Glasgow On Ice

So what do you do if you paved a large park in the center of a city and Christmas rolls around?
Pop a skating rink on it!
Winterfest is a reasonably run event — probably since Glasgow City Council has very little to do with it.
At one point in my consulting career, I would go and visit the folks at Delloite Touché and their conference room would give you a great viewing of the rink and the surrounding venues. Unfortunately, those in charge have decided to board up most of the views of this area and you cannot see any of the skateres from the street. i think that is a shame.
Rockefeller Centre it is not.
If you are desperate to rent previously worn footwear — then this or a bowling alley are your only two outlets (at least since the death of rollerdisco). Think of it as bowling on ice.
Edit (Dec 6^th 2010): Glasgow on Ice has been closed due to freezing conditions — Irony Your Name is Glasgow.

2010 update and this time the simian specimen is question has added a ‘kiss me kwik’ hat to his outfit. Confused? Read the first review and all will become clearer!
Sooooo, aye it’s still big bright and brasher than a multimillionaire boss of a company up from London and fancying a wee bit of stuff at the office Christmas bash…
‘I’ve got a turbo charged penis mobile dont you know ra ra…“
Aye so, back to reality and the keyboard with a bump… aya ma bum! If this event fails to bring a wee smile to your dark and festive hating heart then… screw it, fire across to the pub and let the young’uns get on with it!
Bright lights, fair ground rides, sugar, sugar, sugar and sugared sugar… it’s pretty much Christmas in a box, or a square to be more exact!

Winterfest is by far the most fun time of year to be at George Square. I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed it already!
Beginning at the tail end of November, and running until January, George Square becomes a winter wonderland. The lights, the helter-​skelter, the nativity scene, the huge Christmas tree, and all the on-​stage festivites that accompany it make it a lovely place to visit. Add to that the recent bout of snow, and you’ve got a good couple of hours to spend merry-​making.
There are a few rides, including the helter-​skelter, carousel, and swings. If you fancy an Angus burger, the bans will see you right, and there’s a covered area where you can escape the rain and windchill and enjoy a wee drink and a sit down.
There are also a host of musical offerings. The other day I passed through and caught part of the set by a Beatles tribute band, «Them Beatles», who sent us off on our journey to the Merchant City singing nananana, hey Jude. You cannae argue with that!
It certainly brightens the place up, and I for one welcome its annual visit. The city Chambers looks lovely lit up behind it, too.

When those big tacky lights appear overnight at George Square, that starts the countdown to Christmas for me. Even better, is the ceremony of the switching on of the lights, which has become a Glasgow tradition, with an amazing light show and fireworks display from the City Chambers opposite. It makes me feel all Christmassy and has done since I was a child, which is why I absolutely love Winterfest in Glasgow.
This year, there have been Christmas films being shown at George Square throughout the festive season, which is really quite lovely and fun for all the family.
There are candy floss stands and a a merry-​go-​round to keep the kids entertained and, more often than not, the adults too.

As part of Glasgow’s annual festive calendar, from 21 November to 3 January George Square is kitted out in all sorts of Chritmas cheer. While in all honesty I’m not that intersted in much of the stuff taking place, I do quite like the family friendly festive atmosphere that’s absent for the other 11 months of the year, so always find myself making the effort to have a little wander around here.
There’s a number of food /​market stalls (though all the German ones have been shunted to St Enoch Square), and a big stage that plays host to a number of bands you’ve never heard of. The ice rink is probably the main attraction however, and like all outdoor ice rinks it looks like it’s been directly lifted from a twee romantic comedy. It’s immensly popular and the skaters do go surprisingly fast, so it’s probably really good fun, but the sheer cheesiness of it all will continue to stop me joining in.
To top it all off, we have a helter skelter and a chair-​o-​plane ride, which going by the screams of the hordes riding it delivers the goods, but looks bloody terrifying. I enjoy rollercoasters and the like but I’d just get visions of me flying off straight into the Millenium Hotel in a bone-​shattering impact.

Ah. I took myself on a wander round here as a respite from retail therapy (which, given that it’s Christmas time and the shops are sooo busy, wasn’t therapeutic at all) and it certainly gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
The lights are so over the top and cheesy but everywhere needs a bit of that at Christmas time and the kiddies staring wide-​eyed at them is a sure sign they have a place.
Although much smaller than I remember it from previous years (though that could be rose-​tinted glasses) every section here was busy. The helter skelter (I want a shot!!! Are adults allowed?!), the food stalls, the bar and, of course, the ice rink. Despite being half outside, the fairy lights of the bar made it somehow appealing. I found myself pausing at the ice rink and smiling. No, really, I did. It’s not New York… or dare I say it… Edinburgh…but it’s cutely Glasgow. I’m going to go all out & have a go next week. If you can’t at Christmas, when can you?