Hartmeyer Ice Arena

Hartmeyer is the original Madison ice rink, a Commercial Avenue fixture run by the nonprofit Madison Ice Inc. Birthdays book either the full sheet at Hartmeyer or the smaller studio rink at the Madison Ice Arena, depending on group size and budget. With Madison having lost both Fast Forward and a couple of older rinks, this is one of the few skating-rink-birthday options remaining in town.

Private rentals include a block of skate time, skate rentals for the whole group, and use of an attached party room for cake and pizza (you bring the food). Pricing is per-rental rather than per-kid, which makes Hartmeyer one of the cheaper per-guest options in town as the headcount climbs — ten to twenty kids works particularly well. Adult skate-and-pizza birthdays show up here too, often paired with a stop at one of the East Wilson breweries afterward. Full payment is due one week before the event; book three to four weeks out for prime weekend afternoon slots.