Ice Days opens for the season on November 20 in the same spot as before, under the Olde Town pavilion on South Main Street. What's different is the ground next to it. The old Lewis Vaughn Botanical Garden is now Celebration Park, which has a play area, an amphitheater and an open lawn. This is the park's first winter. Combined with an 88-day skating season, it gives downtown Conyers somewhere to be on any afternoon from Thanksgiving week to mid-February, and the season's big nights all happen within a few steps of the rink.
What Replaced the Botanical Garden
The Lewis Vaughn Botanical Garden was built and dedicated in 1994. It was paid for with a grant and gift from the Vaughn Jordan Foundation, named for Lewis C. Vaughn, a Conyers native known for his love of orchids. For three decades it was a quiet garden. The rebuild kept that history and opened up the space.
On Common Ground News reported that construction began in November 2025 and finished under the $1.389 million in SPLOST funds set aside for it. The city held the ribbon cutting in late June 2026 with a bubble party, balloon art and a kids' DJ on the lawn. The water tower, the small koi pond and a meditation corner, now called the Lewis Vaughn Meditation Garden, are still there. Around them, Visit Conyers describes "more expansive gathering areas for families and friend groups," a small amphitheater for performances on the pavilion lawn, and a children's play area.
The address is 949 S. Main Street, right next to the pavilion. That location is why the park matters more in December than it did in June.
The Rink Is What Makes the Park a Winter Place
Ice Days is a family-run Georgia company that sets up real ice, not synthetic panels. Its Conyers rink sits under the Olde Town pavilion, which covers about two-thirds of the ice. The city lists the rink at the pavilion within Celebration Park, so the play area and lawn are part of the same outing.
Here's what to know before you go, according to Skate Conyers:
- Season: November 20, 2026 through February 15, 2027
- Price: $15 for two hours of skating, skates included; $13 for kids 7 and under
- Sessions: a two-hour session can start at any time, so you don't wait for a set start
- Reservations: not required; credit and debit cards accepted
- Parking: always free
- Skate helpers: available for beginners 42 inches or shorter, except Friday and Saturday nights after 7 p.m.
- Food: no outside food or drinks at any time
The Visit Conyers calendar lists opening day as November 21, noon to 10 p.m., which is one day later than the operator's own site. Check skateconyers.com for the season schedule before you plan a first-night trip.
Some families have one child who wants to skate for two hours and another who would rather run around. With the park next door, that's no longer a problem. The play area and lawn are right beside the ice, and the no-outside-food rule means everyone eats somewhere in Olde Town before or after.
The Nights That Fill the Block
The single-night events land on that same block. Festive Night of Lights is on Railroad Street, one block over. The city says to expect Santa, treats, train rides and live entertainment before the lights switch on along the poles, trees and overhead lines. At dark, a drone show plays to holiday music. Parking and admission are free. Night of Lights falls on Ice Days' first Saturday, so you can watch the lights come on and then walk to the rink.
From publication day through December 20:
| Date | Event | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 29 | Spooky Skelebration | Olde Town | 5 to 6 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | North Georgia Live Steamers train rides | Georgia International Horse Park | $3 per rider, 1 to 4:30 p.m. |
| Sun., Nov. 8 | Steeplechase Stampede canicross 5K and 10K | Horse Park steeplechase field | Trail race with dogs |
| Wed., Nov. 11 | Annual Veterans Day Ceremony | Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial, 3001 Black Shoals Rd. NE | Free, 11 a.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Monastery Highlights & Insights Tour | Monastery of the Holy Spirit, 2625 Hwy 212 SW | $20; last of the season's second-Saturday tours |
| Sun., Nov. 15 | Cellar Craft Club: Candle Making | The Book Cellar, 951 Railroad St. | 3 to 4:30 p.m., materials included |
| Nov. 20 to 22 | "The Last Gift" | Black Box Theater, 910 Center St. | Inspiration Theater holiday play |
| Nov. 20 to 22 | H.J. Fox Medal Finals | Horse Park | Open to spectators; costume contest and Fox & Hound Derby for dogs |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Festive Night of Lights | Railroad Street, Olde Town | 4 to 6:30 p.m., drone show at dark, free |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Shop Small Saturday | Olde Town shops and restaurants | Participating businesses and activity stops |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Conyers Christmas Parade | Rowland Rd. to Milstead Ave. | 2 p.m. |
| Dec. 19 to 20 | Southern Series Games | Horse Park | Mounted games competition |
The parade starts at Rockdale County High School on Rowland Road, follows Pine Log Road, turns right onto Main Street, then turns right onto Milstead Avenue and ends at Pine Street. Its Main Street stretch passes close to Olde Town. This year's theme is "Making Spirits Bright: A Musical Christmas," and entries compete for Mayor's Choice, Best Float and Best Non-Float trophies. Registration runs through Eventeny on the city's Christmas in Conyers page.
Where to Eat Before or After the Ice
Food isn't allowed at the rink, so where you eat is part of the plan. Visit Conyers' Olde Town directory, updated in September, lists these restaurants within a few blocks of 949 S. Main:
- The Book Cellar Café, 951 Railroad St. NW, attached to the bookshop that hosts the Cellar Craft Club
- Las Flores, 957 S. Main St. NE
- Thai Palace & Sushi Bar, 968 S. Main St., with online pickup ordering for a quick dinner after skating
- Seis Hermanas, 977 S. Main St. NE
- The Pointe Tavern, 939 Railroad St. NW, and Whistle Post Tavern, 935 Railroad St. NW
- Celtic Tavern, 918 Commercial St. NE, which posts a monthly events calendar
- The Sandwich Factory, 903 Commercial St. NE
- Another Veggie Addict, 936 Green St., Suite 400
For dessert, Sweet Treat Depot at 916 Commercial St. NE sells candy and sweets, and Creamberry's Ice Cream Parlor is down the street at 925 Commercial St. If Shop Small Saturday is on your list, the same directory includes Beasley's Pharmacy & Gifts on Center Street, The Sketching Pad, Westmoreland's Time Shop on Commercial Street, and Conyers Jewelers at 868 N. Main St. NW.
One place to watch for is The Pour House, a coffee and tea café that Rachel and Brad Smith are opening in the former Olde Town Awards storefront at 870 North Main St. NW. Business Debut reported in June that they planned evening beer and wine Thursday through Saturday and were targeting a fall opening. As of mid-October, the café's site still says "coming soon." If it opens during the skating season, Olde Town will have a coffee option for a cold morning on the ice.
After the Decorations Come Down
The calendar above ends on December 20. The rink stays open for almost two more months, through February 15. After the parade and Night of Lights, Olde Town has a working ice rink, a new playground and amphitheater lawn next to it, and a dozen restaurants within a few blocks, with no event crowds. A two-hour skate on a January weeknight costs the same $15, and you can start whenever you get there.
If a few afternoons downtown have you wondering how Olde Town's new park and winter calendar affect what your own home is worth, Amy & Company | The Legacy Real Estate Group can help. Our team follows Rockdale County block by block, so get your instant home valuation and we'll show you what the numbers say about your corner of Conyers.
