The Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department is talking turkey about bowling.
The Turkey Bowling special event — a family-friendly competition for all ages — is scheduled for Jan. 14 at the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink in Centennial Park.
“You don’t get too many opportunities to bowl a turkey on the ice,” said Ray Piattoni, Orland Park recreation division manager. “It’s just fun.”
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Participants will be divided into several age groups which will be determined according to the numbers and ages of people who attend on game day.
Each bowler will have three chances to throw the “ball,” and the total number of pins knocked down will be tallied to determine winners.
Piattoni said participants may wear their own skates, rent skates for $2 or bowl with any type of footwear allowed on the ice. He said the game is “true bowling with bowling pins,” but the “ball” is the bowler’s choice of two frozen missiles.
“One’s a frozen turkey breast and one’s a Cornish hen,” Piattoni said.
“Maybe the pins aren’t quite as lively as with a bowling ball, but they do go down pretty good with a frozen turkey,” he said.
The winner in each category will receive a “turkey trophy,” and the overall winner will also receive a frozen turkey.
But everyone who plays is a winner, Piattoni said. Each bowler who doesn’t win in a category will receive a prize just for competing.
Piattoni credits the “nice refrigerated surface” of the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink in Centennial Park with not only drawing skaters all week long during the November to March skating season, but to the special weekend events which make for extra family fun.
Turkey Bowling has been an annual event for about 10 years, drawing up to 50 participants each year, he said.
“We always have ice out there so we try to bring out some special events,” he said. “We’ve been doing this several years and it is a pretty popular spot for residents of Orland Park.”
Piattoni said the bowling takes about five minutes per person, but open skating, hot chocolate, popcorn and a bonfire give people plenty of reason to stick around until the 7 p.m. closing time.
Turkey Bowling will be the last special event of the season at Winter Wonderland Ice Rink. Ice skating with bonfires on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings will continue to March.
For up-to-date information on rink closure, call the recreation department weather hotline at 708-403-6290. All activities are weather permitting.
Ginger Brashinger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Turkey Bowling
When: 2 p.m. Jan. 14
Where: Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, Centennial Park, 15600 West Ave., Orland Park
Admission: Free/skate rental $2
Etc.: All ages can participate. Children ages 8 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required. Event is weather permitting.
Information: 708-403-7275 or www.orlandpark.org/facilities.
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