By Rhea Landholm, office coordinator at Main Street Square and Destination Rapid City

The Main Street Square ice skating rink is one of the newest places to visit in Rapid City, and was even voted the best “first date” place in Rapid City.

Did you come see us last year? If you did, you would see that the rink is in an oval shape, and is bigger than New York City’s Rockefeller Center. There are plenty of places where people can sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. There’s even a fire pit where you can warm up.

If you’ve only seen Main Street Square during the summer, you know that the distinct oval shape is there, circling a lawn and the interactive fountain area. Main Street Square staff has been working hard the past couple of weeks to erect dasher boards, and to lie down glycol matting in that oval (right over the green grass).

This week, staff has been spraying water on the mats with the hose, and the chiller, a large refrigeration system that is set up in the alley, is pumping glycol underground to those mats, to freeze the ice.

The ice should be ready and glistening by Saturday morning, when the rink will open at 10 a.m. When you arrive, be sure to visit the Skate Shack to pay for a wristband that allows you onto the ice (and sign a waiver, or have an adult sign for you). We also rent ice skates if you don’t have your own. Helmets are free!

Once you have a wristband, you may skate the entire day. So, skate for an hour, then visit local shops and restaurants, and return to the rink later for more skating.

I can’t wait to glide across the fresh ice, and watch the mini-Zamboni drive in circles cleaning the ice.

Join us at Main Street Square in Downtown Rapid City for [FUN]²!

Check out Main Street Square’s Facebook page too – just search for Main Street Square!

If you’re looking for a shopping experience with a little something for everyone, look no further than Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City. This past week, we paid a visit to the Square and I was completely impressed by the progress that has taken place during the last several months. The first time I visited the Square was last November, and while that trip certainly sparked my interest in the project, this visit caused me to see just how amazing Main Street Square really is. In November, there were people skating on the ice rink and holiday music was playing, giving me the feeling that I was a part of a charming Christmas scene. This was so movie-moment-perfect that I got caught up in the spectacle of the Square and failed to notice how well-planned and user-friendly the area is. It is obvious that the Square was designed to be enjoyed; there are dozens of chairs throughout the facility and the public “green” area promises year-round entertainment and enjoyment for the community, as well as for visitors.

On the website dedicated to the shopping side of Main Street Square, the series of boutiques and eateries are described as being “a galleria of interesting things to see, taste and buy.”  The stores truly are exceptional and should be experienced firsthand! My personal favorite is Mitzi’s Books, which I think personifies everything a bookstore should be, but I also enjoyed wandering through the outdoor adventurer’s haven, Roam’n Around. You also shouldn’t miss the Gnar Spot, which is the only rider-owned and operated skate and snowboard shop in the area. The variety of stores incorporated in Main Street Square makes the experience even better. For example, Who’s Toy House is a fantastic toy store that provides a colorful array of unique toys and games to store-goers. Beyond the main building which houses these stores, Rapid City’s downtown area boasts a wonderful array of shops and restaurants, all of which are worth venturing into.

I definitely recommend that visitors to the Black Hills pay the Square a visit, it’s certainly worth the time. I can hardly wait to see what the Square will become in the future, and what it will come to mean to the Rapid City community. For more information about Main Street Square, please visit http://mainstreetsquarerc.com/.