PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 19, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Blue Cross RiverRink is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season . . . ten years of wintry fun on the Penn's Landing waterfront . . . ten years of outdoor ice skating in the center of the city! All season long there will be 10th Anniversary festivities with special events and special guests.
The Blue Cross RiverRink, located on Festival Pier at Penn's Landing at Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street, will open officially at noon on Friday, November 28, 2003 with the first public skating session of the season. Throughout the day, Rinky, the giant penguin who resides at the Blue Cross RiverRink, will celebrate his 10th birthday with free activities for kids. Sing Happy Birthday to Rinky and enjoy free face painting, balloon animals, and meet Radio Disney from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The Philadelphia Holiday Festival's second annual Family Fun Day, is a new part of the Opening Day Celebration at the Blue Cross RiverRink. Families can enjoy various Holiday events around Center City and help your kids make their own holiday costumes at one of 10 Creation Stations from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m, where they can become a ballerina, a toy soldier, a snowflake, or a decorated tree...and then head over to a holiday "Costume Bash," located at the Blue Cross RiverRink with refreshments, games, and entertainment from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kids in costume can skate free!
Saturday, November 29 will feature a free screening of the newly released DVD, "Pirates of the Caribbean" inside the heated Pavilion, part of the new Reels on the Rink feature. Activities for kids will include, "pirate-themed" make-and-take crafts, interactive games with slices of Rinky's birthday cake for all.
Premiering on Sunday, November 30, will be a new regular attraction from 6 to 9 p.m. It's the "Battle of the Bands!" The Blue Cross RiverRink Pavilion will be converted to every up and coming band's dream ... a performing space for great, new talent. Friends and family are invited to cheer them on and help discover great new talent!
Penn's Landing Corporation is continuing its partnership with the Variety Club of the Delaware Valley with a unique opportunity for children with disabilities. For the third consecutive year, Blue Cross RiverRink Opening Day festivities will include a special sled skating demonstration and session for Variety Club kids on Friday, November 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sled skating allows children with physical disabilities to sit on a sled, which has blades on the bottom. They control the sled skate by propelling themselves with hockey sticks along the ice. The Blue Cross RiverRink then hosts sled skating sessions every Saturday morning throughout the season. For more information about Sled Skating, please call 215-925-RINK.
Throughout the morning on Friday November 28, the children -- who rarely have the opportunity to ice skate, let alone on a public rink - will be treated to hot chocolate and face painting along with sled skating fun on the ice. In addition, one dollar from each skating admission sold from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30 will be donated to the Variety Club.
"Skating at the Blue Cross RiverRink has become a tradition for many families over the past decade," said Dominic Sabatini, president of Penn's Landing Corporation. "We have planned a variety of activities to mark this commemorative year for all-age ice skating enthusiasts. Even non-skaters can enjoy the fun and food in the heated Pavilion. We hope everyone comes to the Blue Cross RiverRink to help us celebrate ten years of winter memories."
Regular skating session hours are Monday to Thursday evenings only 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., 3 - 5:30 p.m., 6 - 8 p.m., 8:30 - 10:30 p.m., and 11 p.m. -1 a.m.; Sunday 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., 3 - 5:30 p.m., and 6 - 9 p.m. Holiday Hours are 10 a.m. - noon, 3 - 5:30 p.m., 6 - 8 p.m., 8:30 - 10:30 p.m. with additional hours on Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Live DJ every Friday and Saturday night from 9 - midnight. Special Sled Skating Sessions for people with disabilities are every Saturday from 9 - 11:30 a.m. Sled Hockey Sessions from 10:30 - 11:30 am each Saturday. Children's activities are planned all season with free face painting or crafts every weekend and special themed events on scheduled weekends.
Independence Blue Cross is the title sponsor of the Blue Cross RiverRink. Other Sponsors include: PNC Bank, Deer Park Water, NBC 10, Pepsi 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 sessions, ice skating lessons, birthday parties or private receptions, please call (215) 925-RINK or visit www.riverrink.com.
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The Blue Cross River Rink logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=354