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Skaters, shoppers keep downtown busy
Horse-drawn carriage rides add to holiday spirit continuing through this Thanksgiving week

by Jeb Bing

Hundreds of skaters kept Pleasanton's new outdoor ice rink busy over the weekend as many families took advantage of free horse-drawn carriage rides between the rink on Old Bernal Avenue and the Museum On Main downtown.

The weather helped, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s, drawing big pre-Thanksgiving crowds to the Farmers' Market and downtown stores and restaurants where special discounts were being offered. The good-weather weekend partly made up for a smaller number of shoppers Friday night when strong winds and rain moved into Pleasanton.

The city held a ceremony celebrating the rink's opening Nov. 19 where several hundred were in attendance to watch the Golden Skate synchronized skating team from San Jose perform on the ice a medley of holiday music, dress in red velvet with white fur trim. They were joined by two young pair skaters and Santa Claus. San Jose Sharks announcer Randy Hahn, who is a Pleasanton resident, emceed the event, which also featured Sharks mascot Sharky and comments by Mayor Jennifer Hosterman.

The city's first seasonal rink will operate through Jan. 10 on a portion of the public parking lot that serves the Pleasanton Library and Civic Center on Old Bernal Avenue.

Throughout the rink's operation, skaters will receive a 'Skater's Special' coupon in which they can receive gifts or discounts from more than 50 downtown Pleasanton retailers and restaurants.

The free horse-drawn carriage rides operate on Friday and Saturday nights through Dec. 12. For more information, contact the Pleasanton Downtown Association at 484-2199.

The Pleasanton rink is being operated and managed by San Jose Arena Management, which owns the San Jose Sharks, in a deal that was announced a few months ago between SJAM and the city of Pleasanton.