Scores of skaters convened at the Upper Pontiac Sports Complex Friday evening under the glow of colourful strobe lights for the second annual disco skate night put on by the Chapeau and Waltham Recreation Associations.

Attendees laced up and took to the ice to the beat of a live DJ, breaking occasionally to visit the snack stand, Cafe Wrangler, which churned out a near-perpetual stream of hot french fries over the course of the evening.

“My kids brought me here tonight, I haven’t even been home from work yet,” said attendee Bethany Lapierre with a laugh.

“They were super excited as soon as they . . .

heard this event was happening again. The kids have fun, parents are even out here [on the ice], it’s great to see everyone together in the community.”

Kathy Cardiff, a local resident who attended the event with family members visiting from the Toronto area, said she was happy to see kids with something to do on a Friday night.

“They get to see all of the kids from their class, from their bus, I think it’s awesome,” she said. “Especially with this winter where there’s not a lot of snow, it’s not like they can go out on the ice on the river, so it’s something for them to look forward to.”

Karie Bissonnette, president of the Chapeau RA, said the event came together after the Waltham RA reached to explore the possibility of a collaboration for March break.

“Since the disco skate’s been a really big hit in the past, we coordinated together to plan it and book it, we shared the expenses and it’s been a great turnout,” Bissonnette said.

Ashley Godin, a Waltham RA member who helped to coordinate the event, said that while public skating is available each week at the Upper Pontiac Sports Complex, the disco skate is a little different.

“I think the kids were really excited when they came in and saw that the lights were off and the disco lights going,” she explained.

By Bissonnette’s count, about 150 people attended the free event over the course of the evening.

Young skaters at the second annual disco skate in Chapeau on Friday. From left, Sally Duff, Amelia Chartrand and Abbie Rochin.

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