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NEWS & NOTESHappiness Is ISI Theatrical Challenge in Santa Rosa! Entry Deadline Sept. 12
Snoopy’s Home Ice, build in 1969 by the late Peanuts comic strip creator Charles M. Schulz.
by Eileen Viglione
This year’s ISI Theatrical Challenge has us in a “Golden State of mind!” We’re excited to bring this extraordinary event to Snoopy’s Home Ice (officially known as the Redwood Ice Arena) in the charming city of Santa Rosa, known as “California’s Cornucopia,” due to its natural beauty and vibrant culture.
Located about 55 miles north of San Francisco, this Sonoma County destination offers stunning vistas of rugged coastline, majestic mountains, rolling hills, verdant vineyards and towering redwood trees, and it offers a wealth of opportunity for outdoor activities. It’s also home to fabulous art, restaurants, museums, shops and more!
Theatrical Challenge gives skaters the unique opportunity to perform under fun and colorful lighting in several non-technical events, such as Artistic, Spotlight, Rhythmic, Ensemble and Production, to name a few.
Test and entry deadline is Sept. 12. Register now
When competitors arrive at Snoopy’s Home Ice, they will feel as if they’ve stepped into the pages of a wondrous fairytale. Built in 1969 by the late Peanuts comic strip creator Charles M. Schulz, the facility is reminiscent of a vintage Swiss ski chalet, with its steep-pitched roof and ornate, brown window boxes. Minnesota-born Schulz was a huge fan of ice skating, and he spent over 40 years writing his Peanuts comic strip from his home in Santa Rosa.
Top 10 Things To Do in Santa Rosa
“Woodstock Building Charlie Brown” statue
- Get Your Fill of Peanuts!
Once in Santa Rosa, you’ll discover numerous larger-than-life statues of Peanuts’ characters, such as Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Woodstock and Lucy, scattered throughout the city. The Charles M. Schulz Museum, located across from Snoopy’s Home Ice, features a re-creation of Schulz’ studio, changing galleries of his artwork, a theater and cartooning classes. Even the Santa Rosa Airport, officially named the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, commemorates his beloved work with numerous sculptures.
Safari West
- Go on Safari
Grab your family and skating friends and head to Safari West, where you can pretend you’re on an adventurous expedition in the Serengeti. More than 900 exotic animals, including wildebeest, rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs and zebra, roam the 400-acre preserve. You can even stay overnight in a luxurious tent — “glamping” at its best — complete with viewing deck and the sounds of the wild.
Spring Lake Regional Park
- Get Outdoors
Connecting with nature in the Santa Rosa area is easy-peasy — just step outside, inhale the fresh air and venture to one of its many trails, parks, lakes or the nearby Pacific Ocean. Kayaking, hiking, fishing, ziplining, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, camping, boating — your options are endless! Popular destinations include Spring Lake Regional Park, Howarth Park, Trione-Annadel State Park, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and Sonoma Coast State Park.
- Step Back in Time
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Historic Railroad Square, considered Santa Rosa’s Old Town, showcases beautiful buildings dating back to 1904. What was once the heart of train travel is now a walkable shopping, dining and entertainment center.
- Savor Farm-Fresh Food
Feast on locally grown food and fresh-caught seafood from the Sonoma coast at a variety of restaurants, brewpubs and wineries, where fresh from the farm is standard fare.
- Go Downtown
Santa Rosa’s historic Fourth Street, which extends a few picturesque blocks, is an excellent place to shop local. Here, you’ll find unique gifts and souvenirs crafted by artisans from the Bay Area as well cozy cafes, coffee shops, antique stores, bars, restaurants and an independent bookstore. Downtown is also home to Old Courthouse Square, an outdoor plaza designed to host events.
Charles M. Schulz Museum
- Visit a Museum
Santa Rosa is rich with museums for both young and old. Fun sites include the Pacific Coast Air Museum, Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Museum of Sonoma County, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County and Charles M. Schulz Museum.
- Experience the Arts
The arts are alive and well in Santa Rosa, where you’ll appreciate large galleries, outdoor art, artists’ studios and performing arts venues. The 6th Street Playhouse, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts and Santa Rosa Symphony are all worthy of mention. And don’t miss one of the city’s hidden gems: the South A Street Art District, also known as SOFA.
Santa Rosa vineyard
- Enjoy a Vineyard or Brewery (21 and over!)
Nestled in the heart of wine country, Santa Rosa and the surrounding area boasts numerous wineries offering world-class tasting experiences and beautiful scenery. It also has a thriving craft beer scene.
- Take a Day Trip
Santa Rosa is also a fantastic jumping-off point to nearby attractions, including Bodega Bay, San Francisco, Muir Woods and Napa Valley.
More Information
Established in 1959, the Ice Sports Industry (ISI) — creator of America’s first learn-to-skate curriculum — is an international trade association encompassing all aspects of the ice sports industry. Our goal is to promote ice skating as a participant sport and recreational activity for everyone — all ages and abilities. Learn more about the ISI Ice Skating Program.
