IllumiSkate Exhibition

IllumiSkate 2026 – Registration & Information

IllumiSkate is a winter-themed exhibition held in the North Rink at Parade Ice Garden. Admission is free and open to SQSA families and friends! All SQSA Parade Regular, Junior, and Associate members may participate — talk to your coach for guidance on entering.

Registration & Fees

Registration opens via an emailed link and stays open until the deadline above or until full, whichever comes first. Partners and music (title, artist, and arrangement) must be selected before you register — enter them in upper/lower case with correct spelling, since they’ll appear in the program exactly as submitted.

All skaters in a duet or trio must register separately so we know every participant is committed.

Incomplete registrations (missing partner names, music, or other required info) won’t be counted as registered. Please submit one complete registration rather than multiple partial ones — if your coach is choosing your music, get the full details from them first.

Payment is due at the time of registration via the link that opens after you submit. All costs for coaching, music editing, costumes, and practice time are the skater’s responsibility.

To withdraw after registering, or to make any changes (music, partners), email raleighweld@gmail.com and sqsaparade@gmail.com as soon as possible — changes require approval, no refunds are issued for withdrawals, and we may have a waitlist ready to fill your spot.

Note: Registering does not guarantee a spot — space is limited, and we’ll notify your coach ASAP if we can’t accommodate you or your skater.

Opening Number

We’re offering a GROUP Opening Number again this year — all levels welcome! Practice is the morning of Saturday, 12/12 from 7:15–8:15am on the South Rink, with a run-through right before the show. Participants receive a T-shirt to wear during the performance.

Performance & Music Rules

Skaters may perform a solo, duet, or trio. Music must be of a winter, holiday, or New Year’s theme, and will be reviewed by the show directors to confirm it fits the IllumiSkate theme. Specific and enforced music lengths:

• FS 3 & below or Basic Skills – Pre Preliminary: 1:00 – 1:10
• FS 4 – FS 6 or Preliminary – Juvenile: 1:20 – 1:30
• FS 7+ or Intermediate & up: 1:30 – 1:40

If two skaters or groups select the same music, the show director may ask the later registrant to choose a different selection.

Music must be emailed to sqsatraining@gmail.com by 7pm Thursday, December 3. Questions about music cutting/editing? Check with your coach.

Choreography: Skaters may do their own choreography or work with their coach/choreographer. Programs should be well rehearsed; skaters can use regular contract or Pro’s Ice sessions to practice, and all usual ice session rules (music, props, etc.) apply.

Props: Allowed and encouraged, as long as they can be carried on/off the ice by the skater and won’t alter the ice surface or cause injury (no heat, liquids, or sharp objects).

Costumes: Should generally match the winter/holiday season and/or the music.

Warm-Up & Show Logistics

• 5:00 – 5:15 Warm-Up 1 (group TBD based on registration)
• 5:15 – 5:30 Warm-Up 2 (group TBD based on registration)

Skaters perform with the lights off, with luminaries on the ice and spotlights. Show order is set by the show directors and emailed about a week beforehand — no changes once set, due to program printing and scriptwriting.

Photo & Video Policy

IllumiSkate will not be professionally videoed. Families are welcome to record from a spot where their camera or screen light won’t disrupt others — flash photography isn’t permitted, for skater safety. Please pass this along to grandparents, family, and guests.

SQSA Parade may also use photos from classes, events, and ice sessions — including IllumiSkate — on social media, our website, and in promotional materials, since it’s a free event open to the public in a public facility.

2026 IllumiSkate Exhibition Registration

Registration opens Thursday, 11/5 at 8 pm

Scenes From Previous IllumiSkates