What has become a local favorite, A Small Town Christmas, will have an exciting new element this year.
Plans are progressing for the Julia Haidlen Memorial Ice Skating Rink to open later this year for a roughly month-long run. And while we may just be heading into the season of triple digit temperatures, the Haidlen family is looking forward to sharing warm cups of cocoa and holiday tunes with the community. The ice skating rink, in fact, has been a dream in the making and thanks to the generosity of the Haidlen family along with other community members, the dream is finally going to become a reality. The rink is scheduled to open during the first week of December 2025 and run through the first week of January 2026.
Though the loss of Julia Haidlen has been felt throughout the community since her passing in November 2024 at the age of 79, her family and friends know how much she loved this town and the people in it. She volunteered and served in many capacities in multiple organizations through the years and when the Haidlen family was searching for a way to honor Julia, they knew that they had found something special with the ice skating rink.
“When we heard about the idea of the ice skating rink, we loved it and I called Mayor Cher (Bairos) and asked how much will it take?” said Julia’s daughter Gretchen Arbini, who along with her brother Erich and father Tom, pledged the initial donation to get things started.
In addition to their sizeable donation that launched the project, donations have poured in from other community members as well with more than $45,000 raised already.
“We wanted something that would bring joy and memorialize her and this is it,” Gretchen said.
The memorial rink will be “brought to life” by A Small Town Christmas, officials noted, and is being “powered by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce Foundation” along with support from the community.
“Though it is a huge undertaking logistically, we want to keep it manageable but make sure that it has all the feels,” said Gretchen.
One way to ensure that it indeed has “all the feels” is through incorporating all of the holiday magic and splendor of the ice skating rink along with the heartfelt tradition of seeing Santa Claus. In partnership with the Sierra Railroad Company, folks that come out to enjoy a few laps around the rink can also visit with Santa and enjoy some cocoa while taking in the Christmas festivities in one of the vintage railcars that will be decked out in holiday finery.
For the Haidlen family, they know that Julia would be thrilled with the addition of the downtown ice skating rink for both A Small Town Christmas and beyond, and they are grateful that such a magnificent venue will now honor her.
“We know that she would want people to take their families down there, have some cocoa, build those memories with their families and friends and that brings us joy,” Gretchen added.
For more information about the event and/or sponsorship opportunities, visit: www.smalltownchristmas.co or contact Ami Poncabare with the Oakdale Enrichment Society at 209-845-7748.
