Even if the snow melts and normal autumn weather makes a return, winter sports will stick around.

Public skating opened at Packer Arena, 601 Seventh St. NE for the season last week. Youth hockey and figure skating held open houses last weekend too.

“Activities are underway as scheduled at Packer Arena as of last week,” said Kim Underwood, director of Austin Parks and Recreation.

The open skating schedule varies, but it is typically available for an hour and a half a couple of days a week.

There is a $4 entry fee, and it is $1 to rent skates.

Kids can still sign up to play hockey at Packer Arena too, President John Summerfield of the Austin Youth Hockey Association said.

“I think we had the best response yet at the open house,” he said, adding that five or six new kids signed up.

Austin Youth Hockey is for children ages 5-14.

Today: 4:15 to 5:45 p.m.

Thursday: 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday: 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 23: 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 27: 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 30: 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Young children can join anytime during the season if there is space, but children over 11, joining the PeeWee level and above, only have about two more weeks to sign up.

Neither of Austin’s arenas — Packer nor Riverside — are used year-round, with ice going into Packer the first week of October and continuing through April. Riverside gets ice the first week in November and is usually open through the third week in March.

Figure skating lessons began Sunday afternoon at Packer Arena, and they will move into Riverside when it opens next month.

The figure skating open house had a nice showing too, and skaters of all levels can still join at any time, President Jill Hart said.

The program is open to all youths. Some of the youngest children taking classes are only 3 years old, and the oldest are seniors in high school.

Those interested in figure skating lessons can contact Jill Hart directly at 434-1093 or show up at a practice at 1 p.m. Sundays.

A complete open skating schedule is offered through the City of Austin’s Web site at www.ci.austin.mn.us under the parks and recreation link.

For more information or to sign up for Austin Youth Hockey, visit www.austinyouthhockey.org. For more information on Riverside Figure Skating, visit www.riversidefigure skating.com. Austin Parks and Recreation can be reached at 433-1881; Packer Arena at 434-9050; and Riverside Arena at 437-7676.