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Outdoor ice rink for holidays

Sand and ice: Skaters on the ice rink at Bondi Beach. Picture: Getty Images

If the cold snap has you convinced that Perth is getting icier, you are right.

The Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority has given the green light to Perth's first outdoor ice-skating rink at the Perth Cultural Centre in the school holidays from July 4 to 20.

Winterland, modelled on similar events at Sydney's Bondi Beach and in Canberra, will be held at the James Street Amphitheatre between the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and the State Library.

Managed by the events team behind the recently expanded State of the Art music festival celebrating WA Day, also held for the first time this year at the cultural hub, the venture will adopt a northern hemisphere winter atmosphere.

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A pop-up cafe and bar will serve mulled wine, warm cider and hot chocolate and food stalls will offer bratwurst, pretzels and ginger cookies.

Family-friendly during the day, with sessions just for small children in the morning, DJs will take over after sundown on Friday and Saturday nights.

It will not be the only midwinter attraction in the CBD.

The City of Perth will turn Forrest Place into a "snow plaza" from July 7 to 19 using a snow machine as part of its Winter Arts Festival.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the events demonstrated how much Forrest Place and the Perth Cultural Centre had evolved from no-go areas, particularly after dark, into thriving civic centres.

"We have really got a family friendliness back into these areas," she said.

"There was a period when they were not as friendly and more antisocial.

"It's a seven-day-a-week area, too, and more people are coming in because there are so many other cafes and bars opening up."

MRA chief executive Kieran Kinsella said the authority was intent on experimenting with events bringing an element of surprise.

Winterland follows on from the urban beach at Perth Cultural Centre during summer.

"Our entire approach in revitalising the Perth Cultural Centre has been about activating the spaces at all times of year," Mr Kinsella said.

Ticket prices for skate hire and a 45-minute session range from $14 for presales tickets for children under 15 to $66 for a family of four, plus booking fee.