WE HAVE THIS NEW TONIGHT, A POPULAR HOLIDAY TRADITION IN SACRAMENTO IS BACK OPEN AGAIN TODAY. TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO ICE RINK. AND THIS IS THE 32ND YEAR FOR THE ICE RINK. IT’S A DRAW FOR PEOPLE WHO SHOP, EAT AND PLAY DOWNTOWN. KCRA 3’S CATALINA ESTRADA IS LIVE FROM THE ICE RINK. SO, CATALINA, WE HAVE TO IMAGINE BUSINESSES ARE READY FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO START, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS. NOW. YEAH, THE BUSINESSES WE SPOKE TO TODAY TELL US THEY’RE VERY EXCITED. WELL, THIS ICE RINK BRINGS IN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND THEY’RE HOPING TO BRING IN THOSE NEW CUSTOMERS. BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS AFTER A HOLIDAY PARKING PROGRAM WAS DISCONTINUED THIS YEAR, THE DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO ICE RINK IS BACK. IT’S EXCITING AND IT’S FUN, AND IT’S ALWAYS WORTH IT WHEN YOU BRING YOUR KIDS AND FAMILIES DIDN’T WAIT TO HIT THE ICE. MY MOM IS REALLY GOOD AND MY DAD’S KIND OF GOOD. IT’S A DECADES LONG TRADITION BETWEEN THIS AND THE CAPITAL TREE LIGHTING. WE LIKE TO COME DOWN TO AND KIND OF GET THAT MORE SACRAMENTO FEEL OF THE BIG CITY. MARKING THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND HOPEFULLY FOR BUSINESSES, HOLIDAY SPENDING AT THE ICE WHITE MOCHA, THE ICE RINK IS A HUGE PLUS BECAUSE IT BRINGS IN A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE, I MEAN, I WENT LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BRING A LOT OF BUSINESS TO A LOT OF PLACES AROUND HERE. IT’S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE PEOPLE AROUND, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE HOLIDAYS LIKE BRING FAMILIES. SO IT’S ALWAYS MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHAEL ALT SAYS IT BRINGS MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN. OUR GOAL? YES. COME DOWN AND SKATE, BUT THEN GO TO THE RESTAURANTS. SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS. GO TO THE THEATER. AN ECONOMIC BOOST. LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE EXCITED TO SEE. DEFINITELY A BIT OF A BOOST. THERE’S ALWAYS, LIKE, A BIT OF A RUSH ON THE WEEKEND. JUST CONSTANTLY. KIDS. KIDS, FAMILIES, ANYONE COMING IN, WHETHER IT’S FOR CHIPS, SODA, A SANDWICH. ONE CONCERN THIS YEAR, THE END OF THE CITY’S FREE HOLIDAY PARKING PROGRAM. WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE ASKING IF WE VALIDATE PARKING TO BEGIN WITH, SO JUST HAVING TO PAY MIGHT SCARE THEM AWAY. MONEY THAT DOESN’T HAVE TO GO INTO A METER MIGHT BE SPENT ELSEWHERE. DOWN HERE. WE CAME DOWN WITH THE HOPES OF FINDING A SPOT JUST ALONG THE STREET. WE GOT LUCKY TODAY, BUT IF IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT MUCH HARDER, IT MIGHT MAKE US THINK TWICE. AND THE ICE RINK IS GOING TO BE OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 20TH, AND IT WILL BE TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 2 P.M. TO 9 P.M. AND FRIDAYS THROUGH SUNDAYS FROM 10 A.M. TO 10 P.M. LIVE IN SACRAMENTO. CAROLINE ESTRADA KCRA THREE NEWS. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU CAN DO IT EARLY IN THE MORNING. YOU CAN DO IT IN THE EVENING. YOU GET OUT THERE AND IT’S KIND OF A WORKOUT IF YOU YES, YOU CAN STAY UP ON YOUR FEET.