Switzerland: Chill out at Locarno on Ice festival
An icy chill is set to descend upon Locarno next week, the elegant resort destination with a Mediterranean flair in southern Switzerland, when Locarno on Ice takes over Piazza Grande, the town’s main square.
The festival, which runs Dec. 2 through Jan. 9, follows the rhythm of seasonal celebrations, from the Advent to the Epiphany, with holiday parties on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
A beginner’s rink will reassure skaters with wobbly legs until, more confident in their balance, they’re able to rub frozen elbows with more experienced peers. Blues, rock and pop concerts (and a winter version of the JazzAscona Festival), a nightly light show, glass igloo bars and a traditional Christmas market will entertain all, regardless of ability.
Locarno on Ice will be open open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. (The igloo bars remain open until 1 a.m.). Rink admission is about $2 for adults; skate rentals start at $4 for two hours.
The closest airports are Lugano, about 25 miles away, and Milan’s Malpensa airport, about 80 miles away. Shuttle and train transportation is available from both airports. Round-trip airfares, midweek in early December, from Los Angeles to either airport were recently running about $800.
Info: Locarno on Ice. (Note: The website is in Italian.)
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