But please, leave your pipes at home.

The Classic Center's new ice skating rink opens Saturday for a week-long sneak preview. Here's the 411:

The new 6,000 square foot indoor rink in The Classic Center’s Grand Hall is the only one of its kind in Athens. Whether it is a romantic winter date night or fun activity for the kids, this is the perfect place to start making holiday traditions.

Ice skating is just one of the many activities scheduled from Dec. 14-22 during the nine-day Christmas at TheClassic Center festival. The festival benefits Extra Special People, a nonprofit in Watkinsville, Ga., that strives to enhance the lives of young people with developmental disabilities in nine Northeast Georgia counties.

Ice skating tickets are $10 per session (includes skate rental) during skate only hours or $7 per session if patrons bring their own skates. The general admission price of $3 will also be charged if skating during festival hours. For a complete list of festival hours and skate only hours, please visit ClassicCenterChristmas.com. Ice skating tickets can be purchased each day of the event inside the Grand Hall.

On Saturday, Dec. 14 starting at 12:30 p.m., skaters can join the University of Georgia Hockey team on the ice for an old-fashioned Winter Skating Party. The team will be giving away tickets to future hockey games at TheClassic Center and other prizes. The Classic Center is now the home venue for the team.

This is the first time The Classic Center has offered ice skating. The removable ice rink and ice skates have now arrived, and the center’s staff is busy preparing for the rink’s opening. The Classic Center will celebrate the grand opening of its ice rink in April with an ice show and UGA Ice Dogs hockey game.

For ice skating hours and more information, visit ClassicCenterChristmas.com, call 706-357-4444 or e-mail [email protected].