CINCINNATI — Every year when the winter gets cold, downtown Cincinnati transforms into a winter wonderland in part because of a temporary ice skating rink constructed in the heart of Fountain Square.

To capture a little of that similar magic during warmer months, the organization 3CDC plans to bring a different type of rink to the heart of the city.

3CDC announced plans for a new temporary roller skating rink Monday as part of a new three-year partnership with Frisch’s. The 10,000-square-foot rink is mobile. The design makes it easier to construct and tear down, meaning it has the potential to pop up in a variety of locations in the urban core.

The Frisch’s Roller Rink will debut Memorial Day weekend on the recently renovated Court Street Plaza in the city's Central Business District. It will open Friday afternoon and remain open through early Monday evening.

Hours for that first weekend will be: 

• Friday, May 27: 4 to 8 p.m. 
• Saturday, May 28: noon to 8 p.m. 
• Sunday, May 29: noon to 8 p.m. 
• Monday, May 30: noon to 6 p.m.

Details about entertainment over Memorial Day weekend are below. 3CDC will announce more details and future updates on the Court Street Plaza Facebook Page.

“It’s partnerships like these that make programming across the urban core possible,” said Christy Samad, a senior VP for 3CDC. “We’re grateful to Frisch’s for their support of the roller rink and are eager to bring this activity to the community.”

The idea behind the rink is the way to create a fun outdoor activity for children and kids of all ages, according to 3CDC. But it also ties into the history of Frisch’s, a local restaurant chain known for things such as its famed Big Boy hamburger and milkshakes.

Roller skating first rose to prominence in the 1930s and remained a part of the cultural fabric through the 1950s, the same period the first Frisch’s restaurant opened. 

The rink is a way to honor Frisch’s 75th birthday, which is this year.

“Frisch’s has brought cheerful experiences to guests for 75 years and we will continue to do just that as we celebrate our 75th birthday,” Jordin Nabi, Frisch’s VP of marketing. “We are excited to partner with 3CDC to bring back the magic of roller skating and say thank you to our loyal guests.”

The rink will have 150 total pairs of outdoor roller skates available to rent. Those will cost $5 a pair. Guests can also bring their own skates.

Admission to the rink will cost $2 for everyone.

By comparison, ice skating at Fountain Square cost $10 per person for a 90-minute session. That cost covered the cost of admission and skate rental.

The goal of the roller rink is to “draw a diverse clientele of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds together to enjoy a fun, physical outdoor activity, which is reflected in the accessible pricing,” according to a release from 3CDC.

Beyond the costs and the opening weekend, 3CDC hasn’t yet shared many details about plans for the rink. 

3CDC also operates programming at Fountain Square, Washington Park and Ziegler Park. The rink needs to operate on hard surfaces, so it could, in theory, be constructed on Fountain Square or the athletic courts at Ziegler Park. The initial plan is to focus on Court Street this year through.

"Our plan for 2022 is to primarily utilize Court Street Plaza until we really feel we have a good handle on the assembly, operation, and tear down," 3CDC's Emily Stowe said. "The rink is comprised of floor tiles and water barricades and will be stored and moved in a trailer that we will also run operations out of."

The Court Street Plaza renovation aimed to convert a dis-invested part of downtown Cincinnati into a lively connector between downtown and the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The configuration of the plaza makes it ideal for large outdoor gatherings and special events. 

Asian Food Fest took place on Court Street Plaza over Mother’s Day weekend.

It's not yet clear how long it will take to put together the rink, Stowe said. Each build out involves the team configuring it to fit the space. Stowe said they're planning on a full day of assembly for the first time.

Details about additional activations aren’t yet available, but the Court Street Plaza website and Facebook page will be the primary sites for updates.

Memorial Day weekend events

Friday, May 27

Rink open 4 to 8 p.m.

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Celebratory opening featuring various speakers, including Mayor Aftab Pureval, Hamilton County Commissioner (and die-hard skater) Alicia Reece, Frisch's VP of Marketing, Jordin Nabi, and representatives from 3CDC.

4 to 8 p.m.: "Grand Opening Skate Party" hosted by Reece. The first 50 people to come will receive free admission and skate rental.

Saturday, May 28

Rink open noon to 8 p.m.

Noon to 4 p.m.: Open skate with music from DJ Hershe B.

Noon to 2 p.m.: Frisch’s Coke Float sampling sponsored by Coke Zero.

2 to 4 p.m.: Frisch’s Craft Butcher Burger sampling; Open skate with the Cincinnati Rollergirls, Cincinnati Junior Rollergirls and Wooly Bully.

4p to 8p: Roller rink complemented by The BlaCk Market presented by BlaCk OWned and BallR Media.

Sunday, May 29

Rink open noon to 8 p.m.

Noon to 4 p.m.: Open skate with music from DJ Hershe B.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m.: "Lando’s Old School Skating Happy Hour" and music by DJ Vader Mixx.

Monday, May 30

Rink open noon to 6 p.m.

Noon to 6 p.m: "Family Fun Day" – Music featuring DJ Diamond, appearances by Big Boy & his mascot friends. A fun time with field day (like) games on skates, face painting and more.