PHOTO ESSAY BY MARSHA MORGAN AND MARCIA WESLEY
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributors
January 5, 2017
For the first time this year, the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosted outdoor skating the week after Christmas, and hundreds of people took advantage of the opportunity. The “ice” was synthetic and the snow came from a machine, but the smiles were real, and the event was so popular that organizers expect to bring skating back in 2017.

The Welcome Wagon for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors Island Ice. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

A view of the rink. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

A little girl puts her trust in Dad as he swings her around the ice. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

Best friends support each other as they skate around the rink. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

Taking a tumble. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

And all the cool kids skate… (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

It’s fun for all ages, including grandparents. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

The “snow machine,” although tiny, produces a facsimile of snow and adds a festive air to the outside of the rink. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)

“I’ve got you.” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

“Race you!” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

“Don’t let go!” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)

“Can we come back tomorrow?” (Photo by Marsha Morgan)
Marsha Morgan and Marcia Wesley are WLM staff photographers.
__________________
To read more WLM stories and blogs, click here. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.
WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. You may link to this story. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.
Thank you so much for the heartwarming photos of the ice rink. It is so important to celebrate the joyful things in life these days and your photos really hit my sweet spot. And thanks to the Oak Harbor Chamber. Keep doing what you are doing! Beverly Rose