Back for a fifth season, Light Up UCF presented by Carl Black of Orlando provides Central Florida families with an affordable place to celebrate the holidays. Running from November 16 through January 6 outside the UCF Arena, Light Up UCF has become a holiday tradition, offering an outdoor ice skating rink, rides, and holiday attractions.

Tickets for ice skating ($12.00), rides ($4.25-$6.50), and photos with Santa ($12.50) can be purchased at the UCF Arena Box Office.  There are also a number of free elements to Light Up UCF, including the Holiday Light Show, Holiday Film Festival, and convenient parking. Select tickets are also available for purchase through Ticketmaster at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

The Light Up UCF Ice Rink Pavilion has become a fan favorite over the years. Positioned directly in front of the UCF Arena, the pavilion serves as the centerpiece for the event. Guests are invited to enjoy Central Florida’s largest outdoor ice skating rink while gliding along to their favorite holiday tunes, being spun by a live DJ.

Light Up UCF features rides suitable for the entire family, ranging from the Ferris Wheel, where riders can enjoy a panoramic view of the UCF Campus, to the Santa Train, great for children of all ages. Visitors can also check out the Arctic Glide Ice Slide, where they can climb to the top of the tower and glide on disc sleds across the 100-foot ice way.

All new in 2012 is the Tornado ride, a whirling and twirling thrill ride, where patrons can twist, tilt, and spin themselves crazy!

Visitors can also stop into Santa’s Workshop, where they can share their Christmas wishes and have a photo taken with Santa.

At Light Up UCF, families can also enjoy a number of free activities, including the Holiday Film Festival and the Holiday Light Show. The Holiday Film Festival combines a “living room” setting with the feel of a drive-in movie, allowing families to gather under the stars to view their favorite holiday films on a two-story movie screen. The Holiday Light Show is made up of over 150,000 individual lights pulse and strobe across the arena façade, palm trees, and ice rink pavilion in perfect synchronization and choreographed to various holiday songs.

Pricing, hours of operation, and Light Show and Holiday Film Festival schedules can be found at www.LightUpUCF.com.

The Global Spectrum-managed UCF Arena is home to the UCF Men’s and Women’s basketball programs, as well as concerts, family shows and other attractions for the Central Florida area. Visit www.UCFarena.com for more information on upcoming events.