Photos: Costumes and cocoa at Airport Heights Elementary’s community ice skating party

Mounds of snow shoveled into the corners of the Airport Heights Elementary School ice rink made for a perfect crash pad and lounge as children skated Friday.

This year’s community ice skating parties at the school in East Anchorage are the brainchild of Dean Potter, president of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association. The goal is simple: Get people out exercising and make use of the school’s ice rink.

The skating parties are free and open to the public, and each party features a different theme. A dragon, polar bear and soldier were among those spotted Friday for that night’s costume party theme.

Other attendees hovered around a fire pit with hot chocolate and cookies as music played in the background.

Ice rink maintenance, which Potter said adds up to “a few thousand dollars a year,” comes from the Scotty Gomez Foundation, Anchorage Cops for Community and Walmart, in addition to the PTA and Anchorage Skate Club, who support skating programs at the school. Students from East Anchorage High School student government volunteer during the events.

A limited selection of ice skates is available for kids to borrow at the community skating parties. The remaining two events will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 (broomball night) and Feb. 25 (ice cream on ice).