(12/2/09) - More than 30,000 visitors
to Lock 3 this winter have enjoyed ice skating, holiday lights, the International
Chriskindl Market, rides on the Magical Train, and the Akron History Exhibit and Toy
Marble Museum.The Chriskindl Market closes January 3, but ice-skating fun continues
through the end of January.
Lock 3 is now open weekdays and weekends through January 3 as follows:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 11am - 9pm;
- Thursday special hours: Christmas Eve (11am - 6pm)
New Year’s Eve - Akron’s First Night, (11am - 11pm.)
- Saturdays, 11am - 10pm,
- Sundays, noon -6pm,
- Lock 3 is closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- Ice rink admission is always free, and skate rental is $2.
In January, the ice rink will be staffed every weekend, Thursdays 11am -9pm; Fridays
and Saturdays, 11am - 10pm; Sundays, 12 - 6pm, with special hours on the Martin Luther
King School holiday, 11am - 6pm. At other times during daylight hours when the rink
is unattended, those with their own skates may use the rink "at their own risk."
"Despite cutbacks in the city’s budget," says Deputy Mayor Dave
Lieberth, "Akron area residents appreciate free admission to the ice rink, and have
also shown their generosity to others."
This year, Lock 3 was the site for collection of new toys for the Victim Assistance
program and items for the Akron Canton regional Food Bank.
A special January event at Lock 3 is always the "Firefighters Chili
Challenge" to benefit Akron Children’s Hospital Burn Unit, which will be held
Friday, January 8, 11am - 1:30pm. This well-attended lunchtime draw for downtown
workers pits Akron’s police and fire forces against each other for chili bragging
rights. Other city departments compete, and two downtown law firms - Roetzel & Andress
and Brouse McDowell - also square-off in a friendly competition.
Akron was forced to withdraw support for Chriskindl Market vendors from its sister city
of Chemnitz, Germany this year due to budget constraints, but three German vendors opened
cottages at Lock 3 on their own, and were joined by a dozen other area craftsmen,
artisans, and bakers, who will keep the Chriskindl Market open through Sunday, January 3.
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