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Ride Out the End of Winter with a Little Fun

February 22, 2019 by Writers Leave a Comment

Tired of the cold winter weather? Thankfully winter is almost over, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Don’t let the bleak weather keep you from having a good time. Now is a great time to have a fresh experience or learn something new.

Check out these fun indoor things to do in Lockport to bide your time until things warm up again!

- Palace Theater – Consider catching a show at the Palace Theater. By going to the Palace Theater you are not only supporting local indie theater, but you’ll also be enjoying a great show in the historic opulence of this grand 1920s theater.

- Lockport Art Company – Take a class at Lockport Art Company. This art studio offers several classes each week on a variety of pottery techniques including hand building, wheel pottery, functional pottery, and sculpture. They also have a studio for working in glass!
- Rainbow Skateland – No matter the weather, it is always a great time to skate at Rainbow Skateland! Getting enough exercise can be especially hard during the winter months due to the cold wet weather, but indoor skating is great exercise. Of course there is a lot more to do at Rainbow Skateland than skate. You and your family can play a few arcade games, take the little ones on our Bounce Zone, or have a Laser Tron competition.

So make plans to spend the day skating in Lockport! Check out our hours and our many fun upcoming Lockport events and make your plans today.

Celebrate American Heart Month

February 5, 2019 by Writers Leave a Comment

February is the month of love, flowers, hearts — and not just the candy kind! That’s right, February is also American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., but the good news is that there are many ways you can treat your heart better and reduce your risk of heart disease — including roller skating!

That’s right, roller skating is not just fun, but it’s also literally good for your health. One of the best things you can do for your heart is to stay active, and roller skating is a great way to get in an aerobic workout while having a blast.

It is recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, 5 days a week, and skating is a great way to make this happened! Skating is a wonderful workout for your whole body. It doesn’t just improve core strength and tone muscles, but it can also provide an aerobic workout that gets your heart pumping.

Skating (or any physical activity that is fun and social) can also help to reduce stress. Not to mention that when exercising is fun, you will be much more likely to stick with it.

So make skating a part of your regular routine and join us at Rainbow Skateland for a little Lockport roller skating. Check out our hours and our fun upcoming Lockport events, and make your plans to skate today. Your heart will thank you for it!

How Jam Skating Started

January 24, 2019 by Writers Leave a Comment

Jam skating has a long and interesting history, but most people don’t know a whole lot about it.

Most people are probably familiar with it due to its popularity in music videos like “Blow” by Beyoncé. Of course the Queen Bey wasn’t the only artist to include impressive jam skating in her videos. “1, 2 Step” by Ciara and Missy Elliott, “I Heart You” by Toni Braxton, and “My Shoes” by Murphy Lee are all great examples of jam skating.

What is Jam Skating?

Jam skating is a particular form of freestyle skating that has been heavily influenced by various rhythm skate styles, artistic skating, modern dance, break dancing, and even gymnastics. As a style, jam skating emphasizes personal expression over speed or aggressive skating styles, and is noted for its free flowing movements.

History of Jam Skating

Roller rinks were very popular around the time of WWII. While some people were content to just skate laps, others began what would become rhythm skating. As its name implies, rhythm skating is simply a form of skating wherein the skater dances, shuffles, and/or slides to the rhythm of the music.

From this early rhythm skating came many distinct styles including the bee-bop style of the 1950s and 1960s, the soul skating style of the 1970s, and of course, roller disco during the 1970s. All of these styles and their evolutions influenced the rise of Jam Skating, which combined these influences with break dancing and gymnastics to create a new style.

Now that you’ve read about the fascinating history of jam skating, why not try a little skating of your own? Check out our hours and calendar of upcoming Lockport events, and make your plans to visit out Lockport skating rink today!

What Age Can Kids Start Skating?

January 10, 2019 by Writers Leave a Comment

Hitting the rink for the first time can be scary, especially for little kids. But with a little extra attention, they can do it. That’s why we are so proud of our Rollers and Strollers class!

Rollers and Strollers

Rollers and Strollers is geared toward preschool-aged children who might be a little intimidated by the rink. The program’s goal is to help young kids get used to the skating rink and excited to try skating. We encourage parents to bring your child’s favorite riding toy along for a spin around the rink!

Roller and Strollers is held every Tuesday (from October through May) from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Admission is only $6.00 and includes roller skate rentals, skate trainers, and admission to our famed Bounce Zone.

Your child will love the Bounce Zone! It has plenty of bouncers, mazes, slides, and an obstacle course to get your kid moving to bounce off a little energy in a clean and safe environment. The maximum height for the Bounce Zone is 54 inches, and there’s is a seating area for parents to watch their kids have fun.

Skate Lessons

If your child does well at Strollers and Rollers and wants to learn more, then checkout our Lockport skate lessons for young and old. So long as your child can stand on skates and follow simple directions, then they’re more than welcomed at our skate lessons!

Check out our upcoming Lockport events schedule and make plans to get the whole family together for some quality time at your local Lockport skating center! We look forward to seeing you.

Resolve to Spend More Quality Family Time Together

December 27, 2018 by Writers Leave a Comment

It is time again to make new year’s resolutions! Or if that’s not your thing, just planning ahead for how you’ll make 2019 an even better year than the last. One of the most common regrets is not spending enough time with friends and family, or just enjoying life.

So if you’re interested in a more balanced 2019, check out these ideas to help get you started.

Celebrate the little things – and the big things! Whether it’s a great report card, a winning game, or a new personal best on the treadmill, it’s always important to appreciate the good times. Rainbow Skateland is a great place to come when you want to share your happiness with friends or family. Make it special with skating, a few games of mini golf in Lockport, or a family night in the arcade. If you’re celebrating a special birthday, promotion, or some other special occasion,then check out our party options!
Carve out time for fun – Institute a weekly Lockport family fun night with your kids or spouse. Or you could invite friends to a weekly hangout!
Feel like a kid again – Skating, mini golf, and fun can help you forget about the stress of work and other commitments. Skating is actually great exercise too, and it’s low-impact, so it is better for your joints!

Come visit us in 2019 for more fun, more laughter, and more quality time with all the people you care about. While you’re at it, head over to Facebook and follow us for updates, announcements, Lockport special events, and more!

Spend Time With Family This Holiday Season

December 13, 2018 by Writers Leave a Comment

It’s the holiday season and that means kids are going to be home from school soon. What better time to find some great family activities to do together? At Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY, we thought it would be fun to give you a short list of fun activities that the entire family will enjoy. Check out some of our favorite winter break activities below and enjoy the season together!

Look at Christmas Lights!

There is no other time of year that we can see so much spirit and love just by driving around the neighborhood! Gather up the family and pack up some hot chocolate and cookies. You can walk or drive around to see all the festive lights. Also check with local organizations to see if there are any luminaries scheduled this season!

Have a Treasure Hunt!

Perfect for in the house or out in the yard, start by hiding some small but meaningful prizes, then make a treasure map or write clues for kids to go find them. Instead of hidings gifts, consider things like small treats, gift certificates or candies, or even coupons for getting out of chores or having more computer/tablet time!

Go for a Holiday Skate

Of course, our favorite holiday activity takes place right here at Rainbow Skateland! Roller skating has been a family favorite for generations. Our DJ will be playing all the best holiday and pop songs all season long. Not to mention, skating is a great workout so if you need a fun way to tire out the kids during winter break, roll on by!

Tips for Throwing a Great Holiday Party

November 21, 2018 by Writers Leave a Comment

Holiday Gifts Anyone can throw a party but to throw a great holiday party takes experience and hard work. A really well executed holiday party all starts with finding the right venue. Here at Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY, we have you covered from beginning to end. But what makes a good holiday party great? In our opinion, there has to be a combination of the following.

Location, Location, Location!

Every great party starts with a great space. Whether you’re planning an office holiday party or a family outing, you have to find a space that can handle family needs, something off the beaten path but also something inclusive. Roller skating is a great combination of all of these.

Pick the Right Activities

A holiday party needs time to play as well as a quiet place for everyone to gather and exchange gifts. When you choose a private holiday party with us at Rainbow, our DJ will keep the music pumping on the hardwood while our party room is a great place to catch up with friends and give someone special a gift for the holidays.

Planning Makes Perfect

The amount of effort that goes into a party before it ever begins is what really makes a good party great. At Rainbow, we are masters of party organization and have been doing it for a really long time in Lockport, New York. That means there’s less for you to stress about… and don’t worry, we’ve got the set up and clean up covered, too!

We’re booking holiday parties now and would love to get you and your family, friends and coworkers here for a great time this holiday season. Roll on by to find out more about having your next party on skates!

Give Back in Lockport this Thanksgiving!

November 8, 2018 by Writers Leave a Comment

Give back this holiday season How do you get into the Thanksgiving spirit? Here at Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY, we love this time of year because of the family gatherings, hearty meals and holiday spirit. But nothing gets us into the celebratory spirit like giving back to our neighbors with less. Donating during Thanksgiving and throughout the entire holiday season means you’re helping the entire Niagara community have a happier holiday.

If you’re not sure how you can help this Thanksgiving, just follow our lead and check out some of these great local charities and charitable opportunities!

United Way of Greater Niagara

The United Way of Greater Niagara is the area’s leading charitable group. They have donation drives for everything from back packs for school children to toiletries and other basic necessities. Click the link above and see how you can help!

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering is another great way to give back during the holidays. Spending time at Niagara Hospice or donating your time at a food pantry can make an enormous difference in so many lives. Plus, it is an excellent way to make sure your efforts are going directly to our Niagara community.

Organize A Fundraiser

We have an excellent fundraiser program here at Rainbow Skateland. What better way to raise money for a great cause than by having a good time with us and all your friends and family? The more people you can gather together, the more money you’ll end up raising for your charity.

These are just a few examples of how you can give back in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Regardless of how you do it, we think you’ll feel great about helping out your Lockport neighbors this year. But we can always do more. Give us a call or roll on by to learn about other ways to give back this year.

Make Halloween Safety Key for Your Kids

October 18, 2018 by Writers Leave a Comment

From ghosts and ghouls to witches and werewolves, Halloween is full of spooky fun. It’s one of the most creative times of the year and can bring the kid out in all of us. However, the scares aren’t all fun and games, which is why we want to make sure you have some tips to keep your kids safe this Halloween.

At Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY, we want everyone one to have fun during one of the years’ best holidays. Whether you’re hanging with us here at our skating center or out trick or treating, safety is our first concern.

Trick or Treat Safety Tips

If you decide to head out into the neighborhood to collect Halloween goodies with your little ones, try these little tips to stay safe.

Wear reflective clothing or tape. Making you and your kids visible means drivers can see you and steer clear.
Stay with a group. Safety in numbers holds true on Halloween night. You’re more visible as a group and less likely to encounter the boogey man.
Bring a flashlight. Again, visibility is key when you’re out with your little ones. Neighborhoods are often dark and having a flashlight can help you navigate as well as let any passersby know that you are there.

Try an Alternative to Trick or Treating

Roller skating offers a great alternative to trick or treating. Not only can you keep your kids in a safe, family-friendly environment, you’ll still have thrilling fun. Plus, you’ll really help to cut down on the sweets and have a healthier Halloween all around.

Give us a call today to find out what’s going on here at Rainbow during Halloween and don’t forget that we have open skating time throughout the week!

October is National Roller Skating Month!

October 11, 2018 by Writers Leave a Comment

old-timey roller skate It’s official. National Roller Skating Month is here and at Rainbow Skateland, we we couldn’t be more excited about it! So, in honor of our favorite month of the year, we thought it would be fun to give you guys a little history and a few fun facts about the pastime we all love.

First Things First

Roller skating has been around for over 250 years! Do you realize that that’s even older than our country? It’s true. But skating looked a lot different back then.

The first skates didn’t have trucks so the skater could only roll straight ahead and hope for the best. In 1760, it didn’t work out great for inventor John Merlin when he tested out his new wheeled shoes and rolled right into a huge mirror. Merlin took his lumps, but skating was born and there was no going back!

Trucks Revolutionize Skating

Fast forward a hundred years to 1863 and we see the invention of a roller skate that is actually able to turn! Trucks essentially added an axle for the front wheels on your typical quad skates. With the axle sitting on a bearing, a skater is able to turn by leaning their weight one way or the other. But you can take our word for it when we tell you that not everyone has stopped skating into walls!

Learning is Easy and Then Fun Never Ends

Speaking of skating into walls, did you know that Rainbow has a pro shop and lessons to get you up to speed quickly? Learning to skate is easy. You just have to remember to take it at your own pace. New or slower skaters will stay closer to the wall while faster, more experienced skaters will take an inside line. Sticking to this guideline can help keep everyone safe and make sure fun is had by all skill levels.

For more information or to give it a shot, roll by Rainbow Skateland anytime we’re open or book a party today!