Roll Back in Time: Alexandria’s Legendary Roller Rink Takes Center Stage Again Dec. 3
A FREE community storytelling event invites Alexandrians to relive the city’s iconic skating era.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Before the rise of social media, the Alexandria Roller Rink was a true hub of skating, music, and community for people across the city. It also held a particularly meaningful place in the lives of Alexandria’s African American residents, according to a recent press release from the City of Alexandria.
Though the rink no longer stands, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who spent their youth there. More than just a recreational space, it was a vibrant cultural hub where dazzling skating moves, live music, and lifelong friendships shaped generations—and its influence continues to resonate today.
During its heyday as a concert venue—roughly from the mid-1960s through the early 1970s—the Alexandria Roller Rink attracted an astonishing lineup of major rock and blues acts. The Doors performed there in August 1967, drawing thousands of fans. Other major performers included The Yardbirds, Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding Company, the Jeff Beck Group, Jethro Tull, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, T. Rex, King Crimson, Blue Öyster Cult, and even Lou Reed in the mid-1970s. These artists helped cement the Roller Rink’s reputation as one of Northern Virginia’s most exciting and unlikely live-music hotspots.
That legacy will be honored once again at “Skating Rink Part II: Share Your Stories!” on Wednesday, December 3, from 6:30–8 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street. The FREE event will feature local panelists sharing their own recollections, exploring the rink’s social and cultural impact, and discussing ways to preserve its history for the future.
From smooth skaters showing off intricate routines to electrifying bands that packed the rink on weekends, this beloved space was far more than recreational—it was a cornerstone of community life.
The program will be facilitated by Dr. Darnella McGuire-Nelson and is sponsored by SRG, Friends of Douglass Cemetery, and the Alexandria Black History Museum.
The museum is located five blocks from the Braddock Road Metro Station on the Yellow and Blue Lines, and street parking is available. For additional details, the public may call 703-746-4356 or visit the Alexandria Black History Museum webpage.
Attendees are encouraged to come share their own memories, reconnect with neighbors, and celebrate the enduring spirit of the Alexandria Roller Rink.
