Students hang on to holiday break fun

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Dozens of kids and parents laced up their skates Sunday for an afternoon of fun at the Great Skates Fun Center in Lafayette.

With area schools starting back up the first full week of January, kids made one last effort to hang on to their holiday fun. Parent Paula Thoennes said with the cold weather, it's nice to do something indoors.

"We needed to burn some energy. It is so cold out there. So, we brought them to the indoor place and they asked for this. I said absolutely let's go," said Thoennes.

Most of the kids said they were getting in one last day of vacation before they had to go back to school. General Manager Scott Lehr said that's the purpose of the special hours.

"We have been running 1:00 to 9:00 sessions almost the whole break to provide a positive place for kids during the break and today we've got 1:00 to 9:00, then tomorrow is our last holiday skate on Monday from 1:00 to 9:00. And, we reduce the prices and provide a good place for kids to come and have some fun while they're out of school," said Lehr.

Some of the kids came out to skate for different reasons altogether.

"Because it was my birthday," said Brooks Sailors, who was celebrating with three of his friends.

Others, like Chase Hoskins, said it was his turn to do something, rather than his sister's.

"My sisters, everytime, they get to go everywhere and I never get to go anywhere, so my mom took me here," said Hoskins.

Parents also got in on the fun. Some parents came out, however, not really by choice.

"My son dragged me out of the house today. He wanted to go skating and I said ok," said Dianna Hoskins.

Some kids were skating because they just didn't have much to do on a Sunday afternoon.

"I was bored and just wanted to have some fun and asked my mom if we could come here and she said yes," said Drew Thoennes.

Regardless of the reason, kids were just looking to get in one last round before their 'wheels' had to start turning again.
Great Skates will be holding one more day of their special holiday hours on Monday, January 4th from 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, call 447-8758.