LifeFairbanks · January 3, 2026
Fairbanks: new rink alert
Downtown Fairbanks has a new reason to stop and stay awhile.
Daily Alaska staff · January 3, 2026 · Fairbanks
A new ice skating rink from Festival Fairbanks opened on the former Polaris site along Lacey Street in downtown Fairbanks, turning a long vacant lot into a winter gathering spot.
The rink brings skaters, lights, music and families back to a block that had sat empty for years, giving downtown workers and residents a reason to stop during the coldest months.
The rink is designed to be nomadic, meaning it can move. Organizers plan to use the space for small retail and community activity when summer arrives.
Instead of waiting years for a permanent redevelopment project, the site now has activity immediately, giving downtown Fairbanks a fast, low-cost way to draw people back to the core.
In this story
Questions people ask
Where is the new ice rink in Fairbanks?
On the former Polaris site along Lacey Street in downtown Fairbanks.
Who opened the rink?
Festival Fairbanks.
What happens to the space in summer?
Organizers plan to use it for small retail and community activity once the rink moves.
Is this a permanent project?
No, the rink is nomadic and is a temporary use while downtown waits on larger redevelopment.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Festival Fairbanks opened a nomadic ice skating rink on the former Polaris site along Lacey Street in downtown Fairbanks. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The lot had sat vacant for years before the rink opened. · alaskasnewssource.com
- Organizers plan to use the space for small retail and activity in summer. · alaskasnewssource.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →