Lace 'em up.

The outdoor skating season has officially begun at Minneapolis parks. City-maintained ice rinks — 47 of them at 22 parks — and warming houses opened Saturday and will remain open, weather permitting, through Feb. 17. A few rinks, at Bohanon Park, McRae Park, Lake of the Isles and Van Cleve Park, are scheduled to remain open through March 2.

Many of the locations offer separate rinks for general skating and for ice sports, such as hockey, broomball and pond hockey.

And if you're a rookie and don't own a pair of skates, all locations except Nokomis offer free loaner skates on a first-come, first-served basis.

New this year, the rinks at Lake of the Isles, Lynnhurst Park, Matthews Park and Van Cleve Park will be lighted until 9 p.m. on Sundays, while warming houses close at 6 p.m.

Rink information, including park addresses, what activities are accommodated at each location, ice conditions and rink closures, is available at www.minneapolisparks.org/rinks. Or call the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board ice rink hot line at 612-313-7708.

KIM PALMER