The 4th Friday of the month is a special day in in downtown Fayetteville. Galleries, bookstores and shops stay open late. Artists showcase their works and musicians entertain guests at the various activities. And it’s free to attend.

The Cool Spring Downtown District has something extra special in store this month — Cool Spring on Ice. That’s right, Friday through Sunday there will be a temporary ice-skating rink in downtown Fayetteville.

It’s a project that has been a long time in the making. “Last fall we were trying to come up with something fun and a little different to do downtown,” said Melissa Purvine, Cool Spring Downtown District marketing and communications manager. “Ice skating is something that had been a success in other North Carolina cities, so we decided to give it a try.”

The response was enthusiastic. Within 24 hours of the Cools Spring Downtown District Facebook post announcing the event, more than 1,500 people replied as interested in or attending Cool Spring on Ice. At one week out from 4th Friday, Purvine said there were about 3,000 people who had responded to the event posting.

“We are excited to offer this to the community,” Purvine said. “It is something everyone can enjoy — from family outings to a date night or a group of friends. … I can’t wait to see people on the ice having fun.”

If all goes well, Fayetteville could see more ice-skating opportunities in the future. “This is for a weekend — to test the waters,” said Purvine. “We are in talks about possibly doing it again and maybe doing it for longer stretches of time, like a week or something similar.”

The temporary rink opens Friday, Jan. 25, at noon and will be open for 4th Friday festivities. It will also be open Saturday, Jan. 26, from 8-10 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. It costs $7 per 45 minutes. Skates are included in the rental price. Tickets are available at https://visitdowntownfayetteville.com.

There is plenty to enjoy in addition to fun in the rink at 4th Friday.

The Ellington-White Gallery will showcase “A National Juried Print Exhibition.” The show addresses issues involving social injustice. It will run until Saturday, March 30. It is free and open to the public. Call 910-483-1388 or visit www.ellington-white.com for details.

Fascinate-U Children’s Museum invites families to join in and prepare for the Chinese New Year. This includes making colorful 3D dragon art. It’s easy and fun for children. The museum is also open for free play from 7-9 p.m. Find out more at www. fascinate-u.com.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County opens its newest exhibition, “Take It For Granted.” The artwork includes works by awardees of the Arts Council’s Regional Artist Project Grants in 2016, 2017, 2018. The projects range from painting to sculpture to photography and quilts. The artists competed throughout an 11-county area for the grants they received. Visit www.theartscouncil.com or call 910-323-1776 for more information.

Headquarters Library’s exhibit is called “A Select History of Medicine and Dentistry in Cumberland County and North Carolina” and will remain open to the public through Feb. 28. Cal 910-483-7727 ext. 1359 or visit www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite for more information.

4th Friday runs from 6-10 p.m. Call 910-223-1089 for more information.