You've probably seen photos of "Immersive Van Gogh," the experiential art exhibit that opened in February at the Germania Club Building, popping up on your Instagram feed over the course of the past several months (or, at the very least, noticed the exhibit's indefatigable advertising on local billboards). This winter, "Immersive Van Gogh" places the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh's post-Impressionist work in a new Chicago attraction: The Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon in the Loop.
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When the ribbon opens for the season on November 19 (the same night as the opening of Christkindlmarket and the city's Tree Lighting Ceremony), skaters will have the chance to glide over some of the artist's most iconic works as part of "Gogh Skating," a partnership between "Immersive Van Gogh" and the Chicago Park District. Unlike "Immersive Van Gogh," which projects paintings onto the walls of an indoor space, the slender rink will feature static designs inspired by van Gogh's "Starry Night" and "Sunflowers" series embedded in the ice. The quarter-mile-long ribbon will be open seven days a week for four daily sessions (11am–1pm, 2pm–4pm, 5pm–7pm and 8pm–10pm) through March 13, weather permitting.
Ready to hit the ice? Reservations are strongly recommended and available online, where they'll be released in batches throughout the season. Tickets and skate rentals for a two-hour session are $16 Monday through Thursday and $20 Friday through Sunday and on holiday dates; admission with your own skates is free Monday through Thursday and $5 Friday through Sunday and on holiday dates. Plus, keep an eye on Maggie Daley Park's social media feeds for special skating events, like an ugly sweater night on December 16 that could win you tickets to an Ugly Buildings Tour in the Loop. Happy skating!