By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – Despite ongoing construction to repair the main ice rink at the Pelham Ice Arena, the city and the Beautification Board will still host its annual Christmas Open House at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena on Nov. 28 from 5-9 p.m.

However, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event will be a bit different. For this year, the city is inviting residents to the banquet hall to enjoy Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, provided by Pelham High School’s culinary program.

The event will feature light hors d’oeuvres, Christmas music and photo opportunities with performers from the upcoming Nutcracker ballet performance.

Members of the PHS Choir will sing Christmas carols in the main lobby of the banquet hall from 6-7 p.m.

The practice ice rink will feature free ice-skating and the concession stand will be open as well. The lobbies of the main arena and the banquet hall will feature decorated Christmas trees for those who would like to take family photos.

Pelham Beautification Board members will be on hand with this year’s commemorative ornament for the first 1,OOO families.

The city ripped out the entire main ice rink located in the Ice Arena to fix a glycol leak underneath the ice that was discovered in summer. Once repaired, the main arena will have a lifespan of 25-30 years.

The city’s goal is to have ice on the floor by mid-December because January is a big month for the Ice Arena with a lot of events planned throughout the month.