Winter festival draws crowd in Manassas

Though the temps were a bit balmy, families skated on an outdoor ice rink and listened to live music at Harris Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.

The 2012 Winter Festival was held from noon to 5 p.m. at the facility, giving area residents a chance to have some outdoor fun.

Heather Sandklev of Bristow came to the festival with her husband Doug, and children Zack, 11, Maddie, 8 and Caitlin, 3. She was helping Caitlin enjoy her first time in a skating rink, as the small girl held on to a side rail taller than she was.

“We’re just getting started,” Sandklev said, noting that they were having fun.

Several children – and adults – fell on the ice, but they got right back up and skated some more.

Manassas resident Kristen Smiley said that she skated the first time in seven years at the festival.

“Just being out there skating and being together as a community was nice,” Smiley said as she sat on a nearby bench with her boyfriend, Taron Flowers. “My ankles hurt, but I don’t have any blisters.”

Doug Sandklev was concerned that temperatures in the upper 50s on Saturday would affect the rink.

“It’s was a really warm, sunny day,” he said. “We thought for sure that’d melt the ice, but it hasn’t.”

Anna Marie Robinson, general manager of Harris Pavilion, said a refrigeration system keeps the skating rink cold.

She said the temperature would only be an issue if there was 24 to 48-hour period of over 40-degree temperatures.

“In that case, we’d have some wetness on the rink,” Robinson said. “Once it gets cold at night, we’re good.”

Robinson said that she saw a good turnout all day, and sourced it to what she called beautiful weather.

Bristow-based band West on 66 performed a series of classic rock songs for the ice skaters – some of which include tunes from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Creedence Clearwater Revival, among others.

The facility also had a broomball game, held earlier in the day. 

Broomball is similar to hockey, in that two teams try to score goals against one another by hitting a ball into the opponent’s goal. True to its name, the sticks that are used resemble brooms.

A hotspot at the festival was a food station, where hot chocolate and s’mores – complete with marshmallows toasted on long sticks by children and their parents – were served.

Phim Gilberry, of Woodbridge, enjoyed the food.

“The smores were great, and the fact that it was free is neat,” Gilberry said. “I hope they keep it here for a long time.”

Hot chocolate at the event, and other items, were $1 each.

Doug Sandklev hoped to make the festival a yearly tradition for his family.

“It’s a great outdoor experience – a lot nicer than an indoor, closed rink,” he said.  “It’s a great Old Town experience.”

Residents can still ice skate at Harris Pavilion.  They have a free skate Wednesdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a matinee skate Thurs. and Fri. between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

It costs $3 to $5, depending on day, to skate.

Staff writer David Pierce can be reached at 703-530-3905.