Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market has partnered with Canada’s flag carrier to create Melbourne’s first outdoor summer ice rink. The Air Canada Ice Rink - the centrepiece of the Market’s festive celebrations - will invite market shoppers to enjoy the magical spirit of a northern hemisphere Christmas during the first three weeks of Australia’s summer (1–24 December 2018).

The Air Canada Ice Rink will ‘pop-up’ under the Market’s 140-year-old historic sheds and merge Canada's famous winter culture with Australia's summer celebrations.

The ice rink will offer cool, festive fun for skaters of all ages. Skating sessions will run hourly with skates, helmets, skate aides (and pads for exposed knees) available for hire.

With the airline expanding their non-stop routes from Melbourne to Vancouver, Air Canada is also offering Melburnians a tempting taste of Canada. Rink-side treats will include maple syrup ice cream from the Market’s Geloso Gelateria, Canada's legendary poutine (a national treasure of French fries, cheese curds and gravy), plus fairy floss and popcorn for little ones.

To spread the Christmas cheer, Queen Victoria Market is offering the chance for one lucky skater to win a return flight for two to Vancouver with Air Canada. Full competition details available at www.qvm.com.au/christmas.

Stan Liacos, Chief Executive Officer of Queen Victoria Market, invites market shoppers to literally get their skates on this summer:

“We’re delighted to partner with Air Canada for the first time and bring to life the ‘cool’ idea of ice skating outdoors during Australian summertime.

“The Market is already known for being a festive hub in December and the Air Canada Ice Rink will create a fun space for families to take a break from the buzz of Christmas shopping.”

Vic Naughton, General Manager Australia & New Zealand at Air Canada, says:

“Victorians have really embraced our non-stop services to Vancouver, Canada’s spectacular west coast city, together with the fast and seamless connections it provides within Canada, to the USA and beyond. To celebrate, we’re bringing a little piece of Canada to the heart of the city in the form of an iconic winter sport – ice skating.

“We invite Melburnians to get into the Canadian Christmas spirit and enjoy a taste of what Canada has to offer Australian visitors.”

The Air Canada Ice Rink will be open on market days between 1 and 24 December, plus on Wednesday evenings as part of the Summer Night Market. Tickets cost $10 for children (under-14s), $15 for adults, and $45 for a family pass (two adults and two children).

The Air Canada Ice Rink is part of a packed program of festive activities at the Market which includes visits from Santa, Santa’s mailbox, carols, a Christmas trail for kids, and sustainable Christmas workshops.

AIR CANADA ICE RINK AT QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET

Open:
1–24 December 2018 on market days (Tuesday and Thursday through to Sunday). The Market and the ice rink will be open on Christmas Eve, Monday 24 December.
On Wednesdays, the rink will be open in the evening only, 5pm–10pm alongside the Summer Night Market.

Rink open times vary each day - visit www.qvm.com.au/whats-on for full details.

Location: Queen Victoria Market, C Shed, enter via Peel Street

Tickets:
Tickets can be booked online at aircanadaicerink.tailoredticketing.com and in person at the rink.
Adults $15, Children $10 (under 14 years), Kanga Skating Aides $8, Family (2 adults 2 children) $45.
Ticket price includes skate hire and helmets and knee pads.
Sessions begin at the start of the hour and run for 45 minutes.

Instagram: @vicmarket | Facebook: QueenVicMarket

ABOUT QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET

Queen Victoria Market is a National Heritage listed, historic landmark spread over two city blocks that has been at the heart and soul of Melbourne for 140 years. Queen Vic is a vibrant and bustling inner-city Market where you can shop for everything from Australian fruit and vegetables, and local and imported gourmet foods, to unique homewares, clothing and souvenirs. The Market is open five days a week – Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday.

www.qvm.com.au

ABOUT AIR CANADA

Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports across six continents. The airline operates direct non-stop services from three Australian destinations to Vancouver, Air Canada’s Pacific hub: Sydney (daily non-stop using B777), Brisbane (daily nonstop B787 Dreamliner) and Melbourne (four times a week using B787 Dreamliner).

All services offer an award-winning, three-cabin configuration, with one of the best business class cabins in the world (Air Canada Signature Class), along with Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.

www.aircanada.com