Stuart Park Outdoor Rink

Skating at Stuart Park is Kelowna's signature winter picture: a free outdoor rink on the downtown waterfront with Okanagan Lake and the Bennett Bridge as the backdrop, the Sails sculpture a block away and cafés and restaurants on every side. The rink opens in early December, weather permitting, and skating costs nothing — bring your own skates and a helmet, or use the rental hut, which runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily with kids' skates for $4, adult skates for $5, helmets for $2 and push-along EZ bars for $2. The rental shop closes when the temperature drops below −10°C, so on the coldest days come equipped. In some seasons the City has asked skaters to book a time slot online, so check the City's skating page before a holiday-week visit. Stuart Park is also home to the Winter Street Market and Light Up in the run-up to Christmas, which turns an evening skate into a full night out downtown.