Graduation season is here, and it’s time to show the grad in your life how proud you are of their accomplishments! Check out these graduation gift ideas that are creative, cool, and thoughtful. 

Cool Graduation Gift Ideas

A Party

High school, college, grad school, trade school—whatever the occasion may be, a party is a great way to celebrate the accomplishment! If you want to send your grad off with a bang, a skating party is the way to go. They’ll be able to enjoy a last hurrah and make some special memories with their school friends before going their separate ways. Roller skating parties are also family-friendly, so everyone can enjoy the fun, from younger siblings to grandparents.

We make parties a breeze, so you don’t have to stress about the details… And can actually enjoy the party along with everyone else! Check out our group party packages or rent the whole skating rink out for your group to have a private event. 

Tech Gifts

Technology gifts are always a hit, but they’re especially great for high school grads who will need a laptop for college. Find out exactly what they need to ensure the device meets the requirements for running whatever software they’re going to need, or give them a gift card for the amount so they can choose their own gift. Some other great tech gift ideas include: 

• Noise cancelling headphones
• Wireless bluetooth speaker
• Gaming keyboard or mouse 
• Wireless earbuds

A Trip or Experience

Big milestones deserve big gifts, so why not gift your grad with an experience they’ll remember forever? Plane tickets, airmiles, or an Airbnb gift card are great if they want to go on a trip with their friends. Choosing a destination and planning a trip is an awesome way to mark their journey into adulthood or “the real world.”
If a family vacation is more your style, let the graduate pick the destination or a big activity to do during the trip. Skydiving, parasailing, kayaking in a bioluminescent bay, visiting a museum or historical site—whatever they’re into, let them incorporate it into the trip. Just make sure the rest of the family knows there’s no whining allowed, because that’s a surefire way to ruin the experience. 

If a trip isn’t in the cards, a staycation experience can be great too! Buy them tickets to see their favorite band when they come through town, or to a performance at their favorite local theater. Even just a special day of hanging out can be fun and memorable. Let the graduate know you want to treat them to a day out and they can help you create a day filled with their favorite activities, restaurants, and other locations.  

Roller Skates

As we get older, it’s easy to become sedentary, especially for those who work in office or desk jobs. Give your graduate the gifts of fun AND fitness with a pair of roller skates! There are so many trendy options in skates these days, so you can find something to fit their style. Having their own skates can help them stay active and blow off stress when life gets hectic. We can help you pick the best pair of skates, so call us or come into our pro shop to learn more!

Roller skating and grooving to upbeat dance music go together like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, hearts and flowers, Kermit and Miss Piggy… Just sayin’, some pairings are iconic! There are plenty of amazing skate jams out there, from the throwback bops we play at Adult Retro Skate Night to the newest hits. While we love a good retro skate song, there are some recent hits that definitely deserve their place on roller skating playlists. Keep reading for 5 of our top songs to rock out to on the skating rink, in your car, or while singing into your hairbrush. 

The Latest and Greatest Skate Jams

https://youtu.be/TUVcZfQe-Kw

First up has got to be “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, featuring DaBaby. Dua Lipa’s first album was a hit, but she swerved the “sophomore slump” and delivered an arguably even better album with ‘Future Nostalgia’. This album is full of hits, but Levitating delivers an infectious mix of disco, pop, and rap. It’s honestly the perfect song to “roll, bounce” to with your friends. Don’t sleep on those handclaps. Evidently, we’re not the only ones to catch the funky skating vibe, as the music video even features a couple of dancing roller skaters.  

https://youtu.be/sJGSU0nXd-w

Next up: Victoria Monét’s “Experience” featuring Khalid and SG Lewis. This dreamy, shimmering disco ballad features drums, synths, and even horns, creating a major earworm that feels both nostalgic and very current. This bop was made to be a skating rink staple, as you can see from the be-sequined music video. 

https://youtu.be/6okxuiiHx2w

If this sounds familiar, you may have heard it before… Albeit in short bursts as a TikTok meme. This catchy skate song is “Baby I’m Yours” by Breakbot, featuring Irfane. While it’s been out for years, a lot of American listeners weren’t aware of it until its aforementioned TikTok infamy struck. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oygrmJFKYZY

OK, if you haven’t noticed a theme by now, disco’s back, baby! And we can’t help but include yet another Dua Lipa song, because she’s just killing it with the disco revival bops. “Don’t Start Now” is another skating rink-ready anthem, full of hand claps, synths, disco strings, and yes, “More cowbell!” The funky bassline is made for rhythm or shuffle skating, so grab some friends and start a line!   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMt8NbndXCo

To round out this list, why not just throw on Kylie Minogue’s latest album in its entirety? DISCO is the club queen’s fifteenth studio album, and it’s full of high-energy, danceable tunes. If you missed the live-streamed concert, don’t worry. You can still experience it on YouTube! 

At long last, you’ve got your brand-spankin’-new roller skates. You lift the lid off the box and survey the new skates in all their pristine glory. You’re so excited to lace them up and hit the skating rink, but wait! Before you do, take a few steps to protect your ankles while breaking in your new skates. 

How to Break in Roller Skates Without Ankle Pain

Just like a nice, new pair of boots, it’s essential to break in roller skates before wearing them for an extended period of time. Here at Rainbow Roller Rink, we’ve broken in innumerable pairs of skates over the years, so we’ve definitely learned what to do…And what not to do. These are some of our tried-and-true tips. 

Rock Your Socks

Socks are not just a hygienic precaution (although we do require all skaters to wear socks with our rental skates), they can also make a big difference in the comfort and fit of your skates. 

• Choose socks that are taller than the ankle cut of your skates. This will prevent the top of the skate from rubbing directly against your skin, which can cause chafing. 
• Choose the right thickness of socks. If your skates are on the tighter side (as they often are when brand new), opt for a thinner sock to leave more “wiggle room” for your toes. If your skates are on the bigger side, thicker socks (like those made for running or hiking) can help adjust the fit. 
• Usually people purchase their correct size of roller skates, so sock thickness doesn’t make or break the fit. However, if you’ve purchased a larger size of skate for your child to “grow into,” keep in mind that socks can only do so much. Do NOT stuff a rolled-up sock or anything else in the toe of the skate boot to fill the excess space. This can lead to chafing and blisters, and it will also make the environment in the skate hot and humid, which can lead to athlete’s foot. 

Adding Some Padding

No matter how good your socks are, sometimes you need a little extra padding for those hot spots like the heel, Achilles tendon, toes, bridge (top of foot), etc. In order to prevent blisters, purchase some moleskin padding and cut pieces as necessary to fit the areas that are most troublesome for you. The soft moleskin adds more padding and also reduces friction, allowing the sock and skate boot to slide more easily against each other. 

Give Yourself the Boot(ie)

These days you can find tons of ankle sleeves, booties, and braces to choose from, whether at your local big box store, pharmacy, or online. A simple, stretchy ankle sleeve is great for preventing chafing during the breaking-in period, but you can also choose a stiffer bootie or brace if you want additional ankle support. Opt for a seamless model if possible, as seams can be another cause of chafing. 
Ready to rock and roll? Head over to our schedule to see our public skating sessions, and join the fun at our North Tonawanda skating rink!

Do you need a kids birthday gift idea? Whether you’re trying to come up with a gift for a family member or a gift for your child to take to a friend’s birthday party, deciding what to gift can be oddly challenging! After all, most kids these days already have so much stuff. Do they really need another plastic toy to add to the clutter, or a new video game to keep them glued to the TV? Instead, why not give a handmade gift that you can customize perfectly for them? 

Handmade Birthday Gifts for Kids

Dress-Up Clothes

If you’re handy with a sewing machine, dress up clothes are always an awesome gift! The possibilities are endless, but here are a few classics to consider: 

• Capes: Perfect for superheroes, swashbucklers, vampires, and so much more!
• Masks: There are tons of cool DIY mask ideas out there, but these felt masks for kids are particularly neat. 
• Wings: Fairies, birds, and bugs, oh my! Let their imaginations fly with a set of DIY wings. 
• Dresses, Vests, or Cloaks: For an extra-special spin on this idea, head to your local thrift store and find some cool formal wear. Anything with bright colors, lace, sequins, or cool decorative elements will make it that much more magical for the kids who’ll be playing with it. Cut old prom or bridesmaid dresses down to a shorter length and you’ve got the perfect princess wardrobe. Or get creative and re-purpose a unique fabric or clothing item into a new, kid-sized dress up piece. Keep an eye out for fun hats, scarves, sunglasses, and purses, as kids love to accessorize their dress-up outfits!

Fort Building Kit

If you’re more comfortable with power tools than a sewing machine, a fort building kit is the ultimate gift that any kid will adore. There are lots of ideas out there, but we think this PVC set is great due to the relative ease of the project, the low cost, and the infinite possibilities for junior fort architects. Once the birthday kid learns how to put the pipes and connectors together, they can experiment with all kinds of structures, from a living room blanket hut for hanging out with the family pet, to a backyard tent where they can read, draw, or daydream.

Fake Food for Play Kitchens

Little kids just love a play kitchen, so if you know the birthday kid has one, why not stock them up with all the fake food they need to complete their restaurant vision? There are several clever tutorials online, from these play groceries made from scrap wood to this smorgasbord of felt foods. 

Good luck with your birthday gifting, and don’t forget that the best kids’ parties in North Tonawanda are at Rainbow Roller Rink! 

April showers bring May flowers, as the saying goes, but all that rain can put a serious damper on your ability to enjoy the great outdoors! Fortunately, you can still be active and have a blast at the skating rink. Rainbow Roller Rink is your destination for fun with family and friends in Niagara County, whether you’re planning a party for a special occasion or spontaneously meeting up with friends. 

Reasons to Skate With Us This Spring

Exercise 

If you’ve been more sedentary than normal during the COVID pandemic (don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone!), roller skating is a great way to get back in the fitness game while still having fun. Few workouts can boast the health benefits of roller skating while also being such free-wheeling fun.
Skating regularly can help you feel better mentally and physically, providing benefits like: 

• Increasing stamina and cardiovascular fitness
• Improving balance and agility
• Strengthening core abdominal muscles and legs
• Releasing mood-lifting endorphins
• Providing a social outlet for kids and adults alike

Socialize

The social aspect of skating is one of the reasons why so many people love it! Humans are social animals, after all, so making time for socializing is an important part of overall wellness. Fortunately, local skating rinks are awesome places to hang out with friends! Here at Rainbow Roller Rink, we are proud to provide folks of all ages with a clean, safe, and FUN place to gather. There’s nothing like hitting the rink with your besties when “your song” comes on! When you need a break, you can head over to the arcade and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. We even have an indoor playground—the Bounce Zone—where kids can jump, play, and make friends with other little ones. (Kids must be 54” or shorter to enter.)  

Energize

One of the best parts of roller skating is the energy. And it’s not just the energy bump that comes from exercise; there’s something about the combination of the lights, the music, and the flow of skaters gliding around the rink that just creates good vibes. Lace up your skates and hit the rink, and you’ll understand!

We’re open Wednesday, as well as Friday through Sunday with a variety of public skate sessions available for various ages and interests.  Wednesdays are for After School Skate and later in the evening, Adult Retro Skate. Fridays we host Fun Skate for all ages. Saturday we have kids’ skating class as well as multiple afternoon sessions and an evening session. And finally, we offer a Sunday Afternoon Skate session as well as Sunday night R&B Skate with DJs E-Z Ed and Ready Rob. (Please note, Sunday R&B Skate is only for patrons aged 25+ with valid state ID.) 

So you’ve watched the TikToks, seen the music videos, and decided to take up roller skating as a hobby. Congratulations, and welcome to the wonderful world of wheels! Roller skating is not just a hobby, not just a sport, not just fun, social, and freeing…It’s all of those things and so much more. Get ready for the rink with these first-time roller skating tips for beginners, and join us for an upcoming public skating session!

Beginner Roller Skating Tips

Dress for success.

Fashion and roller skating go together like peanut butter and jelly, but keep in mind that skating is a physical activity. Wear clothes that are comfortable—not too tight, not too loose, nothing that will trip you or someone else, nothing that you can’t move freely in. 

Besides comfort and range of motion, you might also want to wear safety gear. While it’s not mandatory, wearing elbow pads, knee pads, wrist braces, and a helmet can help you feel more confident while you get the hang of skating. Even experienced skaters sometimes wear pads when learning new moves, so don’t be embarrassed to gear up! If you choose to skate outdoors, you’ll definitely want to wear pads and a helmet, no matter how experienced you are. And last, but definitely not least, don’t forget your socks! You can’t rent roller skates without socks, and for your own comfort you should wear (or bring with you) thick, comfortable socks that come up higher on your ankles. Leave those no-show socks for non-skating days to avoid chafing on your ankles from the skate boots. 

Remember, safety first! 

Speaking of outdoor skating, we recommend getting comfortable on skates indoors, in the safety of the skating rink, before you venture out into the world of sidewalk cracks, sticks, rocks, traffic, and other skating hazards. 

When skating at the skating rink, remember to skate with the flow of traffic. Do not go against the flow or cut across the rink in front of other skaters. Doing so can cause you to injure yourself or other skaters who might have to swerve to avoid you. 

Get this show on the roll. 

You’re dressed, you’re ready, it’s time to skate! Keep these beginner skating tips in mind: 

• Get into position. Your stance should be loose, with your feet shoulder-width apart, and your knees slightly bent, like you’re doing squats at the gym. Your feet should be making a v shape, with your toes pointed out slightly and your heels closer together. 
• Start slowly by walking on your skates like this to get used to the feeling. Once you start to get the hang of it, take longer strides. Work your way up to pushing off with one foot and gliding on the other. Eventually, you’ll find your balance and stride, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a rink rat!

Birthdays should be special, whether you’re 6, 16, or 60! Celebrating another trip around the sun is a great opportunity to have fun with friends and family, to make memories that will last a lifetime, and to show the birthday person just how loved and appreciated they are. At Rainbow Roller Rink, we love getting to be part of those happy birthday memories. In fact, birthday parties are our specialty, and we’ve made hosting a birthday party in North Tonawanda super easy with our birthday party packages. 

Roller Skating Birthday Parties Made Simple

Wondering what to expect when you book a skating party at Rainbow Rink? All of our birthday party packages include 8 admissions with skate rental (for 7 guests + the birthday person), a reserved table for 2 hours, and a party server to take care of your group. We also provide the food—pizza, popcorn, and soda—as well as party plates, napkins, and cups. Our parties even include invitations, discount coupons for future visits, and a visit to the Party Booth for the birthday honoree!
The deposit to reserve your party is only $25, and you can make a reservation online. 

How to Host the Best Birthday Parties Ever

Our basic birthday parties are fun, simple, and convenient, but what if you want to level up your party? We’ve got you covered with extra special party packages, including: 

Super Glow Parties

Who doesn’t love a good glow party? This party upgrade adds an extra pizza pie to your party’s food, upgrades you to unlimited soda and popcorn, and gets the party started with flashing drink pitchers and a glowing centerpiece. You’ll also get the Glow Pack: A lighted 12 oz cup, binky, laser fingers, and necklace!
In addition, your glow party comes with a rink pass for the birthday person (4 free admissions to use on a future visit), and free skating for 1 parent per guest. If you’re hosting a skate party for younger kids whose parents will be staying for the party, this is a great way to make it fun for everyone! 

Super Parties

Upgrade your birthday party to a Super Party to get unlimited soda and popcorn, an extra pizza pie for your group to share, a rink pass for the birthday child (same as above, 4 free admissions for a future visit), and the parents of the birthday kid get to skate for free, too! This package also includes the choice of one glow/blinking item: Grill, laser fingers, or binky. 

Deluxe Parties

Our Deluxe parties allow the birthday kid’s parents to skate for free, and also include one free admission for the birthday kid to use at a later date. 

Birthday parties are available during the following time slots: 

• Wednesday 5-7 pm or 5:30-7:30 pm
• Saturday noon-2 pm or 3:30-5:30 pm or 7-9 pm
• Sunday noon-2 pm or 2:30-4:30 pm

Ready to get the party started? Contact us or reserve your party online!

We’re nearing a year of life under pandemic restrictions, and the pandemic blues have set in for many folks. While it won’t solve all of your problems, now is a good time to take up a new hobby or get back into a hobby you’ve previously enjoyed! We recommend roller skating. Sure, we’re biased, but you should still consider these reasons why you should take up roller skating!

Need a New Hobby? Try Roller Skating!

Skating Can Lift Your Mood and Improve Your Health

Did you know that roller skating can burn 9-10 calories per minute? While it may not seem like a workout at the time (having fun is the best distraction), roller skating actually works your core abdominal and leg muscles, builds stamina, and burns calories. All of those physical health benefits of skating are great on their own, but add in the fact that more physical activity can be good for your mental health, and it’s clear that roller skating is one of the best hobbies you can get into! Besides, who wants to go for a run in the cold and wet when you can get a workout while staying dry and comfortable at the skating rink? 

Skating Offers Socially-Distanced Socializing

Finding things to do that follow COVID restrictions and don’t put you or others at unnecessary risk has been quite a challenge, and that challenge has only grown harder thanks to winter weather. It’s smart to avoid gyms and fitness studios, but it’s too cold outside most days to get an outdoor workout in without freezing. Fortunately, our indoor skating rink is nice and spacious, so you can skate up a sweat while maintaining the appropriate distance from others. 

As for Rainbow Roller Rink, we’re doing our part to keep our guests and staff safe, by requiring masks to be worn at all times as per New York law. We’ve also stepped up our cleaning and sanitation routines, added hand sanitizer stations, and decreased the capacity of the skating rink to avoid heavy crowds. 

Skating Is Just Plain Fun!

Last, but not least, there’s one thing a new hobby has to offer: FUN! We’ve got it in spades, and the only missing ingredient is you. Whether you join us for after school skating, skate classes, Adult Skate Night, or one of our general fun skate sessions, we’ll have the music pumping and the rink ready for you to get your skate on. Check out our skating session schedule for times and admission prices, and follow us on Facebook to hear about upcoming events and specials! 

We can’t wait to see you, so grab your mask, put some good socks on, and come see us at Rainbow Roller Rink!

The weather outside is frightful, but Adult Skate nights at Rainbow Roller Rink are delightful! If you’re looking for a fun, socially-distanced night out in North Tonawanda, you will not want to miss these adults-only roller skating events. These are just a few of the reasons to mark your calendar and head to the skating rink.

Reasons You Do NOT Want to Miss Adult Skate Night

Good Music

Music is the key ingredient for a truly great night of roller skating, and we’ve got it on lock with our adult skate nights. There’s something for everyone… Except the kids! (Don’t worry, kids are welcome at all of our other skate sessions.)

Join us on Wednesday evenings from 8 pm to 10:30 pm for Adult Retro Skate and get down to your favorite skate anthems from “back in the day.” We play your favorite hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and adult beverages are available for purchase. This event is for folks ages 18 and up only. (You must be 21+ with valid I.D. to drink.) 

If R&B is more your style, join us on Sunday nights from 8 pm to 11 pm for Adult R&B Skate. “Roll, bounce, rock, skate” the night away without worrying about kids underfoot while DJs E-Z Ed and Ready Rob spin the best R&B skating songs. (R&B nights are for ages 25 and up only.) 

Good Friends

The last year has been tough, especially for extroverts! If you’ve been missing time with friends, roller skating is a perfect way to hang out while still keeping your distance. Masks are required for our employees and guests, according to New York State law, and we are carefully managing the capacity of the rink to allow for social distancing and escalated sanitation practices. 

Invite your BFFs, strap on some skates, and enjoy skating together. You can practice your solo moves or choreograph a group routine to show your 

Good Fun 

If there’s one thing more fun than roller skating, it’s roller skating at our adult events! While we always try to show our guests a good time, adult nights at the skating rink are extra-high-energy. It’s a Good Vibes Only zone because sometimes us grownups need to feel like kids again. There’s nothing like letting your hair down and cruising the rink to get your mind off the nitty gritty details of everyday life. And hey, it doesn’t hurt that roller skating is a whole-body workout to boot. You can burn anywhere from 330 to 590 calories in an hour (depending on your body size and how hard you’re skating), and you’ll also get a great ab, butt, and leg workout. Who knew that leg day could be so fun?!

As the year winds down (and what a year it was), it’s time to look ahead to 2021. What are your hopes for the coming year? What are your goals for yourself and your family? While New Year’s resolutions are a popular tradition, actually sticking to them is another matter entirely. This year, why not take a different approach and make some family New Year’s resolutions that are not just doable, but actually fun?

Family New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

Prioritize quality time over quantity of time

2020 has been an intense year in the best cases, even the closest families have struggled with the emotional toll of physical and social isolation. Parents and kids alike are ready to escape the house and go back to the “good old days” of in-person school and work. But while you may feel you’ve had a little too much family time this year, remember that quality matters more than quantity. Even when the world gets back to normal (or as close as possible), try to carve out some intentional family time for you and your kids. It doesn’t have to be an all-day, everyday thing; even a weekly game night or monthly family outing can help you and your kids feel closer and more connected than months of sitting in the same house, staring at screens. 

Move more (and make it fun)

Health and fitness-related goals are some of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but most people struggle with actually sticking to an exercise plan or diet as the year goes on. Instead of setting unrealistic exercise goals and feeling bad when you don’t meet them, try making a family resolution to move more. The best way to ensure that you, your partner, and your kids get enough exercise is to find fun fitness activities that you all enjoy. 

Roller skating is a great sport to get your family into for exercise and fun. Kids can start as young as 4 years old, and skating is an activity they can continue throughout life, even into their senior years! It’s a cardio workout, tones and strengthens core and leg muscles, and can even help improve balance and agility. 

In addition to the physical benefits, skating is a fun, social, and affordable family activity that you can do rain or shine! Join us at Rainbow Roller Rink in North Tonawanda for our public skating sessions, or change to outdoor wheels and skate in your neighborhood, or on a trail at a local park. 

Do something to make the world a better place

Finally, why not team up with your family to make the world a better place? Sometimes the sheer number of things we’re supposed to care about can be overwhelming. Instead of making a vague resolution, pick one small thing that your whole family can commit to in the coming year. Whether it’s recycling, volunteering at a food bank, or fostering rescue dogs, find your family’s common passion and put it into action!