Stroller skating starts at Raleigh's Winterfest

I am not a strong skater. The last time I went ice skating was with my then four-year-old daughter where we both held tightly to the wall as we slowly made our way around the rink. One time. And then we were done.

I was pleasantly surprised Thursday morning. While I'm sure more than one person lapped me as I slowly plodded around the rink, I didn't fall down and rarely grabbed for the wall. In fact, I had a good time and a nice little workout too.

Stroller skating is a little easier than just skating on your own. As I say in the video, where I also make a fool of myself, the stroller is kind of like a walker and helps to support you. I think my one-year-old was bewildered by the whole thing. But there were no tears. So I'll chalk that up to a good time for her too.

Brandi Barnhart, public space and events manager for the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, which is running Winterfest, tells me that she got the idea for stroller skating from an outdoor rink in California. She started it here in Raleigh during the middle of the season last year and it grew in popularity. In fact, several moms asked if they would bring it back this year so they did.

Stroller skating is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Thursday through the end of January.The usual admission fee of $8 applies and that includes your skate rental. Strollers are not allowed on the ice at other times because of crowd control. You can bring your stroller-riding kids and older kids to skate during stroller skating, for instance when school is out during winter break, Barnhart tells me.

And if you have a wide double stroller, there is a wider door at the end opposite to the front entrance to the rink. Just ask if you need help.