The Chemnitz (Germany) Ice-Skating Club will perform at Akron's Lock 3 Park, Friday, December 3 through Sunday, December 5. Noontime-shows are scheduled each day together with a 5:30 evening performance that will also feature the arrival of the traditional "Father Christmas," better known to 21^st century youngsters as Santa Claus. Skaters will perform at other times as well between 11am and 9pm Friday and Saturday; Sunday, 11am -6pm.

Figure skating has a long tradition in Chemnitz. Well-known Olympians and professional skaters such as Gaby Seyfert, Sonja Morgenstern, Ingo Steuer and the best known Chemnitz skater - - Katarina Witt are all products of the Chemnitz School of Ice Skating, an organization that prides itself on the highest standards of precision, elegance, radiance and success.

Chemnitz figure skaters have garnered many awards over 40 years, including three Olympic gold medals and two Olympic silver awards, 11 world championship gold, a dozen silver and six bronze medals, 21 European championship gold medals, nine silver and seven bronze medals.

Now it is time for the next generation of skating greats to show off their stuff in Akron. Eleven skaters will reflect the seamless flow of success that the Chemnitz club has had from 1966 until today. Top trainers with remarkable careers and charismatic radiance such as Jutta Mueller and the most successful trainer in the world, Monika Scheibe, have guaranteed this continuity.

From Friday through Sunday, the Chemnitz skaters will demonstrate individual elements, couples performance, pirouettes, death defying spirals, and a daring - do program of skating mystery.

Holidayfest, a joint venture between the Akron Civic Theatre and the City of Akron with support from the DowntownAkron Partnership and the Akron-Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau has brought 20 craftsmen from Akron’s sister city of Chemnitz, Germany to a new German Village at Lock 3 park. Public skating is offered at no admission cost. Skates can be rented for $2.