Midnight Rollers Friday Night Skate

This is The Jam! Super Vibe, music, people, friendly, smooth, plenty of stops, waterfront, Ghirardelli, Palace dome, tunnels, see the city.

I can't wait for Friday Nights to Roll in The City! This is a great way to hit all the hot spots with a great group of people. Everybody has a good time. And while others are getting bombed, you're getting fit & lean. I just can't get enough!

What is there to do on Friday nights in San Francisco? Many people go out on the town to enjoy fine dining & dancing. Some enjoy a show or go to the movies. Some like to go hang out in the Haight Ashbury, the Castro, maybe SOMA & still others like to spend a quiet evening w/ a book or watch TV. For many, Friday night means strapping wheels on your feet & joining the Midnight Rollers for a fantastic roll on one of San Francisco's most exciting nocturnal events - the Midnight Rollers' Friday Night Skate.The Midnight Rollers' Friday Night Skate is organized by San Francisco's "Godfather of Skating", David "D" Miles, Jr. & has been skating every Friday night since 1989.The route is as follows, but subject to changes:Ferry Building Plaza (leave at 9:00 sharp)Pier 39 (Bring quarters for the telescopes).Aquatic Park/Fort MasonMarinaExploratorium Rotunda (wild circle skate)Chestnut streetUnion Street Skitching (holding onto cars, buses or other vehicles.)Broadway TunnelChinatownStockton TunnelUnion Square (stupid skating tricks)Powell street Bart (death-defying stunts)Concrete CanyonsFerry Building I tried this once & found it too intense & advance for me. I'll stick w/ Fuzzy Bear's (David Miles, Jr.) "Skatin' Place" on Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park on Sundays. That's more down to my level. Heh. Santa's Yelper sez: Nothing. He's still shocked by the skitching display.

Rolled with y'all about 20 years ago. It was an AAAAWESOME event back in the day and by the looks of it... It still is. I'm in San Diego. If I'm ever in Nor Cal I'll be sure to include this in my festivities! Be safe and have fun!

Friday Night Skate dates back to the early 1990s and continues to today. Skaters begin arriving at the Ferry Building around 8:30. By 9:00 PM the "God Father" sends the skaters off on their 12 mile skate through San Francisco while he pushes a loud boom box with music the entire trip. The trip ends right back where it started around midnight.You don't need to be in skates to participate; you just needs wheels. Roller blades, roller skates, bikes, whatever.... as long as it's got wheels you're welcome to join.What makes the San Francisco Friday Night Skate special is that it's a unique way to see the city. You'll get an intimate visit through many of SF's neighborhoods while still being able to speed through. You get to roll through Pier 39, The Palace of Fine Arts, The Marina, The Stockton Tunnel, Union Square, etc.There are many breaks along the way, some of which turn into outdoor skating rinks, like the Palace of Fine Arts and Union Square. One of the stops even allowed for people to go inside and get drinks if they so wished, or liquor stores where you can buy more water.The reason skaters loves San Francisco is because of the hills. I assume you have been wondering about that. There are several hills on the route. You do need to have the skills to climb them and then go down them. Going down the hills is what the skaters love and you'll see the experienced ones zooming down. Lift Ticket? Not here, climb the hill for free and enjoy the ride down.In addition to the hills you will need to be at a skill level at which you can stop when needed. There will be times when you skate in the street and through tunnels like the Stockton Tunnel. You'll be doing so as a group and that's what makes areas like the Stockton Tunnel so fun.Being able to skate in a group is really a big benefit. Safety-wise the large group makes it easy for street traffic to see you. All of the regulars are really nice and extremely skilled. The music just adds to the atmosphere. And it's just fun skating through the city in a big group.People do quit whenever they want, so not everyone goes the entire 12 miles. For example if you are tired after Union Square you can just stop and head home. It's no big deal.Protective gear like helmets, wrist guards, knee pads, etc are encouraged. Oh yeah, this event is FREE. It's so cool other cities like Pairs, Copenhagen and Los Angeles copied it.I just participated in this event for the first time last Friday. It totally kicked my butt, but I had such a great time. I look forward to doing this again. The bottom line is if you enjoy skating, can handle hills and can stop you should come out and try this.

The San Francisco Friday Night Skate started in 1989, after the Loma Prieta earthquake. It doesn't have numbers in the hundreds like it did in the 90s, but I promise it's more fun than ever! The Midnight Rollers depart from the Ferry Building at 9pm and return back there at midnight. (It's less than 12 miles - with many rest stops.) Wonderful tunes roll along with the group in a jogging stroller. There's no better way to get a fabulous workout than rolling through the gorgeous nighttime streets of San Francisco! Don't forget your protective gear and perhaps some fun lights. After you do it once, you WILL come back! See you there!!

I used to do this about 10 years ago and didn't know they still did it. This is a lot of fun and good for all levels of experience. The great part about it is you can stop and go home anytime you want. There are some crazy parts to it but definitely worth it.