What's Happening at the Ice Rink

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines
Returns to San Francisco with Festive Events for All Ages
Icebreaker: San Francisco Single’s Night,The Return of Drag Queens on Ice, and the Polar Bear Skate Among Events to be Presented this Holiday Season

SAN FRANCISCO (October 9, 2012) –Winter in San Francisco would not be the same without gliding across the ice with family and friends at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines. The ice skating season begins Wednesday, November 7, 2012 and runs through Monday, January 21, 2013. This holiday skating season, the ice rink will present some exciting events including Opening Ceremony featuring Disney’s THE LION KING, Icebreaker: San Francisco Single’s Night, the return of Drag Queens on Ice “Bigger, Better and Bawdier!”, and the first ever Polar Bear Skate.

Opening Ceremony | November 7 | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines will kick off the holiday ice skating season with a special opening ceremony featuring Disney’s THE LION KING. Grab your scarf and mittens and make your way down to the ice rink to view a local professional ice skating group performing to Disney’s THE LION KING’s “Circle of Life” sung by Buyi Zama who portrays “Rafiki.” This is a must attend family event!

Icebreaker: San Francisco Single’s Night | Thursday, November 29 | 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Love is in the air at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines. Join us for “Icebreaker: San Francisco Single’s Night,” where the first 100 singles to arrive with their favorite ugly holiday sweater will receive a mistletoe headband. Grab your single friends and head down to the ice rink for a single’s night mixer! You might just meet your swoon-worthy New Year’s Eve kiss!

Drag Queens on Ice; Bigger! Better! Bawdier! | Thursday, December 6 | 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The lovely drag queens of San Francisco are returning to the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines for an event that is “Bigger, Better and Bawdier!” The Bay Area’s most colorful drag personalities will be returning to the ice for an evening of laughs, lip synching and lipstick! Drag queens and kings across the bay are encouraged to don their most “gay apparel” for a chance to be honored as “2012 Ice Drag King and Queen.”

Polar Bear Skate | Tuesday, January 1 | 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square presented by Alaska Airlines is putting its own spin on Canada’s “Polar Bear Swim” with the San Francisco-Style Polar Bear Skate. With California style in mind, ice skaters are encouraged to come in their favorite bathing suit and beach blanket apparel. The first 100 ice skaters will receive a special polar bear skate gift. There will also be a polar bear dance off and a contest for the craziest holiday polar bear bathing suit. Get your shades, bathing suit and best polar bear attire and come to the ice rink to take the plunge!

Hours:
The ice rink opens November 7 through to January 21, and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with the exception of December 31, 2012 when it will close at 9:30 p.m.

Ticket prices:
General admission tickets are $10 and tickets for children eight years old and under are $6. Figure and hockey skate rentals are $5. Advance tickets go on sale Monday, October 15, 2012 at www.unionsquareicerink.com/tickets. Starting Wednesday, November 7, 2012 tickets will be available at the ice rink ticket window in Union Square. Group rates and private parties are also available.

Sponsors:
Safeway, Alaska Airlines, Kaiser Permanente, Macy*s, Marmot Mountain, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company,  American Conservatory Theater, Union Square Business Improvement District, The Westin St. Francis San Francisco, JW Marriott, Chancellor Hotel, Galleria Park Hotel, Grand Hyatt Union Square, John’s Grill, SFMTA, Emporio Rulli Caffé, Disney’s THE LION KING, Square, UNIQLO, San Francisco Examiner, NBC BAY AREA, Telemundo, KSTS-TV 48, STAR 101.3, 98.1 KISS FM, 106.1 KMEL, KOSF 103.7, WiLD 94.9 and KGO 810

Video:  Ice Skating B-Roll Footage
To download b-roll, please click here and save the video file to your desktop.

About the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink
Since 2007, the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink has delighted children and adults with a holiday-themed ice park located in San Francisco’s Union Square. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission and $6 for children eight years old and under. Figure and hockey skate rentals are $5. Ice rink hours are from 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. daily. A portion of ticket proceeds benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. For tickets or more information, please visit www.unionsquareicerink.com or call 415-781-2688.

About Willy Bietak Productions
Santa Monica-based Willy Bietak Productions is a full-service production company specializing in the development and production of high quality family entertainment. With a staff of award-winning designers, directors, choreographers and musical arrangers – backed by a talented production and management team – Willy Bietak Productions conceives, packages and tours international entertainment spectaculars as well as special events. For more information, please visit www.bietakproductions.com.

CONTACT:
Kimberly Keyes | Charles Zukow Associates
415-296-0677 | moc.wokuzselrahc@kylrebmik