Independence Blue Cross RiverRink

Took the kids today, we are from Florida. And what an amazing experience! This has been the best place to take them to ice skate for the first time as it was not crowded! Their first time ice skating! We also played at the Arcade and they won 5 prices from the machines!! If you buy tickets in advance online they give you $5 off with a promo code, that I missed a letter and didn’t take! But that was my fault! Kids skated and nobody rushed them to get out when time was over! Everyone working here was very nice!

Great place! We had so much fun in the cabin, unfortunately the fireplace was broken and didn't give heat but there is a little ceiling heater and blankets, they do want and bag check before you go in to be safe. Staff is very friendly!

This event space was beautiful. In addition to the huge ice skating rink, there were fire pits, log cabins, great food vendors and bar, a huge Ferris wheel and games. The photo ops were endless. Great set up with water front and city scape views.

Staff made you feel safe & they were all polite. The rink is absolutely amazing for all ages groups. We rented a cabin and it was so cute to take photos in, as well as warm. They have a little arcade and some food vendors which is an added touch. I especially like how you can park right on-site!

I had the opportunity to spend the day at the RiverRink on New Year's Day with my boyfriend during Winterfest. We arrived early and had prepurchased tickets online. The lounge was warm, spacious, and beautifully decorated for the season. There was ample space for lounging or eating at a picnic table from one of the food vendors. We had tacos and guacamole from Cantina la Martina which were absolutely delicious. It was evident that the ingredients were fresh and prepared upon order. I had brought my own skates, so the price of $5.00 for 90 minutes of skating was a steal. My boyfriend rented skates and had to request another pair after it became apparent that the first pair were never sharpened (there were no edges on them-they were blunt as they are from factory). The lockers were $1.00 per use and very spacious. The rink itself is beautifully maintained and picturesque with the city line on one side and bridge and river on the other. The ice is cut routinely after each 90 minute session. The Ferris Wheel beside the river also adds to the aesthetic and appeal of the area. The outdoor cabins and fire pits are available for rent for 90 minute increments and are rink side. It can easily be made into a day event with the available food vendors outdoors (ice cream and funnel cakes) and indoor arcade area. There are also beautiful seating areas throughout the space (think wooden swings and rockers) which have heat as well. Overall, I would highly recommend a day at the RiverRink, especially if you love ice skating. I was able to skate for 3 hours (brought my own skates) for only $10! It is very kid-friendly with security present at all entrances and skating staff monitoring the ice during each session. This will definitely become a winter tradition for me for years to come!

I recently visited Independence Blue Cross RiverRink for a public ice skating session, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish! The rink was well-maintained, with smooth ice that made skating enjoyable for both beginners and experienced skaters. What stood out most was the atmosphere—great music, festive lighting, and a positive energy that made the experience memorable for the whole family. Whether you’re looking for a fun activity with friends, a romantic outing, or something to do with kids, this is the perfect place to go!

Lovely ice rink. Went with a friend and we were pleasantly surprised with a show on the ice along with a tree lighting ceremony. The food is also quite good, and I strongly recommend getting the carne asada tacos from Cantina La Martina! The rink also boasts an arcade and a Ferris wheel. Don’t miss you and spend a Friday night here!

In Penn’s landing it could have been even better. More cleaner and more organized. Ride attendant were not much professional though they were friendly and helpful with the kids. The whole environment was not so great for some unknown reason. It was a great Saturday evening, people were looking enthusiastic to have a great time, yet something was missing. I don’t know what, may be next time this will work better for us!

Came here for the first time for a date night and we absolutely had fun. Right when you walk in, there's a huge Christmas tree where you can take nice pictures and also games that you can play to win prizes. As you walk in, the place is nicely decorated with Christmas decorations and it was just an amazing vibe. We went and got our ice skating admission ticket and also rentals. There's lockers that you can place your belongings in, just need to pay $1 for it. Ice skating was a whole lot of fun. After, we went and got some drinks from the bar and the chocolate crimpet is so delicious and also the pumpkin IPA draft beer. Highly recommend going during the holidays!

Came here on a date. I didn't die so I'd say it's a total vibe. There were lots of people even on a Thursday. Firepits and private "cabins" are definitely a luxe treat and aren't super expensive. They sell s'mores kits to go with. I had some delicious taquitos and they offer a variety of other food and cocktails. It's a great place to go with friends, family, or a date.

Very disappointed this place has changed for the worst in my opinion and experience. Very sad, I will not be going back. I have been going to the Riverrink since it opened. Up until this season I have not had issue. This season they have young staff that do not do their jobs. They allow people to hang out on the ice walls, while their are people that need the walls for assistance. Also skilled skaters are skating in the opposite directions. People with the assist plastic walkers were sitting on the on the ice. Absolutely no staff, wich were three at the entrance, doing their job.

Do not buy tickets in advance. They will not allow a refund for any reason if you can't attend and customer service is not helpful.

This rink is huge and oversees the Delaware River. Many activities to do other than ice skating such as arcade games, mini golf, lounging around the bonfire, and getting hot chocolate! The rink is a decent size. It's best to come at night because everything is lit up and more festive but if you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend morning/afternoon hours. My only suggestion is to resurface the ice more often if the rink is pretty busy because it's difficult as it is to skate with a crowd of people but with smoother ice, it makes it more tolerable. Overall, I prefer this rink over dilworth park's rink because it's bigger and parking is guaranteed $20.

What an experience. Being from Florida, I was in absolute awe. Went to Groupon to get a cheaper deal. The rink is actually fairly big and the atmosphere is something from a dream. Again, I'm from Florida haha You have a view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, a Christmas tree, and a Ferris wheel while on the ice. On the other side they have little huts you can reserve with a nice seating area. Indoor restaurant with swings outside and cute tea lights up above. Would highly recommend.

PACKED... book in advance... either the day before (use their online site) or early in the morning for later in the day slot on the ice. Plenty of skates to rent in ALL sizes. The rink is big-enough and they try and limit the people coming in so that it does not feel like a herd of wildebeest running in the corral. My advice... book a time and then show up about 20-30 minutes AFTER the start time... when most of the newbies are tired and have already walked off the ice. Staff was nice, but you could tell they are over-worked, and under-paid. Also... take an Ride-Share here.. DO NOT attempt to find any parking or to navigate your way down. Have them drop you off at the start of the overpass on the other side of the high-way and just walk across and down the steps. Same goes when you leave... Walk up and across the bridge for a cheaper and faster ride home.

Came for Summerfest on a Saturday evening and had such a fun time! Reserved my admission/skate rental ticket online ahead of time, although seemed like plenty of people walked up and purchased tickets on site. The rink was not as big as I expected but it also never felt overcrowded. A few other plusses are lockers available for $1 and no limit on how long you can skate. There was plenty of parking available, but it is also just a short walk from Center City. Great value for a day or night of fun!

I have been to this skating rink two years in a row now. I haven't learned my lesson that I can't skate and won't know how to unless I take lessons. Still, this is a fun place to come to when it's not a weekend or Friday evening during the winter. To get there, walk all the way down on Chestnut Street toward the water, go down the stairs. The entrance is a bit hard to find, but it's to the left and around the corner. It looks empty until you see the hundreds of people down below. My boyfriend and I visited for at most 30 minutes only because I wasn't having much fun not falling while he did circle figure eights. You can get a discount on skate rentals/admission if you have Blue Cross as your insurance provider; we didn't. Otherwise, the skate rentals are about $24 for two people and admission to the rink. The skates are not very good, the laces are worn and old, and the ice is mostly safe to travel across if you know what you're doing. You are allotted a two-hour window, but I imagine you could stay longer and no one would notice. There are intervals where everyone must clear the rink so that the zamboni can smooth the ice. Locker rentals for shoes and other stuff require quarters (there's a coin machine) and you can't re-enter the locker unless you pay the rental fee again. There is a faux ski lodge area to the side where you can take pictures in front of signs and props, go play in one of the many arcade games, and buy unsatisfactory and overpriced s'mores for $6. The s'mores are really, really not worth it---trust me! The restrooms are not clean and easily avoidable; try to go elsewhere beforehand or afterwards.

Came here for a date the other night and it was lovely. Just a heads up if you are coming/leaving via Uber or Lyft it can be confusing as hell, so definitely specify where you're at. I had a couple issues. My only other negative is that it was packed! People are mostly wearing mask skating, but it is kind of disconcerting the amount of people that were there. They didn't enforce masks if someone had there's off or pulled down. Additionally, there was no temperature screenings or capacity limits to my knowledge. I know we were mainly outside, but more precautions could have been taken. Other than that - I loved it! We ice skated and bought tickets/rentals in advance. There's lots of food and drink options - all pretty affordable and the aesthetic truly is festive. A winter wonderland, they do a great job! They also have heat lamps and fire pits in an effort to stay warm. And cute little cabins to sit in - you'll need a ressy here, worth it! Highly recommend - I'll be back!

I'm not big on ice skating but I'm always open to challenging myself and socializing with friends. My wife and I went to the River rink with friends visiting in town to enjoy what the place had to offer which included food trucks, music, fair games, and lots of friendly faces. There were folks of all ages Ice skating and falling everywhere so there was plenty of entertainment as well. The free fire pits nearby was a nice addition for taking a break on the comfortable skates and the lockers were great for storage while we warmed up.

Very disappointed with their customer service. I had family members visiting from Puerto Rico with me .Fist time here in Philadelphia They have all these young folks working there are rude . I ask to speak to manager but didn't get help. I left disgusted

Came here on a Saturday afternoon to meet up with the boys friend. We've been down this way well over a dozen times but have not been I ice skating before. We arrived early so walked around and checked out the lodge, etc. It was all quaint and very warm inside. They had cute little fire pits (not sure how you can make use of one but they are super cute). There are several food options as well. Franklins Fountain has a hot chocolate stand (didn't walk up to it so I'm sure there's more than just hot chocolate). There's also a Chickie & Pete's, Village Burger and a beer spot inside the lodge. Tons of seating and tv's around the space so you can watch whatever game is on. Parking next door and surrounding area will run you approx $20-25. Use the spot hero app to find cheaper parking a few blocks away and make a whole day of it.

I stopped to enjoy a temperature friendly day during the holiday tree lighting and I'm glad I did. During the evening there were a lot of free items and events. There is a large tent area called The Lodge with seats and heat. Outside of the 'lodge' area you will find several seating areas with fire pits. Inside the lodge there are a lot of food and drink options. Although the venue can become crowded there are plenty of seats for everyone and you will have a chance to enjoy the fire pits to get warm. During the tree lighting this year (2017) there were several local entertainers and a special performance by Grammy nominated recording artist Chanté Moore. Santa made an appearance for several hours, he took selfies and spread joy throughout. If you are looking to skate and are lucky enough to have Independence Blue Cross 1st, as your insurance carrier and 2nd you can get into the actual 'rink' for free (admission is $3 per person) for up to 4 people with one Independence/Blue Cross insurance card, remember the rental of skates is ($10). Baby it may be cold outside, but it's worth the fun in a family friendly environment.

I came during Thanksgiving opening weekend with 4 friends. You pay outside for admission ($3), which you can get for free for up to 4 people with one Independence/Blue Cross insurance card, and rental skates ($10). You actually pick a 90-minute session to skate, so it's not just open skate for however long you want. We skated during 3-4:30 pm on a Sunday, which was pretty busy and had a beautiful view of Penn's Landing, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, etc. Then you go inside with the ticket and can pick up the rental skates. They only have whole sizes so I had to get a size down from what I normally wear. My feet were killing me in the rental skates, but apparently you just have to get used to that because you don't want to skate in loose skates and risk twisting your ankle. You want it to be snug, but maybe not too tight because then you can't stop thinking about the pain. The lockers for you to put your belongings while you skate require 4 quarters, and you can exchange $1 or $5 bills for quarters at the machines. I was able to fit the shoes and bags for 2-3 people per locker. I usually only skate once a year, but this place is really close to me so I think I might invest in some skates to come here for free! It was a bit stressful with the more experienced folks zipping past me like Ant Man and then kids and adults learning to skate for the first time with arms flailing and everything. I'm not very good at steering myself away but if people stay out of my way I can skate laps without hitting anything haha. I also really liked the music that was playing--lots of Coldplay, the Fray, One Republic, John Mayer, that kinda stuff. Talk about a throwback! At the end of the session they make an announcement and everyone has to exit the rink for them to use the Zamboni to smooth out the ice. Definitely coming back more throughout the season and would highly recommend you to check it out!

Honestly, I think the only reason this is a 4 for me is because IBX members get free admission for up to 4 people. It's decent ice for being outdoors next to the river, but it does get pretty crowded. Never been here during the summer so I don't know what the roller side is like. Skate rental is grossly expensive for the quality of skates but I guess they have to make their money somewhere! The lockers are kind of small, but considering they're $1.00 per, it's not the worst if you need to take up a couple. I like the whole "Winterfest" setup, but actually buying anything is so expensive, and with Old City and the rest of center city down the street, it's hard for me to actually spend any real money here. Definitely a cute idea to rent out for an event, if that's up your alley.

My teen is a competitive skater so the Public Skate is not her thing but she enjoys the River Rink from time to time each winter. Lots of special events here too. Gets crowded.

This is such a great idea but it needs a lot of improvement in many areas. 1- the whole reason for going is to skate, right. The ice surface is like skating on concrete, absolutely horrible. Ruts, gullies, uneven ice, etc. Even after the ice is resurfaced it is still in really bad shape. Need to spend some money on maintaining the ice properly. 2-The fire pits absolutely have to go. The entire venue is covered in a haze of smoke that leaves your eyes and throat burning. We could barely stay in line for ice cream with coats over our mouths to screen out the smoke. The firepits provide no real heat they are just for ambiance. How about buying propane fire pits and prevent customers from being choked out everywhere you go inside. 3- the arcade is great, big problem, there is no attendant so when the machines take your money it's your tough luck. We got ripped off putting money into an air hockey table and it wouldn't start the game. We watched dozens of people put money into the 2 tables that didn't work. Nobody is there to supervise or put an out-of-order sign on the machines that don't work but they are glad to take your money. 4- $25 for a bucket of chickee and pete's french fries. $9 for a funnel cake. Need I say more. This is not a family/price friendly place to eat. The food overall is pretty bad for what you pay for so I would make other arrangements. Eat before you come or go after. 5- The place is there to make money and they cut every corner to get it.

We took a weekend trip to Philadelphia from NYC during the holidays. We at the HIlton PEnn's LAnding Hotel which is a 5 minute walk to the RiverRink. We decided to take a walk one evening. The Scenery is amazing with the ice rink, tree and shops set to the backdrop of the river and bridge. If you got on top you can get some great photos of everything. On a Sunday night, there were a lot of people there but I wouldn't say it was overcrowded. There is of course ice skating which is $4 for ice skating with a $10 for skate rental. There were helpers/assistants on the rink as well to regulate traffic and help out. There are a few discounts including college students ad group rates, so ask before paying. There is a small arcade there too...skeeball etc. There are a bunch of food options there including A dessert place, a pizza place, a burger place and also a Chickie and Petes. Expect to pay about $10-12 for a sandwich and $3-4 for basic beverages. The price mark-up was not as much as I expected, so kudos to them or that. There is parking lot there but I am not sure how much it is. (About $20 ish I would guess) There is also adequate staff there, so I never felt unsafe at any time

Visited Blue Cross River Rink with a group of friends on a Sunday night and had a great time! The whole area is decorated so intricately, it really feels like you're at a ski lodge rather than in Philly! There is much more to do than just ice skate. There a lots of fire pits and cozy little cabins with heaters as well as yard games. There are a variety of food and drink options to snack or sip while you hang by the fire as well! There is also an indoor beer hall and arcade area. We had so much fun ice skating. Check the times ahead of time, you have to choose a 90 min period and if you arrive in the middle of one, you choose between waiting or losing part of your time. I feel like the rink is much larger than the city hall rink, and I think this one has better music as well. My only real issue with our experience was the skate rentals. The ice skates are old and many pairs are broken, I had to return mine three times to get functional skates. Would be thrilled to see them upgrade their skates!

This place is awesome!!! Went here after our dinner for our anniversary and the roller rink was awesome, not too crowded and many staff watching and assisting as necessary. Extremely fair priced as well. The ferris wheel is great with a wonderful view of the city and lights. The carnival games were fun but a bit overpriced for the prizes given. I will definitely be returning to the rink.

Parking's easier here than at Penn's skating rink, and it's certainly more accessible. Such convenience comes at a price: This rink is almost always more crowded[1]. Not a horrible date idea, if you don't mind an audience. The rink's ice is smoothed out regularly, and there's usually decent music piped in. The view isn't amazing, but it's better than staring at stands. Hungry? There are concessions where you can buy food. (Nothing's cheap, of course.) Without skates? Rentals are available. Blue Cross's crowd is a turnoff to me[2], but otherwise it's a standard rink to be enjoyed by all ages. [1] Not necessarily a demerit, but not ideal when you're skating. [2] Rare for me, but it happens to the best of us.

Although I've been in Philly for almost 5 years, I only made my way to this ice skating rink for the first time last year. That experience was pleasant, but nothing really blew my mind. Fast forward to this winter, I came back for a second visit, and I swear that from that point forward, I dreamed of living at Blue Cross River Rink so that I could spend every waking hour skating here all day and all night. As part of the this year's "Winterfest," they completely beautified the place (compared to last year) by embellishing it with colorful lights, holiday trees, rustic furniture, and fire pits. It's a great place to hang out with a group of friends or to just skate while admiring the view of the river and Ben Franklin bridge. Start out by skating your heart away (for free if you are a BC/BS cardholder!) and warm up with food and beverages in "The Lodge" - a chalet-style beer and food tent. I even got my own figure skates so I could come here often without having to pay ongoing skate rentals. For those who also want to use your own new skates, you can get them sharpened here for $10 (cash only). The lockers cost $1 (quarters only) each time you open them, but they are pretty roomy and can fit shoes and handbags.

We visited Philly three times over the past year and a half, and were thrilled to see the River Rink has seemingly become a year-round destination in Penn's Landing! In the winter time, you'll get an outdoor skating rink with free admission (if you have your own skates), and a DJ performing. On one side of the rink, they have bales of hay for seating surrounding several pit fire set ups, and if that weren't enough, you can buy a s'mores kit and make your own treats. A handful of other food and craft vendors are on site for snacking, and for the adults in the crowd, beer and wine are for sale as well. And if you're in need of a Christmas tree, they've got those here as well. The rope lighting and other decorations really transform an otherwise barren waterfront space and bring you into the season. Indoors, you have access to a huge tented area, complete with lawn games, beer hall-style seating, additional vendors, and some background tunes. We recently stopped in Philly this summer on our way from MD to NY, and were pleased to see the River Rink once again up and running. What we thought was a winter-only event was in full swing for the summer season - as long as you're OK with roller skating/blading instead. Everything else was pretty much intact, sans the fire pits. I hope River Rink remains a regular fixture in Penn's Landing and look forward to returning! Keep up the great job!

They did such a nice job decorating, this place was gorgeous and so much fun! The cabins are adorable and highly recommended:) the rink was a little too packed but hey, that's what you get for going on opening weekend. This is a great place to take friends and family. Rent your own little "cabin" and enjoy some good food and desserts. They also have an arcade room and fire pits to make s'mores!

Love what they have done with the place. I'm not big into skating so I come here for the other perks :). The lodge is super cute / warm. They have chickies and Pete's, village burger and a section for adult becerageAlso there is a section to play arcade games and they have 5 different air hockey tables! That's the most I have seen in a place. The one thing i did not like were the chestnuts. We spend $8 and got like 5 chestnuts and they were all rotten :(....kinda disappointing since i love them!

This place is cool because it's outside. Dress warmly. (Way better than skating inside a hockey rink). Things to know: *You can only skate within 90min slots, and your time is up. Come at the right time to enjoy all your time. *Parking is $20 *No kids on backpacks. No backpacks altogether. *Free if you bring your Blue Cross insurance card *There are Groupon deals with significant discounts. Have fun!

Drove an hour to get here and it was closed after I called and spoke to someone and she said they were open. We had a whole conversation of how I can pay at the box office and not necessarily online. Took all 4 of my children here and we arrived and everything was closed at 7pm. The website said they didn't close until 11pm. I can't explain how truly disappointed we were after paying for gas toll and parking just for everything to be closed. The sad part is I spoke to a human being that told me they were open! My kids have been wanting to go here for a while now. Too bad the first time they got to go we were turned away!

This update is a bit late since our second trip here was in December but I came across some photos we took and wanted to share. Husband planned everything weeks in advanced and reserved a "cabin" for the two of us - when we checked in a nice worker walked us over and gave us the layout of the venue. It was a freezing night but these half rooms are heated nicely and we were toasty. The only sour note was two obnoxious people asked if we belonged there - if we paid for sitting there. They were rude and loud and then one of them tripped over the ropes that divided the space - karma huh? Great date night!

$4 rentals, ~$10 admission for about 2 hours. Not a bad price for the cute Penn's landing location, and the view of the city while gliding around the ice rink. Cons? shoe rentals STINK. I know shoe rentals are supposed to stink, but our shoes were EXTRA stinky. Also, $12 parking - A bit heavy if you're just trying to ride around the rink for about an hour.

The staff working the skate rentals were very rude. They have some sort of entitlement for some reason, and whenever I asked a question they were not helpful and gave unnecessary attitude. Will not be coming back here again, do better.

The Blue Cross River Rink has transformed over the last 10 years into a Wintry Wonderland surrounded by lights, food vendors, an arcade, and fire pits. After years since my last visit, I finally decided to plan a double date with a couple friends to visit the rink once again. The skating admission is $3 and skate rentals are $10. *If you have Independence Blue Cross insurance, bring your card for a discount! The line to pick up your skate rentals go by quickly, so if you end up in the back of the line, it's all good. They also offer lockers to store your shoes for $1 (quarters). They have an exchange cash to coins machine, so dollar bills are fine. The decor and lights were beautiful overlooking the river. It definitely uplifted my spirits just being there. My one complaint is that the skates are very narrow and uncomfortable. We all had to take multiple breaks because our feet were throbbing in pain. Perhaps spending on a fresh new pair of ice skates is more worth it in the long run than to suffer through painful skates. Instead of spending $13 each visit, why not bring your own *comfortable* ice skating shoes and spending only $3? Amirite? :D Overall, a fun & uplifting experience. I'll definitely come back, but with my own ice skating shoes.

Huge update this year! (on the look at first) $3 for admission $10 for skate rental They got rid of that crappy food court food and got some new things outside. Haven't eaten there yet but my friend got a hot dog & that smelled good. There is also a fire pit & firewood in the back with a cart that sells hot chocolate, apple cider, etc. The inside of the giant metal boxes smell SOOOOOOO bad though! Oh! There is also a light show every hour and as cool as it was, it looked like .... All I could think of was what it must look like if someone was on drugs looking at lights. And why is Santa so ..... Why is he rapping, what is with the dancers, just .. what? Let's just say I was very disappointed with the light show! Also, the music this year is pretty boring. If you're going to play boring stuff, at least play some more Christmas music too!

Why do they put these things in phlly? its jam packed on any given day of the week. it's as clean as it can be for place with 3 million people at any given time of the day. and parking.....yeah right. Pros: it's only a few month out of the year, the atmosphere screams WINTER WONDERLAND Cons: everything else. it's not my thing but you might like it. go. park, spend $20 to park in a seedy place, enjoy yourself.

One of the best places for outdoor ice skating in Philadelphia. The rink is a decent size and they do an OK job regulating the number of people on the ice, so it doesn't get too crowded, even in high season. But there's more to it than just skating -- it really feels like Christmas when you're here! The decorations have improved dramatically in the last 3 years or so; in addition to music and fancy choreographed lights, there's an entire Christmas village next to the rink, with several Christmas trees, more lights, a spot with rocking chairs and blankets, indoor seating, food, and Santa and all his elves! (kidding about the elves, but serious about everything else) So there's plenty to do even if you don't want to skate the whole time, or if you don't skate but want to tag along with your friends that do! The ice itself here is just OK; they run a Zamboni on it every 90 min, but it degrades relatively quickly if there are a lot of people, and gets pretty bumpy by the end of each skate session. But that's how it usually is at public rinks. The one drawback to this place is that the rentals are expensive ($10 for 90min) and the men's skates are really terrible; not only are the blades really dull so it's hard to use the edges, but sometimes the skates are damp from the previous person's sweat. I'd definitely recommend bringing (or buying) your own skates -- if you come here more than 2-3 times a season you'll make the money back in no time. Free admission (normally $3 / 90min) if you show your Blue Cross insurance card!

The Blue Cross River Rink has been added to my Christmas activities traditions list- right next to the love park holiday shops and the Macy's light show. The River Rink is so much more than just a frozen patch of ice for people to skate circles on. There is a huge Christmas tree in the center of everything, surrounded by fire pits to keep warm or toast marshmallows on. Large rocking chairs are located all over the place, topped with warm blankets.Christmas lights hung everywhere- even lights that dance to the music. There are also two large tents- one for kids with arcade games, and another that serves alcoholic beverages. The beer tent is amazing. There are small seating areas set up around fireplaces, and large picnic tables with games on top of them. Although the tent is huge, it has a very cozy wintery feel. Drinks run anywhere from $6 - $10. The ice skating rink is in the center of everything and has a large platform around it for people watching. Rink admission tickets are $3, and ice skate rentals are $10. If you have a Blue Cross insurance card your admission is waved for you and three of your guests. If you have your own skates- you can skip the rentals. So if you have your own skates, and have blue cross insurance- you're ready for a free fun night out on the ice! Admission to the ice rink runs at different times, so it is never toooo crowded on the ice at one time. They also clean the ice after each session, but after the first few minutes the ice gets ruff and snowy again- which is fine for first timers. Beware- there are some show offs who will skate circles around the rest of us. The Blue Cross River Rink is the perfect place for a family trip or a date. Make sure you get your skating in quick- as the River Rink closes down on January 4th. Hours vary on the day- so check out their website.

I came here with two of my friends this past January and let me just say that we picked a really bad day. It was FREEZING. I was cold through my gloves, jacket, socks and of course we decided to go ice skating that day of all the things we chose an outdoor activity. But we had a blast! It was so much fun! I haven't ice skated in over 5 years before this, so it took some time to get the hang of it. But it's very family friendly so although I was going at a pace of 1 mph, no one around me seemed to be getting annoyed. Since it was too cold, my friends and I cut our skating time a little short and had a few picture sessions near all of the awesome decorations and scenery they provided. We warmed up a little in the tent/building they had with a bunch of craft vendors with food and drinks. I will definitely go back again this winter but on a slightly warmer day for sure!

So happy to have been able to spend an afternoon here! My biggest tip would be to go during an off-peak time, as long lines and a crowded rink can make for an uncomfortable experience. I went on a Thursday afternoon (it closes early!) and there was plenty of room on the ice. If have Bluecross insurance, bring your card to get free admission! Skates are $10 to rent and lockers are a dollar (quarters only, but theres a machine that gives change). My first pair of skates were a brown pair and they were so uncomfortable, I couldn't even go one lap around the rink without feeling like my ankles were about to give in. That might have been the fit of those particular skates, but when I swapped them out for the ice hockey skates, I was SO much better off. They have much better support in the angle region especially. There is food, hot drinks, beer, and warm cabins to hang out in. Similarly to the summer time spruce street harbor games, there is life size connect 4, jenga, and plenty of photo ops. I love the decor and the heat lamps are so cozy! Again, I would stress going at an off-peak time because then it's easier to get a cabin to sit in.

So glad that I finally got down to his place! Rink is good size, but still very crowded, better than dilworth for sure though! The cabins are a great size! They also have heat lamps which are great! Can be hard to get a spot by the fire around 8ish, but around 11, it was less crowded and also had less kids. The beer selection is good, but pretty pricey, 8 bucks for a draft. Had the burgers from village burger which were really good! Definitely will be back!

Updated: Had a negative experience here in terms of customer experience and hygienic practices. This review has to do with the roller skating rink. This rink charges $13 for skating admission (and $1 for locker rental) and then allows non-paying, non-customers to objectify and photograph customers who have not consented to being photographed. This is theft. Also, sanitary practices are lacking at this rink. The staff sprays disinfectant on the tongue of the skate, but not on the inside of the boot, and skates/blades smell like foot-related bacteria unlike I've ever experienced at other rinks. If you ask the staff to spray the boot again, they will generally spray the boots tongue even while you are standing there, so there seems to be a lack of training on the use/purpose of the spray. The good: The folks at the sales desk, selling the tickets, were very nice. The DJ and music were good. The bad: However, the staff at that skate desk (renting out the skates) were generally contemptuous of customers, and were not pleasant. They slammed down skates, gave the wrong size skates, and were generally rude. This skating rink also allows professional photographers who haven't paid to photograph paying customers as they skate. I'm very surprised that any business would allow their facilities to be photographed. The rink asks guests to sign a release so that business owners (the skating rink) can photograph them. So it was clear that the rink understands the law around professional photography of folks without consent. The rink did not do any visible photographing during our skating. However, European tourist photographers showed up with telephoto lenses to take photographs today without permission of the persons being photograph or of the skating rink. We alerted management. Management confirmed that these were not their photographers and that they had not given them permission to photograph, either. They did speak to the photographers. However, they wouldn't ask the photographers (who had not paid anything - lurking near the edges) to leave. The photographers were spoken to, but instead of leaving, they waited for the manager to leave and moved to a new location to start photographing again. As paying customers, we were shocked that professional photographers off the street were allowed to take these photos on privately run property which they can then take and sell. I've not seen a business, especially in a city like Philadelphia, allow this activity. Also, it was unethical to steal photographs of people (private citizens who have not given consent), and this activity made several people really uncomfortable. Again, really surprising to see this lack of basic service and consideration for paying customers. Because the roller rink did no remedy the issue, we left. A waste of $14. I especially wouldn't recommend this rink to women or to families with children, as such professional photography without consent is allowed at this skating rink.

Beautiful! It was one of the nicest outdoor rinks I've ever been to. I live in SF, so I love the Union Square one when it's in season. The arcade area was smaller than I'd expected, and seemed to be catered toward children. But the large open area with the fireplaces, jenga, alcohol, and open tables was amazing. Super cozy! And everyone was so friendly in there! The ice skating side with the locker rentals, on the other hand, was another story. The skates were outdated, tattered, with the laces all ripped. Every encounter with them for size inquiries, or questions of any sort, were either ignored or responded to with such attitude that we finally decided to just suck it up and skate with the deficient skates we were given. (bummer). This ended up cutting our skating time short, because our feet hurt so bad. :(

Great place to hang out with friends. Along with skating rink there's arcade section, good beer and great fries. Please not that they do not allow outside food or drinks/cigarettes.

It's okay. Lots of money-grabbing, not the least of which is the TWENTY DOLLAR WTF PARKING. And the funnel cake guy is, frankly, a dick. I stood there waiting to be acknowledged by him so I could order. Finally Miss Beautiful asked him for an apple cobbler and the best she got was a frown and a shake of the head no.

I adore the river rink. I absolutely adore it. Talk about the ultimate date destination! I went here twice last year with my boyfriend and I am just SO excited to be going back for our third visit this Friday! Warm fireplaces, holiday cheer, and holiday beer. Not to mention the fire pits, local finger foods, and the porch with chairs and blankets! I couldn't ask for a more perfect winter destination. Make sure you stop here! It's only $3 to get in and $10 to rent skates!

The River Rink this year compared with last year is like night and day. While I haven't yet made it to Winterfest (currently open only on weekends through March), the awesome trees, lights and decorations everywhere, plus the seating areas and fire pits, really elevated a night of skating. Somehow, the view of the river was even more beautiful with the twinkling lights around the rink. Tonight, we took my thirteen year old brother ice skating for his very first time. It was a fun activity for everyone, despite the varying age differences in our group. We clearly weren't alone in this thought process; the rink was pretty packed with families, couples and teenagers for the 7-8:30pm skate session and the ice got pretty snowy just forty-five minutes in. Parking was a whopping twelve dollars, and since we came from various start points and had two cars to four people, that was a bummer. Skating costs only three dollars but skate rental is ten. Yowch. Had I known that flashing my Blue Cross insurance card would get our skating comped, I wouldn't have left it securely at home! Of course, moments after paying I noticed all the lockers (one dollar per use). Gah! So my suggestions to save a few bucks would be to carpool, and bring your own skates if possible. Don't forget that BXBS insurance card or student ID, if you've got one!

Fun for the whole family even if you've never I've skated before!! The scenery alone is awesome, the Ben Franklin bridge and center city in the background along with the water and all of the xmas lights is really cool. 3 people was $36

I love this place. Its much nicer at night though when the darkness covers all the flaws of the area. This is a great place for people who don't know how to skate at all. I've always had a blast here. Its near by the water so the temperatures are significantly lower here. Come prepared, wear layers and it'll serve too purposes. It'll keep you warm and keep you from getting hurt when you fall. The lobby has some good hot chocolate if you need a break and want to warm up. They also have games for people who don't want to skate and even Karaoke! This is a good place to bring a date or come with a group of people who can't skate. Its fun to watch everyone fall. The pros usually skate in the middle of the rink while newcomers stay to the edges to hold on for dear life. It does get crowded on some theme nights such as Valentines day when the ice is colored red and slow music is playing. Its very romantic if that's what you're looking for. Most importantly, its affordable and fun.

Saturday night was unexpectedly mild, and I was really excited to take advantage of the weather and go ice skating at the River Rink! Unfortunately, upon arrival, my boyfriend and I realized the tickets were sold out for the next hour and a half, boo! We did not wait around to skate, but instead had drinks by a fire pit. The hot chocolate with vanilla vodka was really good (I kept stealing sips!)...To console my sadness about not skating, we decided to fill the void with some sugar. I was disappointed that ONE smore from Franklin Fountain costs $6...that seemed outrageous to me! We instead got 4 marshmallows (with sticks) for $5. They are homemade by FF, so don't expect the same nostalgic taste from Jet Puff. While yummy, they melted really strangelt because they were homemade. While they probably contained less toxic chemicals, they left us somewhat craving the good old Jet Puff. Even without skating, we definitely enjoyed our date. There is a lot to do here, from outdoor games, arcade games, watching the flat screen TV, etc. Next time, we are coming on a weeknight where we can hopefully hit the ice!

Everything's what you make of it with the River Rink being no exception. Pessimism /VS./ Optimism Exhibit A: "God this is awful. Do there really need to be 963257 rambunctious teenagers skating around like complete idiots?" /VS./ "Let's wait and catch the later timeslot - it'll be an older crowd and there will be less people." Exhibit B: "This crap costs $11? I could be watching TV for free right now." /VS./ "Thank you, BlueCross Insurance Card for saving me and 3 of my friends $2 each AND scoring us free hot cocoas" (the December promotion) Exhibit C: "This DJ sucks." /VS./ "It's not an eclectic mix tape from NPR's all songs considered but hey, I can dance along to some Top 40 every now and then." Exhibit D: "Really? A view of Camden? Who picked this place again?" /VS./ "What a clear night - check out the flashing lights along the Benjamin Franklin Bridge!" Exhibit E: "Is it really going to flurry right now? OF ALL DAYS." /VS./ "Ah, I think it's starting to snow! Soo glad we bundled up for tonight." Okay okay, enough with the life lesson. But seriously, put on those rose-colored glasses and give yourself a chance to enjoy the experience! The River Rink is no frills: the skates aren't new & shiny, the rink's not colossal, the warming tent's nothing fancy - but hey, it's the only public outdoor ice rink in the city and it's a fun and different wintertime activity. You'll like it if you want to, I promise :)