The sound of Katy Perry playing loudly at one end of the Yard on a weeknight is enough to make anyone curious. Walk a little further and you'll see beautiful lights set against a black star-lit night—

all perfectly complemented by plentiful laughter and the occasional sound of bodies crashing to the ground. This is the festive atmosphere of Harvard Skate, the free ice skating rink in front of the Science Center that opened on Jan. 17 as part of the Common Spaces Program.

"It's a really unique attraction that's different from the other café-like spots around here," said Kiran Gajwani, a non-resident tutor in Pforzheimer House. Gajwani had come for a second night of evening skating.

If you're looking for a fun, active, and budget-friendly way to enjoy the season, it doesn't get much better than this. The rink is open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday with free admission and a $5 fee for skate rentals.