If you can’t tell, the VitaminOC’ers love anything that’s free. (I suppose that may be true for all starving college students, low-salaried teachers, and recent grads looking for a job.) This past Friday, we enjoyed another free event that has been taking place on weekends for the past month — ice skating at the Orange County Great Park!

This small, yet very beautiful ice rink is set in an old hangar right near the park’s main attraction, the Great Balloon. Every hour, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (the last session beginning at 9 p.m.), the park allows 80 skaters to hop on the ice for free! And no skate rental fee, either.

Shamrocks and Skates Event

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and this weekend is your last chance to enjoy this awesome attraction. However, to close another wonderful and beautiful Orange County “Winter” season, they are making the final skating sessions extra special. To usher in the new Spring season and happy green holiday, the event this Saturday, March 14, is being appropriately named the Shamrocks and Skates Event! In addition to the already free skating sessions, the park will have sledding, ice carving demonstrations, treasure hunting, and snacks (Who can deny free food?).

Take the family out, bring your significant other for a date, or just go out gallivanting around with your friends. Whatever you choose, it should be a fun day for everyone! One suggestion, though — if you plan to go ice skating, try to arrive early. We arrived just before 8 p.m. on a Friday, which scored us the a set of nine free tickets for the 9 p.m. skate session. Space is limited, and being the last weekend for the event, the tickets may go fast!

For more information, visit the OCGP Official Web site at http://www.ocgp.org. Enjoy!