What is the Wednesday Night Skate?

The Wednesday Night Skate is New York City's largest weekly group skate.  It's a fantastic way to see and explore New York City, and a great way to meet new friends. The Wednesday Night Skate runs from the first Wednesday in April to the last Wednesday in October.  It is completely free and open to anyone who wants to join in on the fun!  Our next season begins on April 2nd, 2008.

Where does the Wednesday Night Skate meet?

The Wednesday Night Skate meets at the South End of Union Square Park (14th street), near the stairs.  You can get there by subway by taking the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R or W to the 14th Street Union Square station.  Traffic in the Union Square area can be heavy, so if you're arriving by car, try to park in the general area.

What time does it begin and end?

At 7:45pm, skaters begin to gather, put on their gear, and get ready for the event, which starts at 8pm.  Please be ready -- we will leave immediately at 8pm so have your gear on and be ready to roll! The skate finishes at around 10pm when we return to Union Square. 

What should I bring?

Aside from your skates of course, helmets and wristguards are required.  We strongly recommend that you wear full protective gear (knee pads and elbow pads in addition to the required helmet and wristguards), as street skating can be unpredictable at times. An attachable flashing light of some type (such as a "blinkie") that can be secured to your helmet, backpack or another area on your person is also recommended. Finally, wearing highly-visible clothing is always a good idea when skating at night.  Please keep in mind that you are skating at your own risk, and ultimately your own safety is your responsibilty.

Where do we skate to?

Each week the Wednesday Night Skate Staff chooses a new route that takes us through different locations in the city. Routes are planned to make sure they are safe in terms of street conditions, and enjoyable for skaters. Our routes have several rest stops planned where you can sit down, rest, and chat with your fellow skaters for a few minutes. On average our routes cover approximately 12 miles.  For a sample route, please see our sample route page.

What if it rains?

If the streets are wet, the event is cancelled.  Usually we have some sort of alternative activity planned for the night in case of rain (such as meeting somewhere for food and socializing).  Subscribe to our Yahoo! Group to be informed of any last-minute changes as well as other events and information.

What kind of skaters can participate?

All skaters are welcome, and the Wednesday Night Skate attracts a variety of skaters with different skill levels.  Skaters who wish to participate should be comfortable skating in the street, and be able to turn and stop under their own power. Skaters should also be familiar with and willing to obey all standard traffic rules, including slowing down for yellow lights, stopping at red lights, keeping all crosswalks clear for pedestrians, staying in one traffic lane, and staying off of the sidewalks.

How many skaters usually show up to the event?

On colder nights, the Wednesday Night Skate attracts anywhere from 40 to 50 skaters. During the warmer weather, the skate averages 70 to 80 participants. It's not unheard of for WNS to attract well over 100 skaters. It's a great feeling to skate as part of such a large group, and it's quite a sight to see that many skaters rolling through the streets of New York City.

Who runs the event?

The Wednesday Night Skate is organized by a staff of experienced skaters who volunteer their time and energy to promote the event and ensure that it runs safely. Take a look at the staff page to find out more about the WNS Staff.

What happens after the event?

All of our routes begin and end in Union Square.  After the group returns to Union Square, we skate a few short blocks over to a skater-friendly restaurant called Mumbles for food, drinks, and further socializing. The staff at Mumbles has been great to the Wednesday Night Skate over the years, and they treat skaters well!  Mumbles is located at 17th street and 3rd avenue.  Come join us!