Winter fun for everyone: the ice-skating season has begun in Nizhny Novgorod.

      The ice rink season has started in Nizhny Novgorod. Already today residents can go ice skating in Park "Shveytsariya" and at the Trud Stadium. Tomorrow the rink will open in the May 1 Park. Earlier, the city head Yuri Shalabayev wrote on his social media that nearly a hundred ice rinks will operate in Nizhny Novgorod this season.

      According to the Department of Culture, in Park "Shveytsariya", as last winter, the rink is located next to the children's center "Vega"; the nearest entrance is at the "Aquapark" stop. "The rink has once again surprised and delighted with its design. At the heart of the rink is a matryoshka, the keeper of the Russian soul — real, sincere, warm. A festive outfit of sparkling garlands already decorates the space around her. We also invite guests to dress up. Come on December 1 to the 'à la russe' style rink and win prizes from the park for the best costume! Kokoshniks, beads, embroidery, headscarves — anything that reflects Russian culture is welcome," Park "Shveytsariya" emphasized.

      The ice complex will be open until March 9. On weekdays, from Tuesday to Thursday, the rink is open from 10:00 to 21:15. Sessions: 10:00–11:45, 12:00–13:15, 14:00–15:15, 16:00–17:15, 18:00–19:15, 20:00–21:15. From Friday to Sunday and on public holidays the rink will operate from 10:00 to 23:00, and on New Year's Eve from 10:00 to 03:00.

      Tickets can be purchased both at the park box office and in advance online. Concessions are provided for residents. A 50% discount on the ticket price is granted to orphans, children left without parental care, pupils and students among orphans and children left without parental care, persons with disabilities of groups I and II and two accompanying persons, as well as members of foster and large families. Free admission is provided for veterans and disabled persons of the Great Patriotic War and combat operations, military service veterans and labor veterans, Heroes of the USSR and the Russian Federation, and full holders of the Order of Glory. In addition, every Tuesday of the month pensioners can visit the rink for free (session 10:00–11:15). Concessions are provided upon presentation of supporting documents.

      The MAUK "Directorate of Parks and Squares of Nizhny Novgorod" noted that three rinks will open this winter on the institution's grounds: in Avtozavodsky Park, "Dubki" Park and May 1 Park. All ice surfaces will operate as part of the "Gorky Christmas Tree" festival.

      On December 2 the rink will open in May 1 Park. It is equipped with an artificial cooling system, which makes the ice cover more resistant to changing weather conditions and allows the mass skating season to open at the beginning of December. Session schedule from December 2 to December 31 and from January 12 to March 1: 10:00–11:15, 11:45–13:00, 13:30–14:45, 16:00–17:15, 17:45–19:00, 19:30–20:45. From January 1 to January 11 an additional evening session will be organized from 21:30 to 22:45. "Provided the temperature is favorable, the rink will operate from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday is a day off, except for January 5 and February 23. Park guests will be able to use a skate rental and lockers, as well as visit a food court with hot food and drinks," the Directorate said. Additional information can be obtained by calling the administrator at: 414-57-14.

      Specialists noted that the ice in Avtozavodsky and "Dubki" parks is planned to be natural, so opening dates depend on weather conditions.

      The rink in "Dubki" Park will operate daily, except Monday, from the start of mass skating until December 31 and from January 12 to March 1 at 10:00–11:15, 12:00–13:15, 14:00–15:30, 17:00–18:15 and 19:00–20:30. Monday is a day off. During the New Year holidays an additional session will also be organized from 21:15 to 22:30. Questions about the rink's operation can be asked by phone: 414-47-14.

      When purchasing tickets for the rinks in "Dubki" Park and May 1 Park, a 50% discount on the ticket price will be provided to each person on their birthday, to large families, and to persons with disabilities.

      "The 'Katushka' rink in Avtozavodsky Park will operate on weekdays from 11:00 to 21:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 21:00. Visitors have access to skate, ski and tube rentals for riding on specially equipped wooden slides on the territory of the 'dry' lake," MAUK said. Ticket discounts at the ice rink: on Monday from 11:00 to 15:00 students' admission will cost 100 rubles, rental 150 rubles; for pensioners on Tuesday during the same hours admission is free, rental 150 rubles. For up-to-date information about "Katushka" and other services in Avtozavodsky Park call: 413-13-11.

      Ticket purchase benefits in Avtozavodsky Park: a 50% discount on the ticket price for each person on their birthday, for large families and for persons with disabilities; a 10% discount is provided for group visits by prior arrangement; free admission is available to orphans and children from orphanages, shelters and correctional boarding schools (only organized visits by prior coordinated request). Discounts are only granted upon presentation of supporting documents.

      In addition, the Department of Culture noted that more than 3,300 season tickets for free skating will be provided to children whose parents are participating in the special military operation.

      According to the City Department of Physical Culture and Sports, mass skating sessions will also be organized at three municipal sports facilities. Thus, at the sports school "Sormovo named after Yu.P. Kruglov" the rink is already available at the Trud Stadium until February 8. At the Zarechye Sports Palace mass skating will take place from January 3 to January 11, and at the Severnaya Zvezda Sports Palace — from December 7 to December 28, from January 3 to January 6, from January 8 to January 11, and from January 18 to February 22. Detailed mass skating schedules and lists of concessions can be found on the institutions' websites.

      The sports department also noted that 67 courtyard rinks are planned to be flooded this coming winter. Flooding work will continue until the New Year. At the same time, given that all flooded objects are located outdoors and are not equipped with ice mats, final flooding dates may be adjusted due to external weather factors. The ice rinks will be free and available to everyone.

      Avtozavodsky District: 38A Ilyich Ave.; 20/1 Kirov Ave.; 16 Vedeniapina St.; 20 Dyakonova St.; 34 Monchegorskaya St.; 16 Oktyabrya Ave.; 46 Permyakova St.; 1A Bakhtina St.; 20A Yuzhnoye Shosse St.

      Leninsky District: 7 Rainis Lane; 4 Geroya Popova St.; 29 Podvodnikov St.; 32 Dachnaya St. (FOKOT).

      Kanavinsky District: 29 Vesennyaya St.; 66 Vitebskaya St.; 51 Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii St.

      Moskovsky District: 30 Geroev Ave.; 10 Ryabtseva St.; 30 Chaadaeva St.; 38 Narodnaya St.

      Sormovsky District: 2 Barentsa St.; 50A Geroev Kosmosa Ave.; 2 Zaitseva St.; 4 Ispolkoma St.; 8 Ostrovskogo St.; 1 Telegrafnaya St.; 3 Krasnosormovskaya St.; 33 Sutyrina St.

      Nizhegorodsky District: Novaya village; 2 Verkhne-Pecherskaya St.; 47A Gogol St.; 6 Usilova St.

      Prioksky District: 21 Cherepichny settlement; 5 2nd Kemerovsky Lane; 52A Mordvintsevo village; 131 Tsentralnaya St., Beshenzevo village; Kudma settlement, 54 Pushkina St.; Novinki settlement, 19 Tsentralnaya St.; 32 Gornaya St.; 14A Krylova St.; 5 Marshala Zhukova St.; Novinki settlement, Suvorova St.

      Sovetsky District: 60 Gagarin Ave.; 83 Belinskogo St.; 2 Malinovskogo St.; 12 Bogorodskogo St.

      Kstovsky District: 2nd microdistrict, 25; Kultur settlement, "Vremena Goda" residential complex; 1 Pobedy Ave.; 15 Ostrovskogo St.; Privolzhsky settlement, 10A Profsoyuznaya St.; 10 Soviet Lane; 6 Mira Square; Afonino village; Podlesovo village; Druzhny settlement; Blizhnee Borisovo village; Bolshoye Mokroe village; Velikiy Vrag village; Zaprudnoye village; N. Klyuchishchi village; Novolikeevo village; Prokoshevo village; Shava village; Sheloksha village; Chernukha village; Chernyshikha village.

      The City Department of Education added that rinks are also planned to be flooded on the grounds of 24 municipal educational organizations in Nizhny Novgorod. Access for minors to the ice facilities in the presence of parents will be organized according to a separate schedule agreed with the administration of the educational organization.

      Avtozavodsky District: MBOU School No. 5 (31 Melnikova St.); MBOU School No. 20 (23g Yuzhnoye Shosse St.); MBOU School No. 37 (49a Yuzhnoye Shosse St.); MBOU School No. 59 (15 Sovetskoy Armii St.); MBOU School No. 111 (30a Vedeniapina St.); MBOU School No. 125 (26 Permyakova St.); MBOU School No. 128 (33a Monchegorskaya St.); MBOU School No. 145 (19th Line, 25); CDT "Vostok" (13a Smirnova St.).

      Kanavinsky District: MBOU School No. 121 (4 Tonkinskaya St.); MAOU School No. 176 (17 K. Marksa St.).

      Leninsky District: MAOU Gymnasium No. 184 (61 Lenin Ave., bldg. 6); MAOU Lyceum No. 180 (45/5 Lenin Ave.).

      Moskovsky District: MBU DO "DYuSSh 'Polet'" (16B Chaadaeva St.); MAOU School No. 70 (21 Kominterna St.); MAOU School No. 172 (4a Miroshnikova St.).

      Nizhegorodsky District: MBOU School No. 35 (8 Fruktovaya St.); MAOU School No. 22 (5a Verkhne-Pecherskaya St.).

      Prioksky District: MBOU School No. 32 (3 Akademika Lebedeva St.); MBOU School No. 174 (Shcherbinki-1 microdistrict, 30).

      Sormovsky District: MBOU School No. 76 (24 Mokrousova St.); MAOU School No. 79 (18A Zaitseva St.); MBOU School No. 27 (25A Korablestroiteley St.); MAOU School No. 84 (18 Barentsa St.).

      Recall that earlier Nizhny Novgorod mayor Yuri Shalabayev spoke about the main New Year venues awaiting residents and guests of the city this winter. According to the mayor, "it's high time to plan how to spend the New Year holidays. Of course, in Nizhny Novgorod."