Aubri Munoz, Sydney Sudaria and Caylie O’Neal are best of friends.

So when it came to meeting up during their winter break, the three Oakdale High seniors decided to go ice skating at Dell’Osso Family Farms in Lathrop on Christmas Eve.

“This is the second time I’ve been here but my first time on skates,” said Munoz last Wednesday just a few hours before the pouring rains halted the fun on ice.

Wet conditions coupled with winds are the two worse things for this outdoor rink, according to supervisor Tina Duenas.

“When it rains, this place turns into a lake,” she said. “The winds will also start to melt the ice.”

The rink at the Lathrop farm opened at 10 a.m. on this day or rather earlier than usual. Duenas had people standing in the line for this holiday tradition of the past few years.

Munoz, Sudaria and O’Neal can also see Christmas Eve ice skating as part of their own tradition. After high school, they could be going their separate ways.

They’re not worried about that just yet.

“Audri and I have been friends since elementary school,” said O’Neal, who plays softball and basketball for the Mustangs.

Sudaria and Munoz are soccer teammates.

“We have a week off (from school) but we won’t see each other until after the New Year’s,” Sudaria said.

She and O’Neal have ice skated before so they had little to no problems getting back on skates. Munoz wasn’t as fortunate.

“I fell a few times,” she said. “That ice was really cold.”

Open to folks of all ages, ‘Ice Skating on the Farm’ is scheduled to be in operation through Jan. 3. Duenas said that a zamboni comes around every two hours to smooth out the ice.

Ice time is on a first come, first served basis with no time limit. There is a $14 charge for skating and use of skates on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for those 8 and older and $12 for those 7 and under. The Monday through Thursday rates are $2 less for each category. Those who have their own skates are being charged $2 less than stated rates.

Those who plan to make it out here should wear mittens, gloves or scarf to keep warm.

Dell’Osso Holidays on the Farm is open daily through Jan. 3 for snow tubing, ice skating, evening light displays, goodies in a warm country store, and even a zip line.

A zip line at Christmas with snow nearby isn’t normal. But then again neither is snow throughout December in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

There are 90-minute sessions on the snow tube hill that is replenished constantly with artificial snow. But unlike Mother Nature, there is a roof over the 300-foot long run featuring a 100-foot drop. And instead of having to trudge back uphill, there is an escalator that allows you to squeeze in a lot of runs in 90 minutes for $20.

But having fun in the snow doesn’t have to cost. There is a free snow play area at the base of the snow tube run.

The other major attraction is the 240 lighted displays and the 200-foot long lighted tunnel that are part of Lights on the Farm.

You can take your car through for $10 or opt for a hay ride for $6 or a ride on the Dell’Osso Express train for $3.50 per person.

Dell’Osso Farms is located in Lathrop along Interstate 5 at the Mathney Road exit.

For more information go to www.holidaysonthefarm.