In the 1970s and 1980s, North America (and the world) danced to disco music. Disco, which has the distinction of having a rhythm based on the human heartbeat but twice as fast, is known as the best music for dancing. And, incidentally, it’s the perfect rhythm for roller skating.
The Esplanade Tranquille, which turns into an ice rink every winter, will become a roller rink (or, in French, a “roulathèque”) for nearly two months this fall, and of course that means plenty of disco music.
We can bring our own roller skates, rent them on-site, and accessorize our flashiest ’80s jackets. It’s already our favorite first-date spot this fall.
ROLLER RINK, ROULATHÈQUE, DISCO INFERNO
The opening night at the Esplanade Tranquille on September 11, 2026, will kick off the roller skating season with a BOOGIE NIGHT: BACK TO THE ROLLER DISCO ERA event.
Roller discos are a very serious matter. In the ’70s and ’80s, they were spaces for free expression invented by Black and queer communities in North America, and they quickly gained popularity. These rinks had polished wooden floors, were decorated with colorful lights, and were never quiet. The incredibly cool combination of a nightclub and a roller rink is said to have originated in New York in the early ’70s withthe Empire Roller Rink.
Today, disco has a musical subgenre specifically dedicated to skating: roller disco. It features , among others, songs like “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer’s entire repertoire, “Egypt Egypt” by Egyptian Lover, and “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire.
PRACTICAL INFO
Where? ROULATHÈQUE, Esplanade Tranquille, at 1442 Clark Street
When? September 5, 2026, to October 25, 2026
Monday through Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. /
Thursday: noon to 10 p.m. /
Friday: noon to 11 p.m. /
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. /
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What? Free admission / inline skates, helmets, and protective gear available for rent on-site through Patin Patin
