Other NYC Weekly Skates

The following are not Empire-sponsored events, but you're likely to meet some of our members if you attend them.

New Jersey Monday Night Skate

The "We Skate NJ" group rolls Monday evenings along the Jersey waterfront across the river from Manhattan. They travel a round-trip distance of about 12 miles up and down the shoreline, from West New York down to Jersey City and back, and do not mix it up (much) with alternative routes. Meet-up is at the Son Cubano Restaurant on Riverwalk Place in West New York (map) with roll-out at about 7 p.m.

The WSNJ MNS is seasonal, rolling from about the start of April until sometime late in the year. In 2025 they officially concluded on the last Monday of October, but in the past they've been known to skate a few more weeks if the weather cooperated. We Skate NJ also occasionally organizes a weekend group skate. Check their Instagram page for more info.

NYC Wednesday Night Skate

The city's and probably USA's largest regular group skate rolls out on Wednesday nights from early April until the end of October. In the 2020s, the skater count has regularly been over 200 or 300, and there were claims that the Hallowe'en week season finale of 2025 reached 900! They meet up just before 8:00 p.m. at the steps on the south side of Union Square Park, corner of Broadway and East 14th St. (map).

WNS is a moderately paced skate, usually traveling about 12-15 miles over two hours, and finishing back at Union Square. Some skaters may then retire to a nearby skate-friendly establishment to socialize a bit longer with adult beverages, while others just hang out at the park and mingle until whenever. See WNS Facebook page for the latest updates.

Although there have been special off-season Wednesday night skates in the past, they became a regular thing around 2021 or so, rolling from November through March. Called the Unoffical Wednesday Night Skate for a few years, it became the Winter Wednesday Night Skate at the end of 2025. They meet at the same place and same time as the official WNS, but there is just a single leader without marshals, and no one in WNS garb. They will probably roll a bit faster and longer and farther than the official WNS. Event announcements may be posted to the WWNS Instagram page.

Jangueo Friday Night Skate

As of summer 2026, there is a new informal "Jangueo" skate on Friday nights, starting from Pier 76 in Hudson River Park, although it may shift to Columbus Circle if some major event has taken over the pier. Roll-out is supposed to be at 9 p.m.

Although the "Jangueo" is supposed to be relaxed, with some long rest breaks for hanging out (as the name suggests), it rolls on city streets on a Friday night. Also, there may or not be an marshalling to make that lagging skaters don't get dropped and left behind.

Other Weekly Night Skates?

Otherwise, NYC-area group skates on other nights of the week are created every few years. Some last a couple years; others pass on without a whimper after a few months. Since 2015, we've been aware of night skates on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The more successful of these were more reliable about their starting place and especially their starting time, but even those dropped away after a few years when the original leader was no longer available to organize things.

So if you're interested in group skates on other nights, keep your eyes and ears open when hanging out with other skaters, either in person or on social media.

Group Cycling (+ Skating) Events

There are numerous group cycling events around the city, some meeting weekly and some monthly. Fifteen (or 25!) years ago, skaters often joined these events, e.g., the "Cube Ride" or the late "moonlight rides" on park loops. As of early 2026, we have occasionally heard over the past couple years of a few skaters tagging along with the Thursday Night Social Ride, which departs from the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park at 7:30 p.m.

Note that some organized rides have fairly strict rules and skating along would be next to impossible. Rides advertised as "social" should be more casual, slower-paced, and more accepting. Just do an Internet search for "nyc group rides" and you should find a ton of links and advice.