A perfect outdoor winter venue for a party is an ice skating rink! It is usually quite inexpensive to have a group skate, and facilities typically offer a party room where you can host. For kids ages 6 and up, this is a very good idea. Planning this theme can take as little as 30 minutes as well, so if you don’t have a lot of time, this may be a great idea for you. If so, here are a few suggestions and points to keep in mind as you plan:
 
-Call the facility 4-6 weeks in advance in order to secure the party room.
 
-You may want to inquire if there is a skating instructor available to help the beginners learn to skate and to teach a few moves to those kids who already know how to skate.
 
-Ask the facility if you are able to bring some themed decorations for the party room. The solid color partyware like light blue, silver, and white would be good choices for this theme—though any color scheme will work here. Balloons and streamers are easy decorations to bring the party room to life.
 
-In the ice skating party invitations, make sure to provide the details of the facility. Also, guests’ parents will assume that the host will be paying for the kids to skate. It is a good idea to make it clear on the invitation that the kids’ skating tickets will be taken care of. You will need to decide if you will also pay for skate rentals. If so, ask the parents to provide their kids’ shoe sizes to you when they RSVP. You can rent the skates upon your arrival and have them waiting for the kids when they arrive. If you want guests to pay for their own skate rental, note this plainly in the invitation.
 
-The invitation can be in the shape of a skate with all of the details included on it.
 
-The main activity of the party will be skating! There is very little need for you to plan additional activities or games. Let the kids get their skates on and enjoy the rink.
 
-When the kids arrive, it may be a good idea to provide them with a name tag or something they can pin on themselves, so you can easily identify which kids in the facility are attending your party. This can also be a party keepsake.
 
-When the kids become tired, have them take a break. Often, skating facilities provide pizza or some other party food that kids enjoy. If you’d like food, be sure to make this arrangement with the facility beforehand.
 
-If lunch will not be provided, handing out a bag filled with little treats, such as a bag of chips, pieces of fruit, granola bars, popcorn balls, etc., may also be a good idea.
 
-For ice skating party favors, provide a little bag of ice skating stuff, such as a pair of gloves, hot cocoa mix, lip gloss (for chapped lips), skating stickers, chocolates, skating key chains, etc.
 
-Another party favor idea is to send home special ice skate cookies placed into cellophane bags tied with ribbon.
 
-Make sure to take a snapshot of the kids on the ice to include in the thank you notes.

Published: January 1, 2013