Millennium Park outdoor ice skating rink opens Friday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Ice skating at Millennium Park is a winter tradition for many Chicagoans. Despite recent mild weather, the rink is ready to open Friday!

Workers have been flooding the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink this week to make sure it's ready for opening day. It's located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison streets.

A ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Skaters from Ice Reach, a nonprofit that encourages people to participate in ice sports, will help celebrate the opening. Public skating will begin around 11:35 a.m.

The Chicago Jazz taught ABC7's Tanja Babich a few tricks at the Millennium Park ice rink, which opens for the season on Friday.

Skating is free. For those who don't own a pair of skate, rental is $12.

Depending on the weather, the ice rink will be open every day through March 6.

Daily hours of operation:

-Mondays-Thursdays, noon-8 p.m.

-Fridays, noon-10 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 11 a.m.)

-Saturdays (Nov. 14-Jan. 2), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)

-Saturdays (Jan. 9-March. 5), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)

-Sundays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)

Special holiday hours: (for a full Holiday schedule, visit the website)

-Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

-Friday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

-Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (ice skating lesson at 9 a.m.)

-Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (no ice skating lesson)