The Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn’s Landing Re-Opens for 17th Season With a Salute to Firefighters and Police Officers

PHILADELPHIA, PA–(Marketwire – November 22, 2010) –  The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation is proud to continue to present a wintertime tradition in Philadelphia, the 17^th anniversary season of the Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn’s Landing. It’s time to “Think Rink,” as the Blue Cross RiverRink located on Columbus Boulevard and Market Street, is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors and fresh air fun for everyone!

The Blue Cross RiverRink will salute our public safety heroes, police officers and firefighters, as it re-opens officially at 12 noon on Friday, November 26, 2010 with the first skating session of the season. $1 from each paid admission on Opening Day will be donated to the HERO SCHOLARSHIP fund, a college fund for the children of police and firefighters killed or disabled in the line of duty.

For the seventeenth season on Philadelphia’s waterfront, the Blue Cross RiverRink continues to be located on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street. Featuring an outdoor Olympic size rink overlooking the Delaware River and an indoor heated facility with a snack bar, game room and more, the Blue Cross RiverRink, will open with an honorable and informational celebration fit for all ages with free activities for the entire family.

The Blue Cross RiverRink is dedicating its first two Opening Day ice skating sessions on Friday, November 26, 2010 to the women and men of the Fire Departments and the Police Departments in the Greater Philadelphia region. 

As a special thank you to those who work to ensure the safety of the public, all firefighters and police officers who show official identification will receive complimentary ice skating for themselves and four family members on Opening Day, Friday, November 26^th from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. 

With an official ribbon cutting with a high ranking officer from the Philadelphia Police Department and Commissioner Lloyd Ayers from the Philadelphia Fire Department, along with Pierre Robert from 93.3 WMMR, the first skating session of the season will begin at 12 noon. As skaters enter the ice the fire truck siren will sound, while fire boats create displays in the Delaware River.

From the bomb squad to the motorcycle unit, the special units of both the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments will be on hand with displays, information workshops as well as fire and public safety literature. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to climb on board the Philadelphia Police Department Crime Scene Unit and shake the hand of a real firefighter or police officer in uniform. Kids will have the chance to climb aboard a real ladder fire truck and check out safety videos inside the heated pavilion next to the Rink. The Fire Safety trailer will be stationed next to the rink to simulate a home fire for lessons about fire extinguishing and evacuation.

Pierre Robert from 93.3 WMMR will host this Opening Day ceremony from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m., along with the MMArmy who will be on site until 3:00 p.m. The CREW from the CW Philly will be on site with games and prizes also from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m.

Visitors will also have a chance to stop by the information booth and enter to win a $500 Holiday Décor Makeover courtesy of Kindy’s Factory Outlet and Kindys.com. A Winner will be drawn at 8pm on Sunday, November 28 and will be notified on Monday, November 29, and you do not need to be present to win. Holiday lights and decor at the Blue Cross RiverRink is provided by Kindy’s Factory Outlet and Kindys.com. Since 1980, Kindy’s has been supplying Philadelphians with high quality holiday decorations at factory-direct prices. To see their complete selection, visit www.kindys.com.

Regular skating session hours at the Blue Cross RiverRink are Monday to Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Friday hours are: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Saturday hours are: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Sunday hours are: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Special Holiday Hours and other extended sessions are outlined at www.riverrink.com. Skating admission is extremely affordable at $8 and $9 for Friday and Saturday night sessions at 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and skate rental is available for $3. Convenient parking is also available on site for only $10.

The rink season also features a live DJ every Friday and Saturday night from 9:00 p.m. – Midnight. Skating Lessons are available on Sunday mornings from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. Special Sled Skating Sessions for people with disabilities are available Sunday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Reservations for these special sessions are required. To make a reservation for skating lessons or sled skating sessions, call 215-925-RINK.

Independence Blue Cross is the founding and presenting sponsor of the Blue Cross RiverRink, which is owned and operated by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. Season-long supporters include: TD Bank, CBS 3 and the CW Philly and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

The Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia’s only outdoor public ice rink, is located on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street. For more information on skating sessions, ice skating lessons, birthday parties or private receptions, please call 215.925.RINK or visit www.riverrink.com.