important ice call had not been posted as of publication. There is no ticket and no registration; skaters bring their own skates.

The evening is built for families who want an early, low-key way to close out the year. It has drawn more than a hundred neighbors in recent years, with pit fires and warm drinks along the shoreline while skaters circle out on the ice.

As with every outdoor winter event on the Chain of Lakes, the skate depends on conditions. A warm December can scuttle the rink entirely, so organizers monitor the ice in the days beforehand and post updates; when the lake cooperates, Park Board crews maintain the rink. When it does not, the fires and the cocoa carry the evening.

The three sponsoring associations cover the refreshments — a cost they note that city funding does not reach — and volunteers handle setup and teardown. The Park Board's role is the ice; nearly everything else is neighbors.

If you go, watch the Lowry Hill, Kenwood and East Isles association channels for the confirmed start time and the ice call in the days before Dec. 31. Dress for standing around in the cold, and bring skates if you have them. The associations also post volunteer roles for pouring cocoa and stacking wood on their sites.