Professor Paul E. Oakley, director of choral, vocal and sacred music studies and organist at Catawba College, sings of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' at the holiday kickoff at Catawba College. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Angela Banks, a sophomore, skates on an artificial ice rink set up in the Student Center at Catawba College. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

It was the most wonderful time at Catawba College Monday night even though the weather outside was frightful.

It didn't snow, but it was a winter wonderland of snow cones, ice skating and hot cocoa.

Students, faculty and the community attended the annual tree lighting ceremony, but this year there was also ice skating — sort of.

Typically, the Cannon Student Center's lounge is filled with chairs where students study, but Monday night there was a mobile ice skating rink.

Charlie Aldridge, a Catawba senior found it pretty cool to have a place to skate indoors.

"I've never heard of a portable skating rink. I wish it could've been outside," he said.

Sophomore Blair Sanders just thought it was awesome that the college could get an indoor skating rink.

Student Government Association President Katie Hill said the idea wasn't to have a rink at all.

The student government wanted something unique and originally came up with a petting zoo.

They were contacted by a company who heard they were looking for something different.

Spintacular Entertainment, an Asheville-based company, provides games, T-shirts, inflatables and everything in between for a specialty party such as Casino Night or in this case a winter wonderland.

The company worked with the college to get a synthetic ice rink. The rink was made of a Teflon type material with a coating that simulated slippery ice.

The company also provided the skates and music.

She said the school has worked with the company in the past.

"It's just an activity to get in the Christmas spirit," Hill said.

Lynn and Karl Hales brought their grandchildren Cole Hales, 7, and Elisabeth Farmer, 13, to the event.

Karl is a former faculty member.

Lynn said skating took her back to her childhood days of ice skating on the river in Michigan.

The family heard about the event through an e-mail.

"It's nice to share this with them," she said of the grandchildren.

Cole, who had never been ice skating was quite familiar with skating. His father, Rob Hales, owned Kidsports Skating Rink in Salisbury. Cole is used to rollerblading he said.

"It's cool," he said of the indoor rink.

His cousin, Elisabeth also is comfortable rollerblading.

"It's neat. I've never heard of anything like this," she said.

John Sullivan teaches math for the evening program and it's his family's tradition to attend the event.

"It's a great idea. It's fun to see people sliding around," he said.

Sullivan attended with his children, Kevin, 6, and Jessica, 9.

"It's nice the school is doing this for the students and families. It's a great way to get together," Sullivan said.

He also likes to see some of the other regular attendees and faculty who bring their children each year.

It was the first time freshman Autumn Hamilton attended the event.

"It's really an awesome way to get people who wouldn't normally hang out together to get out and have some fun," she said.

Hamilton said she's never been exposed to anything like the indoor rink and other activities.

Matthew Newton, a junior was pleasantly surprised with the event.

"It's a very cool event," he said.

Newton is part of the Festival Four Holiday Barber Shop Quartet. The group performs at events on campus as well as off campus. Although they are not affiliated with the college, they do book events through Catawba's music department.

Frost Bites had a booth stationed outside to sell snow cones and other treats. Frost Bites is located in downtown Salisbury.

Those who gathered were also treated to a 'Twelve Days of Christmas' song and skit. Several faculty members and students dressed in costumes came down "the runway" as everyone sang the words to the popular song. Prizes were given to the top three best creative costumes.

Twelve drummers drumming took the top prize followed by the maids a milking and the swans a swimming.

The event was sponsored by the Student Government Association and the President's Office.

The college's tree lighting ceremony came and went rather quickly while most of the revelers spent their time inside skating and singing.

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