VINEMONT, Ala. – Sportsworld Skate Center hosted a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration Wednesday from 2-5 p.m. before holding its annual all-night skate from 7 p.m.-6 a.m. for teens and adults.
“We used to take our kids to a daytime New Year’s celebration. For us it is a way to give back to the community,” Owner Shae Gentry said. “There aren’t a lot of New Year’s Eve events for kids.”
Of the all-night skate he said, “We do it mainly for the teenagers and for the people who want to relive their youth. A lot of adults come and skate with us and stay, so that’s why we do it.”
Shae and Valerie Gentry took over ownership of Sportsworld Skate Center in March 2025. They have a love for skating as they grew up doing so and also take part in the sport with their children.
The kid-friendly event was a first for the rink. “The community and the kids need it,” said Gentry. But the all-night skate is a long-standing tradition in Cullman, spanning generations. The skate has been held every year since the rink first opened in 1979. “We’re just happy it’s still such a big part of the community,” he said.
Unlike regular skating sessions, the New Year’s skate keeps the rink open all night and features special activities throughout the evening. This year’s event included games, balloon drops and continuous raffles, with prizes donated by skate companies and vendors. “We’re giving away a VR headset, wheels, signs, sweatshirts – with drawings all night long,” Gentry said. “This is the first time in the history of the skating rink that we’ve done giveaways this big.”
Since taking ownership, Gentry said he has focused on reinvesting in the rink to restore it as a community gathering place. “We’re trying to bring it back to its glory days,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time and money redoing the floor, improving the concession stand and making upgrades so it’s better and safer for the community.”
Sportsworld Skate Center has several upcoming events planned. The rink has recently launched a once-a-month “praising skate,” a Christian-focused skating night that includes a meal for $10. The rink will also host a community skate night in partnership with Desperation Church on Jan. 16, as well as a large Autism Awareness Skate scheduled for April 24-26. The April event will feature nationally known skaters and raise funds for the Autism Foundation.
Keep an eye on www.facebook.com/CullmanSkating for any upcoming events. Get more information at myskateparty@gmail.com.
