It’s hard to believe that Christmas is less than a week away! ‘Tis the season for festive cheer, family time, and last-minute shopping stress. Looking for something fun to do? Gather the family for a holiday skate day at Chester Skateland.

3 Reasons to Skate with Us This Holiday Season

1. Fun time with the family. The holiday season is all about love, but with so much to do before Christmas day, it’s easy to get distracted from what’s important. Roller-skating is a fun activity for people of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. Spend time doing what really matters this Christmas: making memories with the people you love!
2. Christmas gifts for kids. Still looking for that perfect stocking stuffer? We have your perfect Christmas presents at Chester Skateland. A roller-skating gift card guarantees fun for the new year (bonus: it’s great for keeping kids active when winter’s chill sets in). Want to give a more tangible Christmas gift? You can buy roller-skates or stuff stockings with fun accessories like colorful wheels, sparkly skate laces, or crazy socks to make your child’s next skate day merry and bright.
3. Jump start on New Year’s resolutions. The best workouts are the ones that don’t feel like work. Roller-skating is great fitness for adults and kids in Chester, VA. And it’s fun, too! Make a resolution to stay active in 2017. Chester Skateland will help you keep this one, no problem.

Looking for holiday family fun in Chester? Don’t miss the special events and holiday hours at Chester Skateland.

By now families have settled back into the school routine. Fall responsibilities are well underway . . . but what about fall fun? You don’t need an excuse to make memories with the kids! Our fall skating schedule is here to give you and the kids a fun, affordable place to play.

Chester’s Fall Schedule Is Here

Lace up those skates and let’s roll! Skating is a perfect activity for family fun, after school play dates, parties, school fundraisers, and more. Take advantage of our new fall hours!

• Sunday Public Skate: Join us after brunch, church, or Sunday morning chores for roller-skating from 1:30-4pm for just $6. Prefer late-night fun? Skate 7-9:30pm for $5.
• Tuesday: Brush up on your skating skills with lessons from 6-6:30 pm. The $6 fee also pays for admission to our Tuesday night session. Have you already mastered your wheels? Join us for $2 Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 pm.
• Friday Night Skate: TGIF! Kick off the weekend with a night of merriment. If you have a late bedtime, you’re invited to roll with us from 7:30-11pm.
• Saturday Sessions: Skate all day! Saturday starts with Skate Lessons from 9:30-10am ($6 fee includes admit to our morning skate session). Cruise through the day with skating sessions from 10am-noon, 1:30-4pm, and 8-11pm.
• Private parties: Want to celebrate a family reunion, plan a work event that’s actually fun, or raise money for a school event? You can book a private skating party on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Don’t forget your wheels! You can bring your own skates (as long as they’re in good condition) or rent a pair of ours for $3.

Jump into fall fun at Chester Skateland!

During the summer, the thought of working out evokes feelings of dread. No one wants to sweat it out at the gym, then sweat again the moment you step out of the building. But the more you sit around at home, the more you want to sit around. What’s the solution? Make your workout fun!

Roller-Skate for Your Health

Want to trick yourself into staying healthy? Roller-skating is great aerobic fitness, and it’s so much fun you’ll forget that it’s good for you. Skating is a simple way to distract kids from screens, bring the family together, or sneak in some exercise after work. It’s a fun social activity, a good stress-reliever, and a great way to get your heart pumping. What are the tangible health benefits of roller-skating?

• It’s recommended by the American Heart Association as a heart-strengthening exercise. Moderate skating gets your heart rate to about 140-160 beats per minute, while strenuous skating can increase your heart rate to 180.
• It works your muscles. As you might expect, skating is great for building muscles in your legs and glutes. But it’s also good for your obliques, your core, and even your arms!
• Skating burns calories. For an average-sized person, roller-skating burns 9 or 10 calories per minute. Depending on how hard you skate, you can burn between 300 and 600 calories per hour!
• It’s good for cross-training. Skating has similar health benefits to running, but unlike many cross-training sports, it’s easy on the joints. Skaters get 50% less joint impact than runners, so it’s a great way to keep up fitness and protect your body.
• It improves overall athleticism. The more you skate, the more agile, flexible, and coordinated you’ll become. That’s because skating strengthens the muscles in your legs and core. Skating is also a great way to build endurance so you can workout longer without getting tired.

Leave boring workouts behind. Get fit at Chester Skateland this summer.

Between the heat and conflicting vacation schedules, many people find themselves drifting over the summer. Roller-skating parties are a great way for people of all ages to reconnect and have fun. Skating is a fun bonding activity that lets people come together to play games, enjoy their favorite music, and get those hearts pumping. Don’t wait until the next big holiday to book a roller-skating party. Make your own fun at Chester Skateland this summer!

Private Parties at Chester Skateland

Did you know that you can rent out our skating center? Chester Skateland is available for private parties every Tuesday and Thursday all summer. With a private skating event you can invite more guests, plan the food and games you want, and skate without worrying about strangers encroaching on your space. Anyone can book a private party at Chester Skateland!

• Summer camps and daycares. Skip the sunburn, dehydration, and fussy kids. Try indoor summer fun at camp this year! Your daycare or kids’ camp can book a private skate session so the kids can stay active and the counselors can stay cool.
• Church groups. Whether you’re planning a day of fellowship with your church or a community outreach event, a private party at Chester Skateland gives you a large facility, on-site refreshments, and plenty of fun to break the ice.
• Corporate outings. Is summer draining the energy from your office? Give your company’s culture a boost with a team bonding roller-skating event. Skip the trust falls and try roller-skating relay races instead!
• Family reunions. Has it been years since the whole family has been together? Skating is an activity that’s great for all ages! Bring together the grandparents, cousins, kids, and in-laws for quality family time at the rink.

Call Chester Skateland to book a private event in Chester, VA.

It’s almost time! Kids may be chattering excitedly about spring break adventures, but teachers know that summer vacation is just around the corner. Your students have worked hard. Reward them for a great year with an end of school party at Chester Skate Land.

How to Throw a Successful End of the Year Party

1. Plan ahead. It’s easy to get caught up in lesson plans and end of the year exams, but the key to a successful end of school party (and holding onto your sanity) is to book your event early. Remember, room parents can be a big help when it comes to planning a student skating party.
2. Choose your theme. Is this a “ summer, at last!” bash? A way to recognize your high achievers? Or just a fun way for your students to exercise outside of P.E.? Make sure you let parents know what kind of party it will be. Some may want to tag along and listen to their child’s achievements.
3. Know the benefits. Are you wondering why a roller-skating party beats a classroom party? Not only is it a fun way to get the kids out of their normal routine, roller-skating is also great for the brain! Clear out the cobwebs, start a successful transition, and encourage a summer of creativity.
4. Spread the word. Send out announcements early on so you can get permission forms signed, decide on achievement and citizenship awards, and ramp up the anticipation.

Chester Skate Land makes end of the year parties easy! We take care of setup and cleanup, food and fun, and providing a private party table. Call to ask about our group skating event options.

You want your child’s special day to stand out from the crowd. But who has the energy to throw a DIY-everything Pinterest party for their five year old? Chester Skate Land is here to help with classic fun, birthday party exclusives, and our favorite 2017 kids party trends.

5 Kids Birthday Party Trends We Love

1. Start simple. Parents are growing tired of Pinterest parties. And who can blame them? They may look great, but they involve so much time and energy that it’s hard to focus on what’s important: celebrating your child’s special day.
2. Focus on fun. No matter what age they’re turning, kids really only care about three things: cake, presents, and entertainment. Roller-skating is a great activity for kids of all ages, with plenty of opportunities for skate races, limbo, and other competitive games.
3. Themes. Okay, so you’re ditching the DIY donut wall and the color coordinated chalkboard signs. That doesn’t mean your party has to be boring! Celebrate your child’s favorite thing with a themed or costumed celebration. Need some ideas? Pokemon, Star Wars, and emojis are popular kids party themes right now.
4. Statement balloons. With just the right touch of flair, statement balloons are a great way to make your child feel special without driving yourself crazy decorating for their party. Don’t forget to snap a few pics for Facebook!
5. Treat bags. This is a classic birthday party trend that’s easy to update. Hand out goody bags that match the party’s theme. Not throwing a themed celebration? Our Deluxe Party Package and Ultimate Party Package include party bags for the kids.

We make it easy to throw an unforgettable birthday party for your child. Book a birthday party online at Chester Skate Land.

Birthday Balloons

If you’ve ever laced a pair of skates, you know that roller-skating is a blast. But did you know that it has a crazy past? We’re sharing our favorite facts about the history of roller-skating.

5 Fun Facts about Roller-Skating

1. Roller-skates were invented in 1760 by John Joseph Merlin. They started with a bang (literally—he crashed into a mirror), but didn’t gain popularity until the invention of skate trucks let people actually turn while roller-skating. Before that they only had two directions to choose from: backwards and forwards!
2. Skating isn’t all breezing around the rink. In addition to aggressive trick skating (think extreme sports), popular skating sports include jam skating, derby skating, and speed skating. Jam skating uses the principles of artistry and rhythm to create complex dance choreography on skates. Derby skating is an aggressive, team-oriented sport comprised of mostly female athletes. And inline speed skating is used by some Olympic athletes to practice during the off-season.
3. Charlie Chaplin was a pro roller-skater, incorporating complex spins and slapstick falls into many of his silent films.
4. And other celebrities love to skate, too! Prince was such an avid skater that he owned a pair of custom-designed skates. And Beyoncé threw her 21st birthday party at a skating center in her hometown. Not to mention all the roller-skating seen on TV, in movies, and in music videos.
5. Even the Amish love to skate. In fact, there was a big debate in the 90s about whether teens’ new inline skates crossed a cultural line because they went so much faster than the traditional quad skates.

Have a fun skating fact? Want to learn about us? Can’t wait to go skating? We’ll be waiting! Visit Chester Skateland for family fun and fresh skate facts.