NATCHEZ — Ice skating is not typically an activity many Southerners get the opportunity to partake in during Christmastime, but Natchez residents will be getting the chance to lace up a pair of ice skates and glide across an ice-skating rink that will overlook the Mississippi River during this year’s Christmas festivities in Natchez.

The Christmas in Natchez Committee is bringing a synthetic ice-skating rink to the bluff for the first time in December.

“We’re really excited about this,” said committee member Ginger Hyland. “The committee is just trying to bring something new and different this year.”

Committee member Regina Charboneau said the $10,000 rink was made possible by fundraising, donations, a grant the committee received last year from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and corporate sponsorship from Callon Petroleum.

Charboneau said the synthetic ice for the rink is the same that is used for the Olympics. She said the synthetic ice will eliminate the logistical challenge of having to keep ice frozen.

“With the weather here, it could be 70 degrees, or it could be 40 degrees,” she said. “This makes it a lot more doable.”

Charboneau said there will be professional ice-skaters on hand at the rink to lend a hand to beginner skaters.

“It’s going to be great,” Charboneau said. “Everyone should try ice skating once in their lives.”

Charboneau said the ice-skating rink is part of the committee’s focus to give children a fun Christmas activity, so people will want to bring their families to Natchez for the holidays.

“If we can bring people to Natchez, it brings money into Natchez. This kind of tourism is economic development.”

Charboneau said the committee has been working to revitalize the downtown Christmas decorations and there will be fireworks, hot chocolate and a petting zoo during the festivities.

“It’s going to be a great family weekend,” she said. “The fact that the rink is going to be overlooking the Mississippi River, I just don’t think anyone can top that.”

The ice-skating rink will be set up at 200 N. Broadway St. from 1-8 p.m. Dec 10 and noon-5 p.m. Dec. 11.

Hyland said the rink will take 25 skaters each half-hour on Saturday and 20 skaters each half-hour on Sunday.

“We expect it to be full,” she said.

Tickets are $15 for 30 minutes of skating and are on sale now at Natchez Pilgrimage Tours.