PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The winter season came early this year and everyone is in the holiday spirit -- especially with visions of snow all around! This makes the Blue Cross RiverRink, Penn's Landing's Olympic-size ice skating rink on the Delaware River, the perfect place to spend the holidays. The RiverRink is open throughout the entire holiday season with additional special skating sessions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
Visitors will enjoy the unique setting of this outdoor rink decorated with Variety Club's Tree of Love -- a grandly lit Christmas tree -- that not only adds beauty to the RiverRink but a sentimental touch as well. (The Tree of Love is a new holiday fundraising program for Variety Club of Delaware Valley.)
Each year the Blue Cross RiverRink welcomes more than 150,000 visitors to the waterfront and the holiday season is the most popular time for fun on the ice. New this year is a much larger warming tent with a game room, food and beverage concessions, skate rentals, viewing areas, a private party room and public rest rooms. Private parties are very popular at the Rink. It is in the new warming pavilion that face painting is offered free every weekend.
The ever-popular Skate with Santa and holiday ice sculptures takes place on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22, 2002. The weekend's activities include Santa's arrival by helicopter, free face painting, and "Santa and Me" caricatures.
The New Year's Eve Party on Ice takes place at the Blue Cross RiverRink on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 with a special skating session from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Guests will also delight in a perfect spot to view the spectacular fireworks display presented by the Delaware River Port Authority -- right on the ice! This is the best non-alcoholic New Year's party featuring food, music, entertainment, and a great view of the fireworks over the Delaware River at midnight. Tickets are limited and on sale now. The price is $25 for skaters and $15 for spectators.
Holiday skating sessions run from December 23, 2002 to January 1, 2003. Skating session times are as follows: 10 a.m. to Noon, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3 to 5:30 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for each session. Every Friday and Saturday night from 9 p.m. until 12 midnight, guests can skate to the music of a live DJ.
Independence Blue Cross is the title sponsor of the Blue Cross RiverRink. Other Sponsors include: PNC Bank, T-Mobile, Deer Park Water and Philadelphia - the place that LOVES YOU BACK.
The Blue Cross RiverRink is located on Festival Pier at Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street. For more information on skating times, lessons, birthday parties or private receptions, please call 215.925.RINK or visit www.riverrink.com.