At Rainbow Skateland, family fun is kind of our “thing.” After all, we’ve been getting people into roller skating at our western New York skating rink since 1949. You can find people from several different generations all having a ball here during our public skating sessions, special events, and parties. If you’re looking for family-friendly things to do with kids in Lockport and around the Buffalo and Niagara area, keep reading to learn some of our favorite local activities. (Other than roller skating, obviously… Because that’s a given!)

Lockport, Buffalo, and Niagara Family Activities

Play tourist for a day. 

It’s funny how we sometimes lose sight of all the neat parts of where we live in the daily hustle and bustle of life. Oftentimes, it’s not until we have company from out of town that we go out and enjoy the “touristy” attractions. So, why not pretend you’re on vacation, but make it a “staycation”? Get your kids to help you create an itinerary of local activities like taking a double decker bus tour, visiting the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, or doing a scavenger hunt. Did you know you can even take a chicken wings “food history” tour of Buffalo?

Get some nature therapy. 

Life is more stressful than ever these days, so it’s important to take time for mental and physical health. From kids to teens to adults, getting out in nature is incredibly beneficial. According to Yale ecopsychology researchers, “A growing body of research points to the beneficial effects that exposure to the natural world has on health, reducing stress and promoting healing.” Fortunately, we’re surrounded by lots of opportunities for basking in natural beauty, so why not load up your family and go for a hike? Some of the best places to hike around Lockport include: 

• Town of Lockport Nature Trail
• Royalton Ravine Park
• Devil’s Hole State Park
• Walton Woods Park
• Eternal Flame Falls

Expand your mind at local museums. 

The area around Lockport, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls is rich in history, and there are plenty of ways to learn more about the place we call home. Explore the area’s museums, historical sites, and architectural gems, or take a guided tour like one of the ones mentioned above. 

• Niagara Falls History Museum
• Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
• Lockport Cave tours
• Erie Canal Discovery Center
• Buffalo Museum of Science
• Niagara County HIstory Center
• Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village
• Niagara Aerospace Museum
• Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House

What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids around Lockport? Do you know of any cool things to see or do off the beaten path? We’d love to hear from you during your next visit to Rainbow Skateland!

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Lockport, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Rainbow Skateland, we pride ourselves on providing family-friendly fun for all ages and interests. We’ve got mini golf, laser tag, a bounce zone for kids under 54” tall, an arcade, and—drumroll, please—a skating rink! Roller skating is one of the most fun ways you can possibly spend an afternoon or evening, whether you’re throwing a birthday party, attending a special event, or just checking out one of our regular open skate sessions. Want to make your roller skating experience even more fun? Check out these roller skating games that are sure to help you make some memories. 

Roller Skating Games

You never know when we’re going to spring a relay race or skating game on you, but you can bet it’s going to be fun! (And hey, if you’re not the competitive type, you can always head over to the snack bar or the arcade for a breather.)

Four Corners

This classic skating rink game is good for all skaters, even less experienced ones. First, the game leader will let you know which areas are the “corners.” Music will play, during which everyone will skate around. But when the music stops everyone has to close their eyes and skate towards the nearest corner! The leader will call out a number that corresponds to a corner, and all of the skaters in that area are out. The game continues until there’s only one person left standing! 

Freeze Tag

Another fun skating game for everyone is freeze tag, and yes, it’s pretty much just like the playground game, but on skates! The person who is “It” has to tag the other players. If you get tagged, you have to freeze in place until one of your teammates tags you back in. 

Another spin on this game is sort of like musical chairs. The music will play while everyone skates around the rink. Suddenly, the music will stop, and everyone must freeze in place! Whoever freezes last is out and has to leave the floor. The music starts up again, and it happens all over again. 

Follow the Leader

This is a classic kids’ game, but it’s way more fun to play while roller skating. One person is the leader, and they’ll lead the pack doing a particular skate move or routine. Each of the following players has to copy the move exactly, or they’re out! If everyone pulls off the leader’s moves, the leader is out and has to join the pack while someone else takes on the leader role. 

Skate Races

Of course, no skating competition is complete without a race or two. There are several kinds of races to play at the skating rink, from team relay races, to backwards skating races, to straight up speed skating races! If you’re a more advanced skater, try challenging your friends to see who can shoot the duck for the longest distance or glide the longest/fastest from just 2 strides.

Parents in Lockport and the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area have been trusting us with their kids’ birthday parties for years, and we pride ourselves on delivering an awesome birthday party experience “straight out of the box,” so to speak. Our parties include everything you need for a fun and convenient birthday party, but you’re also free to put your own spin on the event. If you’re the kind of parent that just has to be a little bit extra (no judgement here—skating is arguably the most extra sport), check out some of our favorite birthday party themes that we’ve seen over the years. 

3 Awesome Kids’ Birthday Party Themes

Go Wild

Who doesn’t love a jungle theme? If your child loves animals, a wild animal/jungle theme is the perfect way to liven up the party. Ask guests to wear some type of animal print clothing (while still being safe and comfortable to skate in) and include some fun jungle animal touches like stickers or temporary tattoos in your guests’ goody bags. And of course, the easiest way to include a theme is to decorate the birthday cake to match! If you’re a baker, you’re sure to find some interesting cake inspiration here.

Super Size It

Who doesn’t love superheroes? Whether your kid wants to be Wonder Woman or Captain America when they grow up, a superhero birthday party will be a hit with them and their friends. You’d be hard pressed to find a kid these days who isn’t a fan of Marvel or DC superheroes, so ask them to wear a shirt with their favorite superhero on it for the party. Use your child’s favorite hero as inspiration, and take your party colors and invitation style from that hero’s style. 

Disco Derby

If your child loves dressing up and/or their favorite color is “anything glittery,” a roller disco birthday party will be a surefire hit. Ask guests to come in their best retro roller disco outfit, or just wear something shimmery and bold! This birthday party theme is perfect for tweens and teens, because picking out an outfit is half the fun. Once they’re at the party in their disco duds, they’ll love skating in style. (And likely taking a ridiculous number of selfies, as well.)

Do you have a unique birthday party theme in mind, or do you like to go classic and let the party speak for itself? Either way, we’d love to help you make your child’s birthday celebration a success. Explore our party packages, book your party online now or give us a call to learn more.

Want to ban the “B” word (boredom) in your house this summer? Check out these cool summer projects and activities for kids that are sure to keep them entertained and engaged while they’re out of school. 

Summer Activities for Kids

Learn a New Skill

There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from learning a new skill, especially when it’s part of a self-guided learning journey instead of a school assignment. Help your kids grow this summer by encouraging them to choose and learn a new skill. 

Roller skating is all the rage on TikTok these days, and aside from being fun, it’s also great exercise. If your child is interested in skating but needs some help getting started, our roller skating classes are the perfect way for you to support them in their goal. Other skill ideas include: 

• Learning how to do a particular roller skating trick, like shooting the duck or skating backwards. 
• Perfecting a soccer juggling (or actual juggling!) routine
• Experimenting with coding
• Cooking a signature dish
• Learning a dance routine
• Or whatever they dream up! 

Get Creative

Speaking of dreaming things up, encourage your kids to get creative this summer! Creative pursuits don’t have to be limited to drawing and painting, either. (Although those are fun ways to pass the time.) Find out what inspires and interests your kids and set up a space where they can let the muse run free—whether that’s crafting, writing, acting in an original play, painting, building a birdhouse, creating a short film, etc. 

Team Up

Do something to improve your family’s home or neighborhood. Kids can team up with neighbors and siblings to make a difference. Here are some community service ideas for kids: 

• Pick up trash
• Clean up a creek
• Bust out the old Radio Flyer wagon and go door to door for a canned food drive or book drive
• Plant flowers or build a community garden. 
• Collect recycling and make sure it’s properly sorted
• Help an elderly or disabled neighbor maintain their lawn (pulling weeds, cutting grass, etc. depending on your child’s age and abilities)

Observe and Investigate

Another fun summer project for kids is to keep a journal, log, or sketch book. They can record the comings and goings of the birds at the bird feeder, research a specific interest, do experiments, or even become a citizen scientist.

Joint parties can be double the fun… Or double the trouble. If you’re planning a joint party for any occasion, check out these tips to help you pull it off and make sure everyone has a great time. 

Hosting a Joint Party

Some families end up hosting joint birthday parties because they have multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) or siblings with birthdays close together. But there are plenty of other reasons to host a joint party! Maybe you want to celebrate several family birthdays together but don’t have time for everyone to attend multiple parties. Or maybe you want to combine celebrations with a friend. Combining your parties can also help you get more “bang for your buck,” especially if you have mutual friends! One party means twice the fun for half the cost per person, from decorations to food to entertainment. And birthdays aren’t the only time for party team-ups—don’t forget about those big milestones like graduating from high school or college!

How to Host a Successful Joint Party

1. Rule number one of joint party planning is to choose a party theme/location/activity that both guests of honor will enjoy. If you’re teaming up with a friend to throw a party, it’s likely you have similar interests. But this can get tricky if you’re trying to plan a combined party for siblings of different ages, or even twins with different interests.
   Fortunately, roller skating parties are the perfect solution for combining two celebrations into one. Roller skating is a fun activity for all ages, so even if your kids have several years between them, they’ll be able to have a good time. Skating also allows them to spread out and have fun with their own friends on the rink, taking some of the pressure off when it comes to the two age groups getting together. 
2. Since one of the reasons to host a joint party is simplicity, make sure you’re not getting too wild with your party plans. Focus on the fundamentals. The best parties don’t have to involve expensive decorations, elaborate activities, and fancy food. That’s why people love roller skating parties. We not only provide the venue and entertainment for your party, but also the food and drinks, music, games, and overall ambiance. Tasty pizza and skating to good music with friends may not be fancy, but it sure is fun! And you can always put your own spin on a skating party by giving your guests a theme to dress up for, whether you ask everyone to wear pink or come in their best roller disco-inspired finery. 
3. Last, but not least, make sure you reflect both guests of honor in your party plans! For instance: 

• Make sure the invitations say both people’s names and better yet, include a photo of them together.
• Let them pick their cake flavors. You can do a multi-tiered cake with different flavors, or two smaller cakes. A shared cake should, again, reflect both of their interests or a shared interest. If you go with separate cakes, they can each have a totally different theme. 
• If you’re planning a party for different ages, consider creating different goody bags for each age group.
  

If you’re interested in hosting a joint birthday party or any kind of group event in Lockport, give us a call at 716-507-4381. We can’t wait to help you make your special occasion a day to remember!

There’s less than a month of school left for Lockport students, and that end-of-the-year excitement is already in the air. Kids, teachers, and parents are all ready to kick off the summer break, but before that long-awaited last day of class, make sure you have a strategy for how to avoid the summer slump. 

Dump the Summer Slump

If you don’t know what the “summer slump” or “summer slide” is, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to share not only what it is, but also some ways to avoid it altogether!

What Is Summer Slump or Summer Slide?

According to Scholastic, summer slump/slide is a “regression in academic proficiency due to summer break.” Studies have shown that kids lose a significant portion of the reading and math skills they developed over the last academic year when they have the whole summer off. It’s a real world example of “use it or lose it,” and it’s particularly dangerous for younger kids, who are learning important foundation skills like math and reading that can affect their educational progress for years to come. Research also shows that summer slide disproportionately affects kids from low-income families. 

How to Avoid the Summer Slump

While summer learning loss is an important issue, there are plenty of ways you can help your kids enjoy their summer and avoid the slump. 

Make Reading Fun

One of the most important gifts you can give your children is the love of reading. Joining a summer reading program or kids’ book club (check with your local library) is a good way to encourage more reading without turning it into a chore. When you allow your kids to read what interests them, they’re more likely to become avid readers. If they haven’t found their niche yet, just keep taking them to the library until you find a book they can’t put down. For some kids, non-fiction books about animals or space are what grabs them; for others, it’s the ability to explore new and exciting worlds through fiction; and for others, the visual aspect of comics might be what holds their interest. In fact, comic books and graphic novels are a great way to get “reluctant readers” hooked on reading!

Incorporate Educational Content

Let’s face it, your kids are going to want more screen time during the summer than they are allowed to have during the school year. One way you can make this work for you (and them) is to provide educational content that’s actually fun and engaging. Add some of these educational shows to their Netflix queue or set them up with math games on the computer or tablet. 

Get Out and Move

One of the easiest mistakes to make is spending the whole summer laying around on the couch! Physical activity and new surroundings help keep kids sharp, so get out of the house and make exercise a fun part of your family routine. Roller skating is a great way to stay active, and it’s so fun your kids won’t even realize they’re burning calories, strengthening muscles, and improving their cardiovascular fitness. Come skate with us this summer at Rainbow Skateland! We can’t wait to see you at the rink.

Parenting is a tough job. Keeping your kids clean, fed, clothed, educated, and involved in a well-rounded mix of activities can be exhausting to start with, but on top of that, social media sites have made many parents feel like every day has to be a picture-perfect, magical childhood memory in the making. If Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and that one perfect cousin your parents won’t stop gushing over are making you feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed, don’t worry. You’re not alone! Life doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to be special, but you can add a little bit of magic to your kids’ lives and keep it real with these fun, affordable, and memorable birthday traditions.  

Birthday Traditions for Kids

Family Fun Day

One of the most important parts of any family tradition is—no surprise—family! Spending time together doesn’t have to be a big production, and doesn’t require expensive trips or activities. Just carving out time to be together, relax, and have fun is what’s important. Make it a tradition to have a family fun day for every kid’s birthday. Let them pick an activity from choices everyone can enjoy: A nature walk, a bike ride, a movie, or a trip to the skating rink.   

Birthday Breakfast

Special birthday breakfasts aren’t groundbreaking, but hey, they’re classic for a reason! Make the birthday person whatever their favorite breakfast dish is: Pancakes with whipped cream, french toast with rainbow sprinkles, a plate of bacon and eggs arranged to form a smiley face, or whatever else you can dream up. Don’t forget to add a candle and let them blow it out for that all-important birthday wish. 

Birthday Party

Birthday parties are another area where the pressure has gotten ridiculous for parents to pull out all the stops. In reality, those over-the-top kids’ birthday parties you see on social media are often a lot less fun than low-key birthday parties. While we’ve hosted our share of blow-out birthday bonanzas and private events, there’s nothing wrong with a laid-back birthday party. All you really need to give your kid and their friends a fun and memorable birthday party is a fun activity (like roller skating), music, and some good food. When you book a party at Rainbow Skateland, we take care of all three! Our pizza and skating parties are a hit with local parents here in Lockport, and now that more people are getting vaccinated, parties are in much higher demand. Don’t wait too long to reserve the date you want; book a party online now. 

Wakeup Call

Want to ensure your kid’s birthday is special from the start? Choose one of these fun birthday morning surprises to start their day off with a big smile! Who wouldn’t love waking up to an avalanche of balloons?

You’ve probably seen jam skaters doing their thing if you’ve hung out at Rainbow Skateland or another skating rink for any amount of time. Jam skating is a type of roller skating that combines dance skating with breakdancing and gymnastics moves. Whether performing a choreographed routine or just grooving to the music, jam skaters are definitely the center of attention when they hit the skating rink!

If you’ve got your own jam skates and want to get into the hobby, these are some of the best jam skating moves to start off your repertoire. 

Jam Skating Moves

The Crab Walk

Start with your heels together, forming a “V” shape. Lift up your right heel while keeping the front of your foot on the floor, and swing your heel to the outside. You’ll want to transfer your balance to that toe. Next, pivot on your left heel, swinging your toe to the inside. Basically, you’re flipping the “V” from heels in, toes out to toes in, heels out. 

Next, pivot on your right heel, swinging your toe outward, and pivot on your left toe, swinging your heel inward. This will get you back into the original “V” position, but slightly to the right of where you started. Sounds complicated, but keep going! Keep practicing pivoting to each position until you’ve found the rhythm and can flow with it. Once you’ve got that down pat, try going the other way.  

Crazy Legs aka Toe Jam

This is one of the coolest moves you may have seen jam skaters performing at the skating rink, and it’s one of the most fun moves to use when you just want to flow and vibe to the beat of the music. To get started, position yourself next to a wall or even your kitchen counter so you can brace yourself with your arms while learning the elements of the move. And remember, before doing this move (and most jam skating moves) you should replace your toe stops with toe plugs. Otherwise you’re going to be tripping over them!

• Start in a neutral position, toes pointed slightly outward, knees slightly bent. 
• Move your right leg back, twisting your thigh inward and keeping just your toe wheels on the floor. 
• Move that leg back to your starting position, while going up on the toes of your left skate as well. As your right leg comes back even with the left, pivot both toes outward by turning your thighs outward.
• Continue bringing the right foot forward, transitioning onto all four wheels, while pulling your left foot back in the same movement as you did with the right foot before, twisting the thigh in.
• Practice going back and forth in this “S” pattern until you can easily flow from one foot to the other. As you get the hang of it, you can gradually pick up the speed. 

If you’re more of a visual learner, it might help to watch this move in action. Check out this how-to video to learn from a pro!

Practice makes perfect, so join us for one of our public skating sessions and jam out.

Your child has attended a birthday party or school fundraiser at the local skating rink, and absolutely loved it. What’s your next move? If you want to help your kid develop a lifelong love of roller skating, buying them their own pair of skates is a good place to start! Keep reading to learn how to buy the best skates for kids, with these tips from experienced skaters. 

Kids’ Skate Guide

There are so many kids’ roller skates out there that it can be a bit overwhelming. What’s a busy parent to do? Well first, take a deep breath. We’ve got you. Then ask yourself these questions to narrow it down until you’ve found the best skate for your child. 

The Eternal Question: Quads or Inlines?

If your child has some experience with both, and expresses a strong preference for one or the other, let that guide you. However, if you’re not sure which type of skate to buy, consider your child’s age and athleticism. Quad (four wheeled) skates are the classic skates that come to mind when most people hear “roller skates.” They come in tons of fashion-forward colors and styles, and many people like them because of the stability they provide. Balancing on quad skates is much easier than balancing on roller blades, making them a smart choice for young or beginner skaters.
On the other hand, some people love inline skates and wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re buying for a teenager or a pre-teen, they may have the agility and skill to wear inline skates. Younger kids (or anyone who isn’t super confident on skates) may have trouble balancing on inline skates because the wheels are, as the name implies, in a line. In a way, it’s more like ice skating, requiring slightly more ankle and leg strength than quad skating. 

Finding the Fit

Is your kid growing like a weed? It can be so hard to keep up with the constant need for new shoes, so deciding what size skates to buy can be a little challenging. Fortunately, roller skates are one of those things that you can “grow into.” It’s fine to buy a size up from your child’s current shoe size. You should be able to get a good fit from simply lacing them more tightly. Don’t buy roller skates more than one size up, though. If the skates are too large to be adjusted properly with the lacing, the skate may cause chafing and blisters. Same goes for wearing extra socks or stuffing the toe with something—it’s a surefire way to end up with uncomfortable feet!

Once you’ve picked out your child’s new skates, get ready for the excitement to begin! Check out the schedule to find our public skating sessions, and bring your whole family for some active, action-packed fun at Rainbow Skateland!

Here at Rainbow Skateland, we get to be part of so many happy memories, and we love it! From kids’ birthday parties and school fundraisers to church groups and corporate outings, our skating rink is the place to go for fun in Lockport. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out what our customers have to say about Rainbow Skateland! 

Skating Rink Reviews for Rainbow Skateland Lockport

We have a 5 (out of 5) star rating based on 90 reviewers on Facebook, and we thank you all for letting us know how we’re doing! These are just a few examples of what people are saying about us. 

Great for Families

Great place to skate at! Brought back memories of when I was a kid and went there every weekend!! It was nice to take my boys there yesterday!!!

Wonderful music, friendly and helpful staff, and clean and smooth floor. I’ll be back with my granddaughters next week.

2 hours flew by. Kids were entertained. Parents even got on skates.

The staff was awesome during the teen skate last night. My daughter wanted to take a few friends skating for an early birthday party and from door, to skates, to concession, skate guard they did a great job! I can’t say enough? My daughter and her friends had a great time! Thanks Skateland!

My son (5 year old) and his friends had a very good time yesterday (we adults did too). Booking was very easy over the phone. Service was great! It was Super Bowl Sunday, so it wasn’t very busy, which was perfect for 16 little kids. Thank you. 

Perfect for Parties

I had my 30th birthday party there last night. I had such a fun time and all the employees were very friendly and helpful! All my friends and family really enjoyed themselves. Would definitely recommend anyone of any age to come here!!

We had my daughter’s 6th birthday party today, and I have to say the staff was amazing! Everyone was very helpful and Kerri was always paying attention to our table and if we needed anything. 14 kids skated, bounced and played games all had a great time today. Thank you!

We threw a birthday party here last night. I haven’t been to Skateland since I was a kid and it was such an amazing time. Makes me want to keep coming back, it’s really better than ever, all the employees are super great, they were all very nice and pleasant to be around. Thank you guys for an awesome night!

Have you visited us recently? We’d love to hear from you! Head over to our Facebook page and leave us a review letting us know what you enjoyed about your visit.