The Modesto Skates roller skating event takes place at Johansen High School in Modesto every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the tennis courts. Local skaters meet at the courts, flashing colored lights and listening to hip rhythmic music.   

Once inside the tennis courts, attendees are greeted by a flurry of colorful wheels zipping around in creative patterns.  Skaters are jamming to the beat and letting go of stress and anxiety. 
Michel Martin, a skater who has frequented the event a few times said they did a great job on the event.  
“They have lights, speakers and food!. It’s a very attractive party,” Martin said.
One skater you are bound to find in attendance is Stan Silveria. Silveria is the former owner of Roller King, a skating rink that many millennials grew up frequenting until the early 2000s.  With such a rich history of skating, Silveria explained that skating is a way of life. 
 “It’s just a bunch of family and friends who come out to have a great time,” Silveria  said. 
What keeps skaters coming back to the event is the adrenaline, according to skater Crissy Woods, who has been attending the event since it began in October of 2020.   
As you make your rounds, you are sure to meet the friendly and upbeat organizer of the event, Brian Cromwell.  Cromwell carved out a safe space for skaters with the creation of the Modesto Skates event and continues to manage it today.  
“People are probably out here not thinking about any of their problems, just listening to the music…skating to the music,” said Cromwell about the purpose the event serves for the community.  
He said it’s also great cardio. 
“They are probably burning 600 calories an hour and we are only out here from 3 to 9,” Cromwell said. “Most of these people didn’t know each other and they are all friends and it’s like a community now.”
Cromwell explained that Modesto Skates strives to provide a community for skaters to feel safe and welcome, and is one of the few places in the Central Valley where skaters don’t have to worry about cars or angry pedestrians.  
Of course there are skate parks, but not every skater is an extreme skater. A great number of skaters, like the skaters you will find at the Modesto Skates event, just want to cruise around and socialize with like-minded people.  
If you are planning on attending the event for the first time, the tennis courts are on the east side of the campus and not visible from Claus Road. 
From Claus Road, turn east onto Creekwood Drive and then make a right onto Norseman Drive. At the end of Norseman Drive is a narrow dirt passage where you will have to walk the rest of the way. Organizers recommended wearing shoes until you are inside the tennis courts. 
Other tips include keeping in mind that a substantial amount of water is lost while skating, so it’s a good idea to bring your favorite hydrating drink of choice or water. 
The event fills up as the sun is shining and thins out as the sun goes down. If you want to go for the social aspect, it is recommended that attendees show ip around 5 p.m., which will allow you to skate during peak hours with enough sunlight to strike up a few conversations. For skaters who enjoy ample skating room, your best bet is arriving between 6 to 7 p.m.