2020 has been a hard year in many ways, but if there’s any silver lining to this storm cloud of a year, it’s the roller-skating renaissance that has flourished on TikTok! Whether you’re gift-shopping for a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed new skater, a seasoned rink rat, or a dedicated derby girl, these roller skating gifts are sure to please. 

Roller Skating Gift Ideas

New Gear

There are so many options when it comes to roller skates these days, so you can find a pair of skates that is perfect for any skill level, interest, age, or style. A new pair of skates is an awesome gift, but don’t forget about all of the accessories and gear a skater might need as well. Maybe your gift recipient already has their dream skates, but you can still buy them a nice skate bag, a bearings cleaning kit, light-up wheels, and many other skating accessories!

Fun Skating Experiences

Some of the best gifts aren’t even physical items at all. Why not give the gift of fun memories at Skate World? Here at our Tallahassee skating rink, we have lots of options to choose from.

Treat your giftee to a visit during one of our public skating sessions and enjoy great music and atmosphere. We also have an arcade, indoor playground, and snack bar, so you can bring the whole family and make a day of it!

Beginner Skate Lessons are great for folks who are new to the sport. We also offer Speed Skating training for those who already know how to skate but want to take their skills to the next level. 

If you’re really looking for a show-stopping gift, book a party! We offer birthday parties, team parties, and even private events. We’d love to help you plan a special event for someone, so give us a call at 850-386-4807 and let’s chat!

Skater Swag

If you’re looking for a unique roller skating gift for a skater who already has everything they need, why not gift them some cool roller skating swag that they didn’t know they wanted? There are tons of artists making cool roller skating merch, from art prints and clothing to home goods and tech accessories. 

Check out sites like Society6 for artist-designed roller skating goods like travel mugs, face masks, stickers, bags, towels, and so much more. Head over to Etsy for even more fun skating gifts, like custom shirts, hats, and jewelry; vintage skates; and roller skating accessories made by skaters, for skaters. Who wouldn’t love a set of cheetah-print boot covers or iridescent wings that lace onto skates?

Whatever you decide to gift to your favorite skater, we hope it lands you on the “nice” list!

Juicy roast turkey. Savory stuffing. Creamy mashed potatoes and gravy. Rich green bean casserole and yams. Sweet cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Admit it, your mouth is watering! All of those Thanksgiving dishes—or whatever special occasion foods are traditional in your family— truly are delicious, so it’s no wonder most of us tend to indulge in a feast that will have us wishing we wore stretchy pants by the end of the day. After a big meal, getting some activity in can make you feel much better. Keep reading for some after-Thanksgiving workout ideas to rouse you from your food coma. Bonus: You can get the whole family involved!

Post-Thanksgiving Workouts

Laying around after a big meal will only make you feel worse, so be sure to at least take a quick walk or kick a ball around with your kids. Even light physical activity can help with digestion. Doing any of these things after your meal or the next day will help you feel good and balance out those holiday calories. 

Take a nature walk. 

Whether you head to a local hiking trail, visit the neighborhood park, or just walk around the block, a leisurely nature walk is the perfect after Thanksgiving workout for kids and adults alike. Look around at the trees and plants you see along your walk, look and listen for wildlife, and see if you can find any cool natural items like stones, pinecones, snail shells, etc. If any of your family members know a lot about nature, you could even ask them to be your “tour guide” and identify plants and animals along the way.

Go roller skating. 

As we’ve mentioned a time or two before, roller skating is a great whole body workout that people of almost any age can enjoy. From little kids to grandparents, skating offers a fun, low-impact exercise that can work up a sweat and raise your heartrate for cardio conditioning. It also helps you build muscles, especially in your legs and core, and can even help you improve your balance and agility! 

Our public skate hours are an easy, affordable, and impromptu way to have some holiday fun with your family and friends. But right now, you can actually book a private skating event for your group at a discount, allowing you to have the whole skating rink to yourselves. For $149, you get 90 minutes of skating for up to 15 people—less than 10 bucks per person! Talk about a deal to be thankful for. 

Play ball. 

Remember the days before video games and smart phones? No? Well, we had these things called “games” and we’d go outside to play them in the yard. OK, we’re kidding (kind of…), but if you’re trying to get active with your family, just go outside and kick a soccer ball around! If your family is into another sport, play catch with a baseball or football, throw a frisbee, shoot some hoops, or have a relay race. 

No matter how you hang out with your family, in person or virtually, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Unfortunately, we’ve all been stuck at home for most of 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there has been one silver lining: The rise of roller skating Tik Tok. If you love to skate, or you’re just looking for a 🔥🔥🔥 Halloween costume idea that’s sure to turn heads, check out these roller skating Halloween costume ideas. Need some new wheels to take your look to the next level? We sell stylish skates for all ages and interests, including fun colors like purple glitter.     

Halloween Costumes for Skaters

One of the best things about roller skating Halloween costumes is that you can usually cobble them together with clothes you already own, items found at your local thrift shop, and/or a few select accessories from the local costume shop or Halloween store.  

Roller Boogie Babe 

When it comes to roller skating costumes, you can’t get much better than roller disco for inspiration! Channel 70s style however it fits your personality best. Are you feeling glam? Edgy? Down-to-earth? One of these is sure to fit your style.

• Knee socks, shorts (think track shorts, jorts, or gold lamé), and suspenders. Bonus points if your socks and suspenders are rainbow print! 
• Jumpsuits or rompers in shimmery or metallic fabrics.
• Shiny polyester shirts; the louder, the better.
• Bellbottoms with retro t-shirts.
• Classic punk or glam rock.

Retro Car Hop

If you’re feeling more of a cutesy vibe, or you just really like Back to the Future, opt for a 1950s car hop look. Try a retro dress (look for “wiggle” or “skater” styles) with an apron, paper hat, and a tray of fake burgers and fries, or swap out the dress for retro slacks, a short-sleeve button-down shirt with a bowtie, and a sweater vest. If you’re into the decade but not the squeaky-clean style, channel your inner James Dean with jeans, a black jacket, and a plain white tee, or take your inspiration from the Pink Ladies and T-Birds of Grease.

EXTREME 90s Roller Blader

If you’re an “Elder Millenial” or just wish you were alive for the premier of Clueless, a 90s costume is the way to go. Make like a Surge ad and throw on some jeans, an oversized t-shirt, a flannel shirt, and a backward baseball hat for a grunge-meets-X-games look, or take your cues from a Delia’s catalog with a babydoll tee, Windsor sunglasses, a tattoo choker, and space buns. Don’t forget the body glitter and brown lipstick!

However you decide to dress up for Halloween, we hope you have a blast. Show off your costume at one of our Tallahassee skating events or book our skating rink for your own private party!

It feels good to be a Skate World VIP! 😉

When it comes to having fun in Tallahassee, you know Skate World is the place to be! But do you know about all of the cool stuff we have going on? Keep reading to learn what’s new at Skate World, and let the good times roll. 

What’s New at Skate World

VIP Memberships Have Arrived!

If you love to skate, our VIP membership is a MUST HAVE! For just $10, your VIP Membership gets you into ANY public skating session for the rest of 2020 for just $1 admission. As if those savings aren’t wild enough, we’re sweetening the deal even more by throwing in a FREE $5 game card on your first VIP visit. Discount skating and free fun in the arcade? What are you waiting for—buy your VIP membership card now! 

Crazy Skates, Socks, and Accessories

Whether you’re celebrating your new VIP membership or just want to freshen up your look on the skating rink, we’ve got awesome new roller skates, socks, and skating accessories available now. These new Crazy Skates are going to be a hit, with super cool, trendy colors like purple glitter and glossy turquoise. Call us to order your pair and snap them up before it’s too late.
In addition to quad and inline skates, we also have indoor and outdoor wheels in a variety of bright, bold colors. 

Get the Whole Rink to Yourself

Have you ever wanted to have a whole skating rink to yourself? Well, here’s your chance! During these unprecedented times, you can book your very own private skate session complete with a live DJ, free skate rental, and 90 minutes of roller skating fun for up to 15 people. At just $149, that’s less than $10 per person for a private skating experience. 

When you rent the rink, your guests can choose between skating and our indoor playground, so there’s something for everyone—even the little kids. This is a great option if you want to reduce your interaction with other people outside your immediate circle of friends and family. 

Of course, we are taking all of the necessary steps to keep our customers and staff safe, including regular disinfection with a hospital-grade disinfecting treatment applied by electric misters to our entire facility. This EPA-registered disinfecting treatment creates an anti-microbial surface, helping to prevent cross-contamination on high-traffic surfaces.
In addition to this professional-level disinfecting being performed regularly, we have also increased our cleaning and safety protocols, with temperature checks for staff, more frequent cleaning, staff wearing masks and gloves, and even a dedicated staff member to disinfect high-touch/high-traffic areas. 

We are doing our best to keep everyone safe while still providing Tallahassee families with a fun, active way to spend time together, so we hope you’ll visit us! Have a social distance meet up with friends or family, and let the good times roll… There’s never been a better time to skate your cares away!

2020 has been a real doozy so far, but we’re thrilled to be open again and able to see you, our awesome customers! With the ongoing stresses of the coronavirus pandemic, school starting back, and the end of summer, you deserve to make some time for fun. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with this list of fun things to do with your friends at the skating rink. 

3 Ideas for Fun with Friends

Roller skating is the perfect activity for de-stressing and socializing. As a low-impact cardio workout, it’s good for your physical fitness, but it can also improve your mental health. And because our large indoor skating rink provides plenty of space for social distancing, it’s a good place to meet up with friends in Tallahassee for some much-needed quality time to hang out, catch up, and cut loose. Keep reading to learn some fun things to do with friends at the skating rink, and check our schedule for upcoming skate sessions. 

Skate in Sync

Come up with a “routine” and practice skating in sync with your friends. Check out movies like Roll Bounce and ATL for inspiration, and let your creativity run wild. You can also turn this into a “follow the leader” type game, with one person doing a particular move or series of moves, and everyone behind following suit. 

Have a Dance Off

If your friend group has more of a competitive vibe, why not challenge each other to a dance off? See who has the best moves and maybe even learn some new tricks from each other! If you want to take your skating skills to the next level, you can even sign up for roller skating lessons at Skate World. 

Get the Party Started

Make up for lost time from all of those birthdays missed in quarantine, or plan a party “just because.” Our Tallahassee roller skating parties and events are a great option for both large and small gatherings, whether you’re looking for an easy, stress-free kids birthday party option or you just want to have the rink all to your group for a private event. For a limited time, we’re even offering small group rink rentals to allow you and your friends to hang out and have fun while social distancing and enjoying the WHOLE skating rink to yourselves. Up to 15 guests can choose between skating (with free skate rental) or the playground for kids ages 10 and under. Add in our live DJ playing the best music, and you’re sure to have a memorable event with your favorite people. 

What’s your favorite thing to do at the skating rink with your friends? We hope to see you soon for some skating fun, whether at one of our public skate sessions or a private event.

It’s been a long time coming, but we are thrilled to welcome you back to Skate World Center! We know our local roller skating community has been missing our Tallahassee skating rink during the coronavirus pandemic closures, but we’re back and better than ever. We can’t wait to see you again, so check out our guide on what to expect during your next visit. 

Welcome Back to Skate World

As excited as we are to get the party started again here at the skating rink, we know that the COVID-19 situation requires the utmost caution and cleanliness. As a family-operated and locally-owned small business, keeping our community safe is our number one priority, and we appreciate your cooperation as we reopen for some much-needed fun, exercise, and excitement after so much time stuck at home. Please read through our updated cleanliness and safety guidelines and help us make our reopening as safe as possible, so we can continue to be a destination for safe, active family fun in Tallahassee. 

What We’re Doing: Regular Antimicrobial Cleaning

Our entire facility undergoes regular antimicrobial disinfecting with LAST™ Hospital Grade Disinfectant and Antimicrobial Coating. This treatment uses EPA registered, hospital-grade disinfectants applied by electric misters to coat the entire facility, reducing risk of cross-contamination and creating an antimicrobial coating. 

We are also escalating our regular cleaning and sanitation practices, including assigning a dedicated team member to clean and sanitize high-traffic/high-touch surfaces. Our staff will be temperature checked before entering the building, and will be wearing masks at all times while on duty. 

What You Can Do: Skate Safely

• We will be administering temperature checks before entry for guests as well as employees. If you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, please STAY HOME. 
• We have reduced the number of tables, spacing them 6 feet apart to facilitate social distancing. Please respect other guests and maintain social distancing at all times during your visit. 
• Pay attention to our new floor decals to guide you as you line up at the counters and help keep guests 6 feet away from each other at all times. 
• Use our new hand-sanitizing stations and follow the CDC’s recommendations for hand hygiene. Teamwork makes the dream work! 
• Wear a mask.

With your cooperation, we can reduce the spread of coronavirus and have fun this summer… And we’re all in need of some fun after the way this year has gone so far! 

Our summer schedule is in effect as of June 13th, 2020, and will continue until August 7th, 2020. Visit our hours page to see details, and please remember that above-the-ankle socks are required for any guests who wish to roller skate or use the playground.

Party planning in a pandemic is no easy feat! With so much uncertainty, it can be extra stressful to plan any kind of event, especially since so many people have already had to cancel or postpone their weddings, graduations, birthday parties, and other celebrations. If you’re trying to plan a party for an upcoming birthday or special event, check out these pandemic party planning tips from Skate World Center. 

How to Pull Off a Great Party—Even In a Pandemic! 

Choose party activities that allow for social distancing.

Outdoor events and events that allow for easy social distancing are going to be the go-to for a while, possibly even into 2021. Roller skating is one option that is not only fun and active, but also allows for easy social distancing between party guests.
Here at Skate World, we are hard at work on sanitization and social distancing procedures to help us safely reopen as soon as possible. The safety of our guests and staff is our highest priority, so we will also be employing antimicrobial cleaning treatments using EPA registered, hospital-grade disinfectants to ensure the most hygienic environment possible. 

Encourage safe socializing.

However you choose to celebrate, make sure your guests are prepared to practice social distancing and other strategies to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus. You can do this in fun ways, from taping off areas for each guest, to wearing social distancing hats (Yes, it’s a thing.), to giving away masks and mini hand sanitizers as party favors. (Make sure to give them out at the beginning of the party so people will use them!)

Be flexible.

As you well know, these are uncertain times, and anything from plane tickets to parties are subject to change depending on the coronavirus infection and hospitalization rates, local lockdowns and quarantines, and other factors. Keep an eye on the recommendations of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization), as well as your local health authorities. Staying informed will help you gauge the safety of your event and avoid violating any local restrictions on gatherings. 

Another important thing to keep in mind when planning a party in a pandemic is that these are not normal circumstances! Cut yourself some slack and don’t worry about throwing the biggest bash of your life. We’ve been helping Tallahassee families simplify party planning and have a great time for years with our birthday party packages, designed to take the party chores off your plate so you can actually enjoy celebrating with your friends and family. Give us a call at 850-385-RINK (7465) or contact us via email at [email protected] if you’re interested in reserving a party when we reopen, as spots will go quickly!

Staying active during this pandemic has been a challenge, and if you have kids, it’s especially hard to be cooped up inside. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to get some exercise, relieve stress, and have fun without even going outside your front door. 

Check out these ideas to keep your crew moving and grooving until we’re able to reopen the skating rink and see you in person!

Games and Activities to Keep Your Kids Active at Home

Bring the gym or studio to your living room.

While crossfit gyms, yoga studios, and other group fitness locations are closed in most places, your kids (and you) can still get a workout thanks to the free fitness content available on YouTube! There’s something for everyone and every interest, but these are a few of the best: 

• PopSugar Family Fun Cardio Workout
• Jessamyn Stanley’s Yoga Workout for Total Beginners
• Yoga for Kids from Yoga with Adriene
• Use your kids as weights/workout buddies with this quick routine

Throw a living room rave.

Dancing (just like roller skating) is one of the best ways to get a workout while having so much fun, you don’t even realize you’re burning calories! Whether you throw a weekly family “rave” complete with fog machine and glow sticks, or just take a break from the daily grind for an afternoon dance party in the kitchen, you and your kids will have a ball dancing your way to fitness.

Of course, if your kids are really into dancing, you can level up from freestyle to learning actual choreography. Check out some of these kid-friendly choreography videos. 

• Kids hip hop at Millenium Dance Complex
• Easy kids choreography to an Ariana Grande song
• A Doja Cat warm-up dance for kids 
• Bollywood hip-hop dance workout

Build an obstacle course. 

Sure, your kids could run laps around the backyard, do jumping jacks, or what have you, but where’s the element of adventure? Create an obstacle course in your yard or even in your living room with things around the house. Get your kids to help come up with ideas, from shimmying under a limbo pole (aka a regular old broom propped on some chairs), to jumping hurdles (laundry baskets turned upside town), to walking a balance beam (a spare 2×4 or landscaping railroad tie will do). 

Take a daily walk.

Remember that you can still walk in your neighborhood or local park in most places as long as you practice social distancing. So while you shouldn’t take your kids to the park to get up close and personal with the playground equipment, you can still take walks or runs. Liven things up by playing follow the leader and adding skipping, jumping, lunges, and other movements to the trip.  

What has your family been doing to pass the time during the coronavirus pandemic? Whatever you’re up to, we hope you’re all staying well and keeping yourselves entertained!

Florida is officially under a stay at home order, and parents all over the state are already wondering how to entertain their cooped-up kids. With many parents working from home for the first time, kids learning how to use online educational tools to finish out the school year, and not many opportunities to leave the house, it’s understandable to feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed right now. 

Here at Skate World Center, our hearts go out to all of the patients, families, healthcare workers, and other front line workers who are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Whether you have kids or not, we hope these boredom-busting ideas will help keep you safe and sane. Stay strong, and know that we can’t wait to welcome you back to the skating rink once it’s safe to do so!

Safer at Home Activities to Try During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Create your own “spirit week.”

A month ago, many of us would have said that staying in our PJs 24/7 sounded like a dream. But after several weeks of working and studying from home, even the lure of comfy pajamas can get old. Why not create your own spirit week with your kids, roommates, or if you live alone, get your friends to participate digitally via Facebook or Instagram! Be sure to come up with a unique hashtag and encourage everyone to use it so you can see all of the fun iterations people come up with. Some examples of spirit day themes include:

• Dapper Day: Put on your fanciest, most impractical clothes and have a living room fashion show and/or photoshoot. 
• Spirit Day: Show some team pride by wearing jerseys, hats, t-shirts, etc. in support of your favorite sports team.
• Closet Cosplay Day: Everyone picks a character and tries to dress up as that character using only items that are already in their closet or found around the house. 
• Tie Dye Day: Wear tie dye, or if you don’t have any, learn how to do it and give your old, faded tees a new lease on life! 
• Traveler Day: Wear souvenir  t-shirts from places you’ve visited, then have everyone share their favorite memory from the destination. 

Treat yourself.

The pandemic is taking a toll on all of us, so it’s important to make time for self-care. Put on a YouTube yoga video and turn your living room into a yoga studio. Play some calming music and do at-home spa treatments like putting cucumber slices on your eyes, doing manicures and pedicures, wearing sheet masks, or creating your own facial using all natural ingredients like oatmeal, honey, milk, etc. 

Explore arts and culture. 

While being stuck inside can get old fast, you can at least allow your mind to roam freely thanks to some of the wonderful content being released by art, music, and cultural institutions like:

• Touring The Louvre
• Exploring The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• Checking out The San Diego Zoo cam feeds
• Watching puppet shows from the Center for Puppetry Arts
• Streaming shows from The Met Opera

What are you doing to pass the time? Head over to Facebook and let us know!