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Skating lessons, parties and programs
Find a rink for a public skate, a first lesson, a birthday party, an adult night, hockey, figure skating or roller derby. A rink is listed under a program only when a customer review or the rink's own website mentions it, and every rink shows the sentence or source it comes from.
Every program, by rink count
- Birthday parties1,601 rinks
- Public skating1,322 rinks
- Skate rental1,168 rinks
- Hockey1,147 rinks
- Lessons1,080 rinks
- Figure skating700 rinks
- Adult nights350 rinks
- Roller derby67 rinks
What each program is
Public skating
Public skating, also called open skate or a public session, is a set time when anyone can pay admission and skate. It's different from rink time booked for a party, a team, a class or a private event. Rinks post their public session schedule, and it changes by day and season. Some sessions are set aside for families, all ages, teens or adults.
Lessons
Rinks that teach usually start with group learn-to-skate classes, sorted by age and level. Classes cover falling and getting up safely, gliding, stopping and turning. Many rinks also offer private lessons with a coach. On ice, classes often lead on to hockey or figure skating; roller rinks teach the same basics on quad or inline skates.
Birthday parties
Rinks that host parties usually sell packages for a group: skating time, skate rental, and a table or party room for food, cake and gifts. What's included, how many guests a package covers and how far ahead you need to book all vary from rink to rink. If you want a weekend date, book early.
Adult nights
Adult nights are sessions set aside for grown-ups, usually 18 and over or 21 and over, often in the evening with a DJ, themed music or a retro night. Age limits and ID rules vary, so check the rink's policy and bring a photo ID.
Skate rental
Rental skates let you skate without owning a pair. You give your shoe size at the rental counter and get a pair for the session. Roller rinks usually rent quad skates, and some rent inline skates; ice rinks rent figure or hockey skates. Wear socks, and lace the skates snug around the ankle.
Hockey
Hockey at a rink can mean youth and adult leagues, learn-to-play classes, team practices, or drop-in ice such as stick and puck sessions and pickup games. Most of it is ice hockey; some roller rinks host roller or inline hockey. Players wear a helmet and protective gear; ask the program what it requires.
Figure skating
Figure skating is skating with jumps, spins and footwork, done on ice. Rinks that offer it may run group classes, private coaching and practice ice (often called freestyle sessions) for skaters who train. Many rinks are home to a local figure skating club. Beginners usually start in a learn-to-skate class first.
Roller derby
Roller derby is a full-contact team sport played on quad skates on an oval track. Local leagues practice and hold bouts at roller rinks and other venues, and many run recruitment programs for new skaters, sometimes called fresh meat. Some areas also have junior leagues for kids and teens.
How we know a rink runs a program
For every rink we read a sample of its most relevant Google reviews and its own website. A program is listed only when the rink's website mentions it or its reviews do. Under each rink we show a sentence from a 4- or 5-star review in quotes, with the month it was written, or note that the rink's website says so, or how many reviews mention it.
Schedules and programs change. We don't list session times or prices, so check with the rink before you go. Rinks: if a program is missing or no longer runs, tell us.