The City of Perth brings ‘Retro Cool’ to the City this Winter.

I’m not sure who was more excited, my kids or me, when I announced last Friday we were going rollerskating in the city.

To be fair, at aged 5 and 7, unless it spins on your finger or can be played on an iDevice, it’s hard to get them excited about shoes with wheels, especially now hoverboards are a real thing, but I am pleased to report, after our session at the City of Perth’s Winter Rollerland the constant question now is, ‘when can we go again?’. Much the same way, I bugged my mum to take me to see Roller Boogie again. Once was never going to be enough! 

If like me you want to introduce your offspring to something you can relate to from your own childhood, bring them down to Forrest Place to feel the thrill of cruising laps against the backbeat of all the latest hits and some cool disco and laser lighting to revive the ‘back to the 80’s’ atmosphere.

For the past couple of years the public have come flocking into the CBD for the traditional Snowland activities and while it was probably a gamble to trade the popular activity for something new, it’s an excellent trade off.

The event is housed in a massive marquee where you can escape the wild weather. Once inside, your children can select between traditional or inline skates with a foot-sizing chart provided to assist in selecting the correct skate size. Be prepared for a little chaos at the beginning of the session as the crowd chooses skates and organises kids to get footwear on and doing up of laces etc..

A small amount of stack helmets are available for out-of-towners who aren’t wielding a bike helmet in their luggage and for parents who wish to play it safe, you are encouraged to bring your own helmets and knee/elbow padding.

Once the wheels are on, a parent or guardian is permitted to help the little ones on the rink. Getting used to controlling their feet is not an easy task so be prepared for a few (okay, a lot) of crashing onto their bottoms until they get the hang of it. Luckily kids tend to bounce, unlike grown-ups.

The Yellow Hoody Brigade (aka Event Crew) are on hand to teach the kids all the tricks; how to balance and keep the skates straight. They were so patient with the children turning these new born foals learning to walk, into confident kids, happy to do an apprehensive lap by themselves towards the end.

For peace of mind, there is a First Aid area, with medical assistants and icepacks at the ready, should they be required.

Kids of all ages will certainly enjoy this high-energy event, and the best part is, it’s FREE, so its a great way to introduce something new and healthy into their lives.

It caters for children between 3 – 12 years of age with special sessions for Big Kids and Families on Thursdays and Fridays.

Due to the popularity of this event, and to ensure the system is fair, you will need a ticket to secure your spot. There is no cost for the ticket, but you MUST HAVE one for entry to the event.

There are 6 sessions to choose from each day between 10.30am and 2.40pm for school-aged children, with sessions for adults starting at 4.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays only. To find out everything you need to know about the City of Perth Winter Rollerland click here.

Congratualtions City of Perth for bringing another inclusive and free event to families and visitors to Perth City.