ALEXANDRIA, VA – Before the rise of social media, the Alexandria Roller Rink was a true hub of skating, music, and community for people across the city. It also held a particularly meaningful place in the lives of Alexandria’s African American residents, according to a recent press release from the City of Alexandria.

Though the rink no longer stands, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who spent their youth there. More than just a recreational space, it was a vibrant cultural hub where dazzling skating moves, live music, and lifelong friendships shaped generations—and its influence continues to resonate today.

During its heyday as a concert venue—roughly from the mid-1960s through the early 1970s—the Alexandria Roller Rink attracted an astonishing lineup of major rock and blues

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