No. We have a lot of skaters who have never skated before and have a great time! Skatetown teammates will be on the ice to assist your skaters, give a free group skating lesson and make sure the skating aids are the correct height. The bleachers and café offer a clear view of the rink (and WiFi) so you can watch everyone having fun!
No waivers are required.
Many teachers incorporate curriculum on temperature, H2O solid/liquid/gas as well as friction, balance and motion into lesson plans prior to or after a field trip to Skatetown. We can provide you with some materials on these subjects if you are interested.
A three-week advance reservation and deposit are required. Since we host lots of end-of-year-school field trips and other annual events, we can book events as far out as 12 months.
We have lots of skaters who have never skated before and have a great time! After your group arrives, we will review beginner skating tips off-ice. Once on the ice, new skaters are encouraged to use Learner Bucket Skating Aids to help with confidence (Skatetown provides them). There is a beginner skating area that is sectioned off from the rest of the rink and there is always a Skateguard on the ice to assist. We also offer an introductory on-ice skating lesson. Skaters who have roller skated or roller bladed make a quick transition to ice skating. For parents and chaperones who don’t want to skate, we offer Spikeys that allow you to walk safely on the ice.
We carry hockey and figure rental skates from a child’s size 6 (typically 3yr old children) all the way up to adult size 16, along with double-bladed skates for toddlers. NOTE: the smallest youth hockey skate we have is size 8, which fits youth size 10 foot. We recommend that all newer skaters wear figure skates as they are more comfortable, safer and easier to skate in.
It is best to arrive together or at approximately the same time.
(1) Check in at the front counter in our main entrance lobby.
(2) Give the cashier the total number of people skating in your group.
(3) The cashier will ask you to verify the number of wristbands for your group.
(4) Give a wristband to everyone who will be on the ice.There are trashcans in the lobby for the wristband papers.
(5) If your group will be listening to a safety speech/event overview, please ask your skaters to be seated on the floor or as directed by a manager or teammate.
Every person on the ice, including parents and teachers, must have a wristband.
Safety tips and rink rules (i.e. where to skate if using learner bucket skating aids, etc.). The speech takes about 10 minutes and we highly recommend this for all groups.
Your skaters will line up single file at the skate rental counter to get their skates. Please arrange for a teacher or chaperone to stand at the front of the line to help determine skaters’ shoe sizes. One suggestion for helping your skaters select the proper skate is to have parents write their child’s shoe size on the child’s field trip ID tag, sticker or paper.
Skatetown offers figure skates, hockey skates and Bob skates (double-bladed skates for toddlers). Hockey skates are for more advanced skaters, so all beginner skaters will be given figure skates.
Yes, but please do not layer socks. One pair of thin, tall, well-fitting socks is best.
Ask for Spikeys at the rental counter; car keys or a driver's license are required as collateral. You will be given a claim ticket in exchange for your collateral. Spikeys are adult-sized rubber cleats that fit over flat shoes (not heels, clogs, open-toed shoes, slippers or flip flops) and will allow you to walk safely on the ice. Adult wearing Spikeys on the ice must also have a wristband.
Skatetown provides baskets for storing items or you may choose to lock valuables in our coin lockers.
Rink air temperature averages 40-60 degrees year round. Our lobby averages 70 degrees during warmer months. Dress in warm, comfortable clothing that will not restrict your movements (and dress in layers). Long pants and gloves or mittens recommended. Hats and helmets recommended for beginning skaters. Dressing in layers gives you the option of removing a layer if you get too warm. Don't forget a tall, thin pair of socks!
The Skatetown staff will be happy to assist your group in sizing skates. Once your students are given skates at the rental counter, please ask one of your parent chaperones to help us direct students to be seated on a bench. Your skaters can easily buckle their own skates.
We recommend bringing a bicycle helmet for children and adults alike. We also have hundreds of loaner bike helmets sizes XS to XXL.
If you can walk, you can skate. We carry only quality skates with great ankle support and our hands-on, skilled staff will make sure the skates fit properly so your ankles are supported.
Our café is typically open during most public skating sessions. We offer a variety of snacks and full meals as well as hot and cold beverages, including smoothies, coffee drinks, hot chocolate, beer and wine.
We do not permit outside food or beverages to be brought into Skatetown. Revenue from the café helps us keep our doors open.
No problem! As long as there's still room on the ice, you're welcome to join the session-in-progress for the remainder of the time.
Generally, children are able to skate once they are comfortable walking. We recommend age 5, but a lot of people start their kids earlier. Your child must be at least 3 years old to skate at Skatetown. We stock both double and single-bladed skates for young children. There is a section of the ice reserved for beginner skaters. This area is coned off from the rest of the rink. Young children can skate by themselves with the free skate aids (buckets) in the beginner section.
We carry hockey and figure rental skates from a child’s size 6 (typically 3-year-old children) all the way up to adult size 16, along with double-bladed skates for toddlers. Keep in mind that hockey skates have Canadian sizes on them so we’ll be suggesting a hockey skate that is two to three sizes smaller than your shoe size. Trust us on this one, otherwise you won't get the ankle support needed to skate well. As for 1/2 sizes, rental skates are not manufactured in 1/2 sizes. To help you find the right size, give the teammate at Skate Rental your current shoe size and you will be given the correct sized skate for your foot. If it’s not the perfect size, our guest service team will happily switch them out for you. We also rent Spiky’s for walking on the ice.
For children who would rather ride than skate, we have sleds that are piloted by an adult or a proficient skater. Your child must be able to sit upright to ride the sled (no car seats or stroller seats allowed). Gloves and warm clothing are recommended. We also recommend helmets and seatbelts for riders (provided by Skatetown). Sled rentals are $10. Admission is based on age of person riding the sled. A parent is required to sign a waiver of liability.
Zamboni intermissions may take place at any time during public sessions and are usually on the hour, depending on crowd size. Our ice is 1.5 to 2 inches thick. Our state-of-the-art, laser-guided ice resurfacer keeps the ice at a perfect thickness and so level that it makes the curlers (those crazy folks who throw rocks across the ice) very envious.
It is typically between 50-60 degrees; however, it does get colder from time to time so we recommend bringing a jacket or sweatshirt. In the Winter, we recommend dressing warm & bringing a blanket. Also, check out the ‘Lava Buns’ that are sold in our ProShop!
We offer coin-operated lockers. The cost is $1.00 for each use. Skatetown is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Walk-in parties are not allowed. You are welcome to skate, but no food, beverages or gifts may be brought into the rink. Click on “Parties” for information on Skatetown-hosted birthdays. Formal birthday parties must be booked through Skatetown. Informal birthday parties, without cakes and presents, are welcome at any of our Public Skating Sessions, but they won’t be nearly as much fun as our “world famous” birthday parties!
WIFI is available throughout the facility, but it works best in our Café and bleachers.
Entertainment is provided during the Friday evening, Saturday/Sunday (2-5 sessions), as well as our Holiday sessions, where there are on-ice games (such as Limbo and Giant Dice); dances (Hokey Pokey, Cha Cha Slide, Macarena); laser light shows and live DJ. There's also snow falling from the ceiling, disco lights and black lights.
Wheelchair users are welcome on the ice. You will need to be accompanied by an aide who will be able to walk on the ice in rubber-cleated spikeys (provided free of charge). For more details, CLICK HERE.
You can also rent a sled hockey sled for the same price as rental skates.
Figure or hockey skates can be rented for $3.50 or you can bring your own.
Yes. We have a large supply of buckets. When using buckets, make sure they are stacked waist high and keep the buckets in the bubbled-off section of Rink #1 by the café windows. We like buckets much better than the “walkers” we’ve had in the past as they can be stacked to the perfect height, which forces you to skate with the proper stride - and they are bright-colored and cheery!