Skate City Belleville is on a roll since reopening, including upcoming fun for Halloween
Since Skate City reopened nearly two years ago, things at the Belleville skating rink have been rolling along.
Bad puns aside, I recently met with the rink’s marketing manager, Jennifer Westerfield, and operations manager, Tara Boucherie, to get info for an upcoming event and a quick update on the business.
On Friday, Oct. 27, Skate City Belleville, as it’s now known, is set to host a Halloween costume contest.
Festivities will include a Halloween photo booth and black rose deliveries, where recipients’ names will be announced over the PA system and the roses delivered by costumed employees.
Refreshments will include Witches Brew and Monster Mash drinks, according to Boucherie.
There will be a costume parade around the rink where everyone can show their stuff. And keep in mind, creativity counts.
Contest participants will be divided into three age groups – 11 and under, 12-17 and 18+ – for the family-friendly event.
Each group will have its own prizes of $25 for best costume.
But the Grand Prize, which includes all divisions, will be $500.
Five hundred smackers?! Not too shabby.
Hours for the event are sorted into two-hour sessions: 4-6 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
The Grand Prize winner will be announced at 8 p.m.
In addition, Skate City is also hosting an adult Halloween costume skate for the 18+ crowd 8-10:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.
Different prizes will be awarded, including a grand prize of $100 and a month of free skating.
More fun for all
Westerfield said that things are going really well at Skate City.
They are gearing up for a bunch of class field trips, which make up a big part of the business.
Most of these are STEM trips, where the students get to learn a bit about science, tech, engineering and math, before they get to skate.
Skate City also works with 44 local schools in their fundraising efforts. Westerfield said that some schools raise upwards of $800 a night in one two-hour skating session.
It’s all for a great cause and is great fun and exercise for the kids.
Westerfield also said that their birthday parties are popular.
Each birthday event includes two hours of skating, free skate rentals, ice cream and drinks and $50 in game play.
And the birthday kid gets free skates and a one-month free skating pass.
Because it sounds like such a sweet deal, I asked if there’s an age limit on these birthday parties.
No. No, there isn’t. And I have a birthday coming up in a few months, so this is good to know.
Skate City Belleville also offers inline youth hockey and skating lessons.
Games are onsite for those few minutes you might want a skating break. (Yeah, skee ball!) The rink still has fun candy and toys available for purchase, including a lot of stuff that glows.
Some of my memories of skating here as a little kid are of buying some of the fun stuff, like neon bracelets and hand buzzers.
Good times.
About Skate City Belleville
Skate City Belleville is located at 1400 West Blvd. in Belleville.
The rink is open for two-hour skating sessions:
Friday: 4-6 p.m., 6-8 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.;
Saturday: 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m., 2-4 p.m. 4-6 p.m., 6-8 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.;
Sunday: Noon to 2 p.m., 2-4 p.m., 4-6 p.m., 6-8 p.m. and adult night 8:10-30 p.m.;
Wednesday: Adult night 8-10:30 p.m.
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for field trips and private events.
Admission is $8 for a two-hour session and $2.50 for an extra session. Skates can be rented for $4.
For more information, call 618-234-4502 or visit skatecitybelleville.com.
