ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The end of the year may be rolling by quick, but don’t let the Holiday Skate Jam go with it.

Asheville Parks & Recreation is sponsoring a free rollerskating event as part of their Holly Jolly Holidays series of winter festivities.

The event, Holiday Skate Jam, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville.

APR has held community roller skating nights for several years in the outdoor skating rink at Carrier Park. After Hurricane Helene damaged the park and its roller rink, the skating nights were put on hold.

As Asheville recovered from the storm, APR reached out to Harrah’s about collaborating on several community events, including a skate night, the origin of Holiday Skate Jam.

“Everyone was immediately excited about bringing people together to bounce, rock, skate, and roll surrounded by holiday tunes, festive lights, and the mountain spirit that has shone brightly throughout our city this year,” wrote Christo Bubenik, Program and Operations Manager – Communications for the city of Asheville, in an email statement.

Holiday Skate Jam is entirely free and open to the public. While there will be a handful of skates available to rent at the event on a first-come, first-served basis, APR encourages skaters to bring their own roller or in-line skates.

“Since the crowd is expected to be even bigger than community skate nights in Carrier Park, we may limit the amount of time community members can use the loaner skates to accommodate as many people as possible,” Bubenik wrote. “However, the best way to maximize your time skating with friends and neighbors is to bring your own pair.”

Bubenik encourages anyone interested in taking to the rink to come out, regardless of their skating experience.

“It’s for everyone – whether you skate often, haven’t skated in years, or haven’t skated ever. Expect to be impressed by serious skaters, but also expect to have fun gaining confidence with every lap around the arena,” Bubenik wrote. “No grinches allowed!”

For more information about Holiday Skate Jam, visit the city of Asheville’s website.