Little Lake County parents are active, mobile and always seeking adventure! Sometimes we even traverse outside of our fair county to find family entertainment beyond our borders. Due to popular reader demand, we introduce “Little McHenry County,” a monthly column dedicated to finding fun with our neighbors to the west, written by McHenry County Moms in the know. Explore and enjoy!
If you close your eyes and think back to some favorite elementary/middle school memories, I am almost positive you will quickly conjure up some totally radical roller skating experiences. Skating parties with Debbie Gibson blaring, couples skate with your crush or BFF, neon lights, and Hypercolor T-shirts, arms full of jelly bracelets…who doesn’t want to go back there, even if just for an afternoon?
Luckily for you, it’s totally possible to relive those roller skating memories at Xtreme Wheels Roller Rink in Crystal Lake. The same smell of leather roller skates and hot dogs greet you as you enter the rink and you will instantly be filled with nostalgia and skating bliss.
The energy is palpable, and the place is always buzzing, which makes this a popular spot for school events, birthday parties, Boy and Girl Scout and club outings.
Open skate times are plentiful on weekends and during the week. Both roller skates and roller blades are available for a $2-3 rental fee or feel free to bring your own rollers from home. Open skate runs much the same as those which we attended as kids, with a variety of music–both with lights on and off – some racing, a four-corner game, and top 40 music pumping. (With a few throw-back hits for the parents on the rink!) Clean bathrooms and a snack bar with treats, sweets, and even pizza and hot dogs provide you with everything you need to make it an easy family outing with the kids.
Bring your little princess to the Saturday morning Disney Skate for $6.00 per person from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This skate time is perfect for beginners, featuring Disney music and providing a discounted Skate Mate rental fee of only $2. Or for a family affair with the whole crew, check out a Family Skate on Saturday or Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. for $25.00 per family or $7.00 per person. Tuesday’s special deal features $2 admission from 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. See the website for additional skate times and special events.
Birthday parties can also be held here, as several party rooms are available for rental. We actually had our daughter’s seventh birthday party at Xtreme Wheels, and it was a huge hit. A set per person fee includes invitations, food, drinks and skating, which makes it easy to control costs. The rink takes care of everything on the big day except the cake and party favors, which keeps it easy and low-stress for mom and dad. Did I mention that the kids had an absolute blast?
So go ahead, dust off those old skates, and take a trip down memory lane. Show your kids what a totally tubular pastime roller skating truly is, and make sure you listen to some New Kids on the way to the rink.
Xtreme Wheels Roller Rink
691 Virginia Road | Crystal Lake, IL 60014-7999| 815-356-7000
Additional McHenry County Roller Rinks:
Just For Fun
914 Front Street | McHenry, IL 60050 | 815-363-4386 | Facebook
Bella’s Bouncies/Skate on Grand Roller Rink
720 East Grand Avenue |Fox Lake, IL 60020 | 847-546-7000 | Facebook
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