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13 Winterful Activities to do With Your Kids at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

Members of the media enjoyed preview activities at Blue Cross RiverRink, at no charge, from Visit Philly. We appreciate their support of Jersey Family Fun which allows us to share information about Philadelphia winter activities we think families may enjoy.

 

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation has teamed up with great Philadelphia partners: Garces Events, Groundswell Design Group, and Art Star Gallery & Boutique to transform Penn’s Landing into a seasonal riverfront park featuring ice skating, a holiday light show, retail market, and food and drinks for all ages to enjoy. Along with ever-changing daily entertainment, regional residents and visitors are invited to experience Philadelphia’s winter tradition in a whole new way.

 

We had a chance to visit the Blue Cross RiverRink during the Visit Philly Holiday Party. For members of the media we were offered complimentary food and skating. I almost hesitated going. It was on a school night after all,  but the fun we had was worth any exhaustion my kids felt the next day. What a magical night it was! We skated, we played, we roasted marshmallows, and cuddled together under blankets. I can’t say enough about the fun we had, so I’m sharing it in a listing of the top ways to turn a visit to the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest into a great family night.

 

13 Winterful Activities to do With Your Kids at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

 

Ooh & Aww over all the beautiful Christmas lights and scenery. You’ll swear you stepped into a ski lodge… you may never want to go home… we didn’t.

 

RiverRink Winterfest 1

 

Take pictures, take pictures, and then take some more pictures. At every turn, I saw another absolutely perfect photo opportunity. I drove my kids nuts but we have some great pictures including the one that’s on our family Christmas card.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest 2

 

Roast a marshmallow. At the snack stand located near the enclosed fire pits you can purchase smore kits. The fire is enclosed and with a very long skewer not only is roasting marshmallows fun, but it’s pretty safe.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest roast

 

Learn how Blue Cross RiverRink used locally-sourced recycled shipping containers, hundreds of holiday trees and shrubs, woodchips, rustic furniture, market lights and fire pits, to create a fantastic holiday landscape that compliments the beautiful views of the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge.

 

Re-purposed tree stumps serve as seating and tables for guests.

Re-purposed tree stumps serve as seating and tables for guests.

 

Skate! My boys don’t have a lot of experience with ice skating, but the staff at the Blue Cross RiverRink is INCREDIBLE! They worked with my youngest son till he was comfortable on the ice. There were so many red-jacket staff that when anyone slipped or fell, they were right there to get us on our feet again. Blue Cross RiverRink’s regulation-sized rink offers public skating sessions, season-long special events, as well as skate rentals and sharpening.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest skate

 

Watch the amazing Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest light show! Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest’s light show features the dancing lights from Spruce Street Harbor Park, reset and coordinated with thousands of other lights throughout the site. Two shows play on the hour and half hour starting at dusk. The musically-synced light show will feature a festive mash-up of color and lights that will encompass the entire Winterfest area. A surprise, magical ending can be expected at the end of every show. You can see some of the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest light show in our video below.

 

 

Build something with these life-size Lincoln Logs located in the Children’s Arcade.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest build

 

Munch on something yummy! There are food trucks on the grounds and food stands in the lodges with lots of yummy foods available for purchase. “Garces Events will be presenting all of the food at Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. The Lodge will feature popular items served at Spruce Street Harbor Park, with the addition of some winter classics like Winter Squash Soup and Three Bean and Beef Chili. The Fireside Café, located right next to the fire pits and giant Christmas tree, will be one of the locations to get a hot drink and lots of delicious desserts like Peanut Butter S’mores Kit and Chocolate Cup Cakes with Peppermint Buttercream. Finally, Garces Events will have the Distrito Cantina truck on-site throughout the season serving their classic Mexican dishes as well as more grab and go foods.”

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest munch

 

Challenge your kids to a game of Air Hockey on a 4-player Air Hockey game also in the Children’s Arcade.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest Air Hockey

 

Pull up to the fire! Everywhere from the outdoor fire pits to the indoor lodge to the children’s arcade there are fireplaces and fires giving off nice heat, plenty of seating too.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest fire

 

Rock in a rocking chair on the outdoor, but still heated porches.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest rock

 

Pretend! In this kind of setting my boys did all kinds of pretending including pretending to dream with visions of sugar plums and toys (lol) in their heads.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest pretend

 

Wrap yourselves up in blankets and cuddle with someone you love. Plenty of blankets are available for moments like these.

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest wrap

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest Location

101 S. Columbus Blvd
Columbus Boulevard at Market Street
Penns Landing area of Philadelphia
  

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest Admission Prices

  • General admission to Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is FREE and open to the public.
  • Skating Admission – $3 (FREE skating admission for all Independence Blue Cross cardholders and employees)
  • Skate Rental – $10

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest Hours

Please visit their site for specific times for activities and open skate.

November 28, 2014 – December 19, 2014

  • Monday through Thursday: 1PM-10:30PM
  • Friday: 1PM-12:30AM
  • Saturday: 11AM – 12:30AM
  • Sunday: 11AM – 10:30PM

December 20, 2014 – January 4, 2015

  • Monday through Sunday: 11AM-12:30AM

January 5, 2015 – March 1, 2015

  • Monday through Thursday: 5:30PM-8:30PM
  • Friday: 1PM-12:30AM
  • Saturday: 11AM – 12:30AM
  • Sunday: 11AM – 8:30PM

 

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest Parking

Columbus Blvd and Market St.
Open 24 hrs
Monday to Thursday: $12
Friday – Sunday: $15

Columbus Blvd and Walnut St.
Open 24 hrs
Monday to Thursday: $12
Friday – Sunday: $15

 

For more information about the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest visit their site at http://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/blue-cross-riverrink.

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