Skate Night Rolls Into Its 50th Year at the KP Civic Center

It’s wild how many people tell me they used to skate here when they were kids.”

The new gym floor of the Key Peninsula Civic Center gleamed under flashing string lights as the first skaters of Skate Night’s 50th season took the floor Oct. 10. Music echoed off the walls while parents watched from afar as their kids — some wobbly, some fearless — orbited the room, twirling and swirling to the beat. For half a century, this simple Friday night ritual has been a touchstone of KP community life.

“It’s great to finally get this season kicked off,” said Sarah Watkins, who’s managing Skate Night for her second year. “There’s not a lot for kids to do around here, so this gives them a safe place to be with their friends and just have fun.”

Watkins volunteered in the kitchen before stepping into the manager’s role last year. “I kind of just jumped in without really knowing what I was getting into,” she said. “When the former manager left, I said, ‘I’m here, I see how it works, I’ll do it.’ ”

She soon realized she had taken on more than a part-time gig and has since brought new energy to the program. “I had no idea the impact it had on the community,” she said. “Skating kind of died down for a while, then last year our numbers skyrocketed.”

Skate Night began in the 1970s when a lifelong Key Peninsula resident, the late Fred Ramsdell, decided kids needed something to do after the old Lakebay roller rink closed. (See “The Legendary Life of Local Hero Fred Ramsdell,” March 2025.)

Fifty years later, it’s the longest-running youth program on the KP, drawing as many as 200 people on opening night and around 150 most Fridays. Some, Watkins said, come from as far as Tacoma, Bremerton, and Allyn to be part of it.

What the “rink” lacks in square footage, Watkins and her crew make up for in atmosphere. Every Friday, they transform the KPCC into something that rivals the big roller arenas. The lights, music, and the ever-present disco ball give it vintage vibes, while age-based competitions and themed nights keep the action moving.

The revamped menu has also become part of the draw. A kitchen that once served “junk food,” as one volunteer called it, now pulls families in for burgers, chicken strips, and grilled cheese with tomato soup before they lace up their skates. Some people just stop by for the food. “It used to be we were excited to make $800 a night,” Watkins said. “Now we’re pushing $1,500 with this new menu.”

Earlier this year, Skate Night received a gift that sent a buzz through the community. Bont Roller Skates, based in Australia, donated 70 brand-new pairs, spare parts, and repair tools valued at about $25,000.

Volunteer Gretchen Schneider, a former roller-derby skater, helped make the connection.

“We had so many people in the community step up to help pay for shipping,” Watkins said about the new skates. “People here love this program, and those new skates will last us a long time.”

Volunteers spent more than 40 hours cleaning and repairing older skates — some originals from the 1970s. Between the restored pairs and the new shipment, the program now has more than 150 pairs available for rent, all included in the $6 admission price. Adults skate free. Rollerblades are welcome, but scooters and hoverboards are no longer allowed.

Among the young helpers is Peninsula High School sophomore Amber Lynn Robinson, who first came to Skate Night as an elementary schooler. “Back then, it wasn’t as good, but after Sarah took over, it really became a fun place for all the kids,” said Robinson. “I just like seeing them happy. They love skating, the lights, the music; it’s fun to be part of that.”

Watkins credits volunteers like Robinson for keeping the wheels turning and giving up their Friday nights so other families can have theirs. It takes about 12 volunteers to run the event, including a handful of high schoolers who can earn community service hours for helping.

Even after 50 years, with interest going up and down, the appeal hasn’t faded. “It’s wild how many people tell me they used to skate here when they were kids,” Watkins said. “Now they’re bringing their own children, even grandkids. This is really the heart of the community.”

Skate Night runs every Friday following the school year calendar from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Key Peninsula Civic Center. For details, visit KPCiviccenter.org/skate-night.