Ice-ing on the Cake

It’s a picture perfect winter party scene: kids on skates playing shinny while a fire roars nearby and mom serves piping hot chocolate and birthday cake. 

Unfortunately outdoor skating parties (for birthdays or otherwise) are difficult to plan in Calgary because it’s either too cold for little hands and feet or too warm and the ice has melted (darn chinooks). So the savvy thing to do is book your skating party indoors.

Many local rinks rent their space for private functions. If you can get away with hosting a party during non-peak hours, ice time is cheap and easy to find. Non-peak hours are during the regular school day, so the cheap time is easy for preschool or nursery school parties. For older kids, look for a suitable PD Day.

We recommend calling the City of Calgary to book ice time at any number of arenas around the city (including Southland and Village Square Leisure Centres). Arena rentals cost a mere $55 before 4 pm and $155 after that with no limit on the number of skaters (bonus: you have the place all to yourself). A party room is available at many venues and costs an additional $50 for 4 hours.

Both the Flames Community Arenas and Canada Olympic Park offer ice rentals for private functions as well. The cost is slightly higher at both venues than the city arenas ($88 per hour during Non-Prime Time at COP). We like the bright, airy atmosphere of the brand new Athletic & Ice Complex. We also like the option to keep it simple with party catering available on site.

Both Trico Centre for Family Wellness and Westside Recreation Centre offer skating birthday party packages. Trico’s Blades of Glory! includes an hour of ice time and an hour in the party room for $80. Westside offers a similar package (called Skaters Edge) for $125 and additional packages that combine skating with either climbing, swimming or time in the gym and include a party room as well. Packages run between $160 to $215 for a maximum of 12 children and 3 adult chaperones. Ice time is shared with other public skaters.

If you are determined to strap on your skates in the great outdoors, by all means organize your birthday party at Bowness Park lagoon. There are skate rentals, picnic tables, roaring fires and the Parkside Cafe perfect for warming fingers and toes.

Stay warm (even on the sidelines) and satisfy your kids’ Canadian craving for ice time and birthday cake this winter season. Tested by Heather J., Calgary

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