The holidays will be a little brighter and more cheerful this year, thanks to the return of the popular Skate in the Park event and additional festivities in downtown Colorado Springs starting this weekend.

On Friday evening, the city and the Downtown Partnership merchants association will kick off the holiday season with the free, family-friendly Acacia Holiday Celebration and the return of Colorado Springs’ only outdoor ice rink at Acacia Park.

The Acacia Holiday Celebration will feature food and drink trucks, photos with Santa and bell ringers beginning at 6 p.m., remarks from Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Britt Haley at 6:20 p.m., and a special performance by U.S. Figure Skating at 6:40 p.m.

Skate in the Park, which draws an average 22,000 people each season, also opens Friday for the 2024-2025 season, with public skating sessions from 4-6 p.m. and again from 7-9 p.m. Skate in the Park runs through Jan. 31.

Special events include theme nights, skating with the Colorado College Tigers on Nov. 29 from 4-6 p.m., and Learn to Skate with U.S. Figure Skating on Dec. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon (free to participate, but registration is required).

This month, the outdoor ice rink will be open every day from Nov. 15-30, except for Thanksgiving. Skaters can purchase tickets onsite for $13 each session throughout the season. Tickets include skate rental. Children under 4 years old are free with a paying adult, and $1 discounts are offered for first responders and military with ID.

A full schedule, including hours and special Skate in the Park events, is online at DowntownCS.com/Skate.

The Downtown Partnership is also debuting holiday festivities on Saturday, including strolling carolers, photo opportunities and discounts at stores to offer added cheer this season and to support downtown businesses.

“The experience of engaging with your neighbors, who just happen to be expert curators of unique gift items, is so important to the connection we seek as humans, especially during the holidays,” Carrie Simison, director of marketing and communications for the Downtown Partnership, said in a news release.

Downtown Colorado Springs is home to more than 75 shops, boutiques and galleries within 1 square mile, alongside dozens of restaurants.

Holiday characters like Santa, the Grinch, Elsa and Anna from “Frozen,” and Buddy the Elf will stroll downtown, interact with visitors and shoppers, and pose for photos from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

People can line up for photos in front of the Acacia Park playground from 11 a.m. to noon. Individuals should be in line by 11:45 a.m. so the characters can start strolling at noon.

Other photo opportunities will be along the sidewalks of North Tejon Street, between Boulder and Kiowa streets, and East Bijou Street, between Nevada and Cascade avenues.

Downtown visitors can also enjoy the festive sounds performed by groups of carolers from the Soli Deo Gloria Choir from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.

A Metronet warming station will help keep visitors warm from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tejon Street across from Acacia Park.

Holiday shoppers can also save on goods and support downtown businesses this season with the annual downtown holiday coupon book featuring more than 100 offers.

Pick up a free coupon book at the Downtown Partnership table in Acacia Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.