Fairfield hosting pop-up roller rinks

FAIRFIELD — Volition Skate Co. is fundraising to create a new roller rink in Fairfield, and in the meantime is hosting “pop-up” roller rinks, including one this Saturday.

The business invites the public for its third pop-up roller rink of the season, which will be from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Maharishi School Fieldhouse. The family-friendly event includes a raffle, live disc jockey, handmade organic ice cream SCREAM, and new roller skates available to rent.

Volition Skate Co. announced in 2021 that it had begun fundraising to create a roller rink above its shop on the south side of the Fairfield square. Jen Kranz, who owns the business with Kate Vigmostad, said they had hoped to remodel the upstairs into a roller rink and open it by April of this year, but they have not been able to get into the space, and their new goal is to have it ready by next winter.

The delay in remodeling the upstairs has not halted their ability to fund raise, or to skate. The pair have found other places in town to set up temporary roller rinks, which they call “pop-up” rinks. The first pop-up rink was held at Fishback & Stephenson Cider House on April 14, and the second was held at the Maharishi School Fieldhouse on April 29.

Kranz said these pop-up rinks have attracted more people than expected, and have been a huge boost to their fundraising efforts. She said the event at the field house attracted 200 people and raised about $2,000, bringing the total fundraised to about $9,000.

The owners of Volition Skate Co. want to eventually build a “big beautiful rink,” but for the immediate future their fundraising dollars are going toward purchasing more rental skates, a public address system and lighting.

“We want to get more rental skates because we have run out of skates at our pop-up events and then people have to be on a wait-list,” Kranz said.

Kranz said Maharishi School has been great to work with, and its field house is perfect for a roller rink because of its enormous size. She said Richard Beall, Head of Maharishi School, has told the company they are welcome to continue using the field house as a temporary roller-rink. The school uses the building for its physical education classes, and there is a golf simulator inside. Kranz said Volition Skate contributes a portion of its proceeds from the pop-up rinks toward repairing the floors of the field house.

The only downside to the field house on a more permanent basis is that Volition Skate cannot serve alcohol there, and Kranz said the business wants to have a bar to go with its roller rink. That’s why it’s using the Cider House for its events for people 21 and over.

Kranz said she envisions holding pop-up skating events at Cider House once a month, and even more frequently than that at the field house.

After Saturday’s event at the field house, the next pop-up rink will be on May 12 from 8-10 p.m. at Cider House.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com