Planning a Birthday Party at the Rink: What the Package Includes

A birthday party on the ice solves a problem every parent knows: how do you keep a group of kids busy, happy and tired out for a couple of hours without wrecking your house? Ontario Ice Skating Center offers a birthday package that bundles skating, a room, food and a short lesson. Here is what is in it, what it costs and how to plan around the details.

What does the party package include?

The rink lists these items in its birthday party package.

• Admission and skate rental for the guests
• A private decorated room
• A party coach
• Two large pizzas
• Drinks, listed as Capri Suns
• A personalized birthday cake that serves 30
• Paper goods
• Goodie bags
• A 20-minute on-ice lesson

That list covers most of what a parent otherwise spends a week arranging. The cake serves 30, which is far more than a group of 10 kids can finish, so plan on leftovers or send slices home with guests. The 20-minute on-ice lesson is a nice touch for a group with beginners. It gives everyone a few basics before the free skating starts, and it makes the first wobble feel like part of the fun instead of an embarrassment.

How much does it cost?

The package is $400 for 10 guests. The birthday child is free. Each additional guest is $14. So a party with four guests beyond the first ten adds $56 to the base price. If your list is closer to 20, the extras climb quickly, so decide on a headcount early and ask the rink to walk you through the total. When you call, ask exactly how the birthday child is counted so there are no surprises.

The rink also lists a few add-ons. Extra goody bags are $3.00 each, and extra pizza is $12.00 each. If you have a group of hungry older kids, one extra pizza goes a long way. If you invite siblings and cousins, a few extra goody bags keep everyone from feeling left out.

Party dates and times are set with the rink, and the schedule can change by season, so call 909-986-0793 or text 909-935-9023 to confirm what is open. Have a first choice and a backup ready. Ask how far ahead families usually book, whether the room is held for a certain length of time and what is expected for payment. Write the answers down and share them with the other parent hosting, if you have one.

How many guests is the right number?

Pick a number you can supervise. Ten is a comfortable size for one or two adults to keep an eye on, and it matches the package. A larger group works too, but the cost goes up by $14 per guest and the ice gets busier. If you are worried about a crowd, ask what the rink recommends for the age group you are inviting.

Think about your guest list's skating experience. A group of kids who all skate weekly needs less help than a group of first-timers. Mixed groups are the most common, and that is the situation the on-ice lesson is built for. Tell the parents in advance who will be new to the ice, so nobody feels singled out at the door.

What should guests know before they come?

Put a short note in the invitation. Tell guests to wear thin or medium socks, comfortable pants they can bend in and a light layer, since ice rinks run cold. Suggest gloves. Say that falling happens and that everyone is cheering for the getting up. Include the address, 1225 W Holt Blvd, Ontario, CA 91762, and a phone number for questions.

For allergies, call the rink before the day and ask about the pizza and the cake. The package includes food, so any dietary needs are worth raising early. Parents of kids with a food allergy will thank you for checking.

What if your child has never skated?

That is more common than you might think. A birthday child who has never skated can still have a great party, particularly with a coach, a short lesson and the room to retreat to when legs get tired. If your child is nervous, a practice visit on a public session a week or two before the party can take away the first-day jitters. Admission with skates is $16.00 and $14.00 if you bring your own, with times to confirm at 909-986-0793.

Questions worth asking when you call

• Which dates are open, and what time does the party start and end?
• How is the birthday child counted in the 10 guests?
• Can we add extra pizza or goody bags, and how do we pay?
• Can we bring decorations of our own for the room?
• Is there anything the guests should bring or avoid?

A party at the rink ends with tired kids, an empty cake plate and a story the birthday child tells for weeks. Start with the phone call, lock in a date and let someone else handle the pizza.