The first outdoor event of The Big Freeze kicked off Friday night with brisk air, clear skies and a full moon shining down over Academy Park.

While the Rock on Ice event drew about 20 elementary and middle school students, a warm-up that caused some of the snow and ice to melt around town last week was thought to have some effect on the attendance level.

“With this warm weather, they’re putting their stuff away – they’re thinking about spring, not ice skating,” said Albert Lea Grizzlies Coach Steve Piper.

Piper and a handful of Albert Lea Grizzlies, who were providing the music for the event, hung out in the park’s warming house while groups of kids shuffled in to warm up.

A few of the youth squared off against Grizzly team members at the air hockey table, but most stayed just long enough to get feeling back in their noses, re-tie the laces of their ice skates and head back out to the rink.

Temperatures hovered just above 20 degrees, but that didn’t seem to bother these kids as they glided across the ice and passed the puck back and forth while Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” blasted over the loudspeakers.

Ellie Aldrich, a fifth grader at Sibley Elementary School, said she normally skates at City Arena. She and three of her gal pals were among the first to arrive shortly after the event started at 7 p.m. They expected several other friends to show up before the event wrapped at 9 o’clock, and were hoping to wrangle up a hockey game.

“We don’t figure out our teams until we get out here,” Aldrich said, noting that they don’t play boys against girls, but instead like to mix the teams up.

Sydney Collins, a third grader at Sibley, and her little brother, Bryce, a first grader at Sibley, were fine-tuning their hockey skills in the rink, as well. They enjoyed skating under the flood lights.

“The ice looks really cool,” Sydney said. “It sparkles under the light.”

The ice was slushy and rough from the week’s warm-up. Water pooled up along the edges of the rink where some ice had already melted.

Junior Martinez of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, also on hand at the event, said Academy Park was the only park that remained open for ice skating as of Friday. He expected this to be the final weekend of the season that Academy Park would offer outdoor ice skating.

Several additional children’s activities, including face painting and games, were slated to take place in the warming house at Academy Park on Saturday as The Big Freeze continued at both Academy Park and Frank Hall Park.

See the Tribune on Monday for additional coverage and photos from The Big Freeze.