What’s the deal with Kelowna’s roller disco fever

What started out as a pandemic pass time has grown into a blast from the past in Kelowna, and it’s only getting more popular.

Colleen Milligan is a coach with Roll Mates Skate in Kelowna and she helps organize the weekly roller discos with a DJ on Tuesdays every summer at Stuart Park. She said it started out as a get together with avid roller skaters during COVID, and now it’s something that’s growing the rollerskating community in the city.

“I was part of a group that was skating during the pandemic, and there was just more and more interest, and we had more people coming out every week,” she said. “Then someone in the group had a friend that was a DJ, and he heard about it, and so he showed up.”

From there it grew into an all-ages disco party get together, and then the City of Kelowna got involved and supported the weekly events in 2023. Milligan said there were occasional roller skate events before the pandemic, but not weekly discos like there are now.

She said the discos are a blast, but they’re more than that for people who are searching for something.

“The vibes and just the fun, and the fact that it’s free,” she said. “Build a community, having things available that people can participate in, and make them want to keep doing it week after week, is really important because it gives them a bit of a purpose.”

There are rental roller skates and rollerblades available for $10 if people don’t want to go out and get their own.

“A lot of people that come down are people that maybe used to skate when they were younger. That’s a really big demographic, and maybe they’re a little worried about picking it up again. But it’s a really cool space for that, and there’s a lot of people really willing to help,” she said.

Milligan said it’s never the wrong time to get out and skate to some music.

“I’m an older skater. I’m in my 50s, and it’s a really great way to stay active when you’re older… building some really essential skills, balance and a lot of motor skills that can really help with other sports,” she said.

Anyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the music, whether they’re a seasoned skater or just getting into it.

“It’s this great feeling of freedom, just being able to cruise around on the wheels, and the location is absolutely amazing. And we’re extremely lucky to have a space like that in our community,” she said.