Holiday Traditions: Christmas in the Ville

Christmas in the Ville

Chamber of Commerce Bringing Holiday Ice Rink to Town

The Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the return of its fifth annual Christmas in the Ville — a month-long Christmas festival that features a real ice skating rink set up in their parking lot just north of the Chamber Depot, at 201 SW Keeler in the heart of downtown Bartlesville. The festival, which is sponsored by Perspective Advisors, will open to the public December 3 and run through January 2, 2022.

“We are excited to bring back this fun entertainment gift to our community. We have a really special Downtown and the Chamber staff, consisting of just five, wanted to come up with something to highlight that, particularly during the holidays. We have created a family-friendly, old- fashioned Christmas atmosphere in the heart of Downtown Bartlesville,” said Sherri Wilt, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “We wanted to set ourselves apart from other holiday rinks by surrounding our guests with beauty and entertainment, and people have loved our quaint, family-friendly atmosphere, and ease of free parking,” said Wilt. “The festival has grown every year with the addition of new things.”

During the festival, the Chamber’s property will be magically lit from the Frank Phillips Park at Keeler and Frank Phillips Blvd. all the way to the north parking lot, where their vintage AT&SF No. 940 locomotive train sits. One can climb up into the locomotive and blow the whistle and explore. The train also features four other cars, including a caboose. All have been lovingly restored and are lit and decorated to make a beautiful backdrop to the west side of the rink. The park is filled with twinkling lights and includes a magnificent 12-foot walk-through ornament and 28foot Christmas tree. There is also a north end backdrop to the rink that portrays a vintage village. The popular “tree farm” at the north end of the depot will be even bigger this year and makes another great stop for holiday photos.

Beginning December 3, the festival will be open every Friday from 6-9 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday from 1-9 p.m. Fridays on December 10 and 17, the rink is reserved from 3-6 p.m. for families skating with children under 12. After December 20, when schools are out for Christmas break, the rink will be open every day from 1-9 p.m., from 15 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and closed on Christmas day. This year they will be open until midnight for New Year’s Eve. Horse-drawn carriage rides are also available during all open hours. Santa is available for take-your-own photos in the big red sleigh on Friday evenings and Saturdays (see www.BartlesvilleChristmas.com for specific times and a full calendar of events.) Evenings feature Christmas movies in the park on the north lawn. Hay bales are set up like a little drivein and families can enjoy some classic holiday movies while sipping hot chocolate. Yard games on the south lawn are also a favorite with families. There are other special activities planned throughout the festival, including character weekends featuring Anna & Elsa and Superman & Spiderman.

A community-wide celebration for the season and opening of the rink will be held on Friday, December 3. The evening will include the lighting of the Chamber park and 28-foot community Christmas tree with the flip of a switch. The evening will also feature other fun activities, including meeting Frozen characters Anna & Elsa, visiting with Santa, local food trucks, a Downtown merchant crawl featuring great prizes, festive photo-op stops, real tot train rides, Presents with Perspective Shop where kids shop free for family members in the Perspective Advisors tent, carriage rides through Downtown, and much more.

Admission to skate is $10 and includes skates and unlimited skating time. Most of the other activities, except carriage rides, are free so families can spend time together and create special holiday memories. “We hope the people will slip on out and enjoy some frosty family fun in Bartlesville,” Wilt said.

For more information about the festival, including the schedule of events, visit www.BartlesvilleChristmas.com and follow on Facebook at Bartlesville Christmas in the Ville.