I've been going to the Winterfest every winter for a few years now, and have always had a good time here! I am usually only skating and getting snacks while I am here. First off: parking is massively expensive. You can usually get lucky and catch some parking if you do a few loops of Christopher Columbus. We got lucky today and only had to walk ~5 minutes in and saved $25 for our visit. On this first Saturday after Christmas, it was obscenely packed. All of our group agreed about two things: the rink was way too packed at times, especially with skaters who did not know how to fall well, let alone how to skate, and that the ice felt like off-roading. That being said, we still had a great time skating together and "bad skater"-watching as we went around the rink for ~1.5 hours. Independence Blue Cross members get admission free + 4 other people, which really drives down the price for skating itself. Would recommend coming if you have a local with you, since most people in the city are on IBX insurance. Rentals are still steep at $12, but if that's the only thing you're paying for skating if you park on Christopher Columbus, I'd feel OK about that! Even with all the crowds, this is a nice place to hang around when it's cold out! There's the fire pits and the indoor tent with the food, where they even had couches this year to relax on in between or after skating. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - A scenic place if you can filter out the craziness of the crowds! - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Such a cozy, beautiful place for winters! The ice rink is big with a pretty backdrop of a majestic Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel. They are quick with the skates and you get free admission with an IBX insurance card (yay!). The food by Cantina La Martina is just as expected - great! Hot chocolate at the Lodge bar is delicious and creamy (I was half expecting it to be a thin mess like Swiss miss but so glad its not!). read more

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RiveRink has been here since when I was little, but I don't recall ever really going to too many Winterfest events. Apparently it's been around 30 years, so also since I was little, but this felt like my first one, or at least my first in a long while. Overall, it's cute. They have many things to do, especially if you have little persons. The Lodge is nice for adult beverages and resting in a warm place. We went for an Eagles-themed event and, needless to say, it was crowded but the area was capable of holding everyone in a way that didn't feel overwhelming. My only criticisms: As with most things these days, the prices were sky-high, and my little one wanted to partake in everything, including the ferris wheel ($$$). I left spending a hefty amount and am just thankful it was just us two that I needed to finance for the evening. Just the skate rental itself was $12 per person. Reading the reviews from 2015 and 2016, I long for the prices of old. Also, the rink itself was bustling with people and that honestly, to me, creates a dangerous environment. My child never did feel comfortable skating and the skate helper didn't feel useful on the quality of ice out there. Because of the many skaters, the ice is most often sliced up and horrible to skate on. I am not a complete beginner skater, but I am also not intermediate to advanced, so I was a little scared at times but made it around safely a few times, despite what I felt were unsafe conditions - tons of people hanging on the wall, skaters weaving in and out, and the aformentioned choppy ice. Perhaps on a night with less skaters I would return and enjoy the skating portion. read more

I like visiting here. We've rented "cozy cabins" to entertain friends since our city apartment is so small. There are heaters and blankets to keep everyone warm. There are hot beverages and alcoholic beverages available. Folks could order food on their phones for pickup in the lodge. (We haven't bought the catering packages.) Some friends ice skated while others preferred to hang near the heaters. The staff who handle the cabins have been very friendly and helpful each year. We get to host friends at a "cabin" that has ice skating, a ferris wheel, and boardwalk games--very cool. The whole place is decorated nicely. The only down side is the proximity of the cabins to the fire pits. When the wind blows the wrong way, the cabins get filled with smoke. Each year, all of our clothing and any items we bring smell like a campfire afterward, and I cough for about 24 hours afterward. It sounds like the wood inevitably gets wet, so it is really smoky when they add it to the fire pits. read more

I absolutely love this place! Perfect for a date night or even some fun for the kids (that are old enough to ice skate). Here's the run down: It's free to get into but there's a $20 fee to park in their lot. If you're balling on a budget I would suggest finding metered street parking & walking. Also, there's usually a Groupon where you can get ice skating tickets for a fraction of the normal price. There's a few activities that include ice skating, arcade games, and corn hole. You won't need to worry about the cold weather. There are plenty of outdoor heaters and fire pits to keep everyone fairly warm. They have small decorated cabins that are available to rent for a decent rate that fit about 10-20 people. For food they have your basic go to options. There is a Chickie's & Pete's inside the heated lodge which seemed to be very popular. For the adults there are alcoholic beverages available! I tried the salted caramel hot chocolate with rum and it was amazing! Overall I had a great time & I can't wait to return. read more

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We love coming here. This is the fifth times I came here with friends. It's always a good time. It's beautifully decorated and lots of lights. There are fire pit you can reserve to sit around the fire with your friends. There are also cabins you can reserve to hang with friends, they're super cute. However, pricey I think. For fire pit, it's $75 to reserve it. Also, if you use blue cross blue shield for your insurance, you get discount to ice skating rental and admission. Pretty cool. There are also fair games you can play to win prices. This place might be one of my favorite places in Philly. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

So much fun. Celebrated my birthday with ice skating and I wanted one of the cabins. Family food bucket from Chickie and Pete's was the right move! We got plenty of food for four adults and one kiddo for $30. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - people walking around - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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.

Love this rink! It's the best in the Philly area and close to the highway if you're coming outside of the city. It's inexpensive and free entry if you have an IBX insurance card. Perfect ambience for holiday photos. The restaurant has chickpea & Pete's, a bar for spiked drinks (and hot chocolate). There's dessert options and arcade games. It's the cutest winter wonderland! read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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What a cute little carnival down at Penns Landing. We went for roller skating - after too many years than I care to divulge here :) It's a pretty good sized rink and well maintained. I don't know how long it's been here but I'm glad it is here. The rental skates are well maintained and in good nick. If you forget to bring socks, don't worry, they sell them there for $3. There's also a discount on the ticket price if you have a Blue Cross Healthcare card with you. Staff are visible and fortunately for me remembering all my old moves - lol - I didn't fall once so didn't need their assistance. The roller skating is only available during the summer months but I wish they offered it indoors on wooden floors like some of the older venues used to & with air conditioning. Nice little place for an afternoon out! read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place is seriously the cutest! I was so impressed with the fact that they put these lodge areas, couches and perfect ski trip scenes under an overpass in the middle of philadelphia! Even my hardup Latino parents were all about taking pictures on the couches. We came just to see what is was about and not ice skate, as it was raining, and I am so glad we stayed! We spent a few minutes rating the epic falls on the ice and cringing at the possible finger amputations that could occur on the ice. Then we walked around, grabbed a drink by the firepits and genuinely enjoyed relaxing and chatting as if we were off for a weekend at the poconos. After quite a few photo ops we got into a serious air hockey battle in the arcade, right before finding the oversized Connect 4 for more "friendly" competition. Sadly we had just had dinner, otherwise it would have been great to grab some chickie & pete's fries or anything else from the delicious vendors inside. This place is great for families, friends, adults, kids and of course...yelpers! Also it is open until late, we were there at 10 PM and it still had a good crowd. I look forward to coming back. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Skating rink - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I'm seriously considering buying some ice skates for next winter thanks to the riverside rink at Winterfest. With my BCBS insurance card, the small skate fee ($3 adults, $2 kids) is waived. Of course they really make their money from the $10 skate rental fee. But the thought of being able to exercise for free every winter is almost tempting enough to make me invest in my own pair! I didn't even realize I still knew how to ice skate until my 7 year old son insisted on going this year. Although that didn't work out so well, I rediscovered an activity that I used to really enjoy. And what desk jockey couldn't use a compelling reason to go outside and exercise? Beyond the rink, there is plenty to amuse both kids and grown folk alike from the indoor arcade to the outdoor fire pits, food stands and beverages. We've been on crowded nights with the whole family, and it was super festive over the holiday season. I'm generally annoyed by crowds but the atmosphere was so fun that it felt like a nice shared experience with everyone. Maybe I was just tipsy. Anyway, the kids loved the big connect 4 games outdoors & with the twinkly lights, oversized chairs and river view everyone left happy. read more

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This place is amazing!!! So much to do and the atmosphere is great. They have small tables and chairs outside where you can sit under a shelter, some of which are near a fire, which makes it much warmer. They also have an ice skating rink, which I wish we could have tried but we didn't have time. Outside, they also have a Christmas tree and lots of vendors selling hot chocolate etc. Inside, they have a ton of food available (both vegan and non-vegan), including a burger place and Chickie's and Pete's. We ordered fries from Village Burger and they were delicious! They also showed the 76ers game on TV and the crowd got very hyped. There is plenty of seating available (picnic table-style) and they keep the place warm. Also, another plus - they have spiked holiday beverages!! The apple-apple (warm cider with apple Jim Beam) was delicious!!! Definitely would recommend for a date or family outing! read more

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Really had a lot of fun here. Loved the firepit even though I smelled extra crispy and smoky after lol. My only caveat is this-I got really bad blisters from the skates. Could barely walked to the car or get inside and around my home last night. So if you have your own skates-bring them. If not the bring cushioned socks to avoid blisters. read more

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We had a great time at this event. Not much for ice skating but there were plenty of people who enjoyed it. There is plenty to do other than ice skate, you can enter the arcade and play games with the kids or if you are an adult you can play too. Also they have a family area where you can sit by a fire and enjoy a drink or some food. Plenty of places to take pics with family and friends. They also have games to play-connect four and corn hole were two that I saw. Overall it is a fun place to stop at and people watch if you just rather just sit and have a drink. Enjoy and have fun. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'm so glad the Lodge has its own review page! I can't stand up straight on ice skates, but this pop-up lodge next to the rink? It's wonderful! You can come here, drink some beer and pretend winter isn't completely awful and gross for a couple hours. I came here during the Brewfest event so my experience might have been different than on a regular night. The lodge was packed to the gills with people sampling away with neon green bracelets on. PS: What a great event idea? Maybe making it ticketed entry would have been better to control the crowd flow a little bit, but otherwise, thumbs up! It's not heated inside, but it's not as cold as it is outside, of course. Plus, you can distract yourself by playing some fun games, like the tabletop hockey game! Fun, fun. Beer selections and prices were great. Food? Not so much. My burger was so sad looking. It was the most pathetic burger I had seen in a long time. It was definitely not worth the price. I recommend eating ahead of time. I was still hungry after finishing it, which is saying quite a bit. You can also head outside to a colorfully lit area where there are also perfect photo-ops with Mr. Ben. Yep. Big fan. read more

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Unless you plan on actually ice skating, I think you're going to be bored with this little festival. When I went the rink was temporarily closed, so I took some time to wander around the grounds a little. Let me tell you, this place is so tiny. Of course it's super cute and aesthetically pleasing at least. I can imagine it's nicest near the holidays, lit up with decorations. There's plenty of food options at least (despite a hefty price tag), and the lodge is mercifully heated. There's an extremely small arcade that kids might get a kick out of, but adults will most likely be underwhelmed by. Go closer to the holidays for the full experience. Make sure you get to skate. Aside from those things, there's not a whole lot being offered here. read more

This place is super cute, my husband and I came with our dog and enjoyed the scenery and outdoor seating with the fire pit, the cabin was super cute but wasn't too cold so we didn't need to go inside. We had our dog so we didn't skate. The decor was nicely done. Glad to see a tree after Christmas read more

Went here with the hunny on Valentines weekend. Specifically Saturday the 13th. It was freezing out but we both had a nice time. We skated for about an hour then headed inside to grab some food. We had a burger and fries with short rib. It was tasty but a bit overpriced Overall it was a very nice setup for pictures and to enjoy ice skating. read more

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This is a fun wintertime activity for couples, families or groups. The outdoor skating rink does get very crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. I always buy my tickets in advance because sometimes they do sell out of the most popular times. The skates aren't great quality but they're fine if you're a once-a-year skater like me whose just looking to go around the rink a dozen times. The lodge area has some casual food options like Chickie's and Pete's crab fries and this year a barbecue spot. The outdoor fire pit area also has an ice cream stand and I think you can buy ingredients to make s'mores. Fire pits and cabins require advance reservations. I've planned a corporate teambuilding event here, for which we rented a cabin and for catering, and it was a fun change of pace from bowling or other indoor winter options. They have a full bar with signature drinks like spiked hot chocolate and apple cider as well as local beers. All in all it's a fun, affordable winter activity - if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance you get in for free, just have to rent skates ($10 pp). Although there is onsite parking, it'll run you $20/car. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love winter fest! It's so bright, cozy, and inviting. The atmosphere is unbeatable. The food is good- I love the crab fries, fried Oreos, and drinks! As of 12/5/2020, the COVID setup is that there are no outside limitations except for wearing a mask. The number of people inside the lodge is ljmited by I had no trouble getting a table. I LOVE the setup for ordering you- you scan a QR code that's on your table, order & pay on your phone, then they deliver it to you. read more

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Been coming here for years They now charge $25 to sit in chairs that have been free..... $25 ?!?!?!? What a ripoff Won't be back. Too many great places in Philly to go read more

Brought to you my the amazing ladies of Art Star and the ingenious folks who orchestrated PHS Broad Street Garden this summer, comes the Winterfest (or here, the Lodge at the Waterfront) Cobbled together from recycling shipping containers (brilliant), strewn with festive white lights, banners, serving alcohol and delicious bites, this is the perfect scenic accompaniment to the ice rink adjacent. Adorable fire pits can keep you warm outside as you sip on an alcoholic cider, hot chocolate with absolut vanilla or a very seasonally appropriate Victory Winter Cheer - or choose to stay indoors and hang out on the bales of hay or play a little ping pong. Super family friendly by day, and perfect holiday destination by night. For the next weekends, Fridays - Sundays into the New Year, there will be a rotating selection of vendors selling their wares (skip KOP!) - perfect for your thoughtful and unique holiday shopping pickins! read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Inside the recycled shipping containers. Toasty! - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you're a basic b*tch like me, you'll love Winterfest and all it has to offer. If you're athletic, there is ice skating! For real b*tches there is The Lodge: an Abercrombie & Fitch vision of an Aspen ski lodge, complete with moose head printouts and doors that lead to nowhere. For the perks: all draft beers are $6 and liquor drinks are $8, but must be mixed with something else. Did not try the food here, but I did spy cheese fries, which looked really good. All & all, I will return. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Door to nowhere. - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Though hard to find, the pop up beer garden in Penn's Landing was worth the schlep on foot. In Philadelphia for a weekend trip, my boyfriend and I were looking for something to do on our first night out in the city. I heard about the light show by the Blue Cross River Rink on the Visit Philly website, which also mentioned the Lodge. I was skeptical about a beer garden in the winter time, but was pleasantly surprised by the set-up and happily content with the brews. I hope the Lodge is in Philly next December. I'll definitely be there! read more

Such a beautiful, wonderful, fun place!!! My boyfriend brought my kids and I and we all loved it! Not only is there ice skating, but there's an arcade, a lodge with classic games (a huge connect four, jenga, etc) For all those vegans out there, they have the "Impossible Burger" at one of there many food stands. Unfortunately, they do not have any Gluten Free options for food but for Adult Beverages, they do! Not too expensive either. You will not be disappointed with this fun venue!!! read more

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This was easily one of my favorite things to do this winter. Both times I went, I brought my children and over those visits, we did ice skating, smo'res by the fire pit, rocked in the rocking chairs, drank beer and cocktails and enjoyed food from the food truck and indoor restaurant, and played games in the arcade. I loved all of the variety of activity that ranged from things to do with the kids and adults. One of the weekend nights we went, there was free beer tastings and quizzo. So fun. Some of the stuff is really pricey though. I wish ice skating wasn't so much and the $8 we spent for a smo'res kit was ridiculous (4 marshmallows, 1 chocolate bar, and some graham crackers). Our marshmallows were super stale too, yuck. But other than that, this place is a blast! read more

The Lodge is fun. This is where you can sit down and hang out , grab those beers, spiked hot chocolates or Cider & Whiskeys. They have jenga for you to play, a curling table. I really like their couch set ups -- it's really homey. They even have blankets for you to completely lounge out and hang out with your friends. The cons -- the hockey tables are broken, both of them. IMO, either fix them or remove them -- they're useless. The menu is pretty delicious sounding -- but a bit harder for someone that has stopped eating beef and pork. They do have a black bean burger but I wish there were more options. Overall, cool place to hang out read more

Come here and expect: a crowd, an awesome setting to enjoy a night out, craft beer and hot bevies What I got from it: I was visiting Philly for my second time and was hoping to catch some interesting stuff during the Christmas season. Nothing like a viewing Christmas trees, families, and lights galore! I found this listed in a "sights-of-the-season" section of a tourist guide, and decided it was worth checking out since there actually wasn't too much promoted to do during the regular December time versus the tourist-filled schedule of events the week of and the week after Christmas. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! WOW, this is so legit! They successfully built a frekin "pop-up-cabin-in-the-woods" on the waterfront! How did they do this??!! There are a few 80s arcade games, they offer craft beer, hot drinks with and without alcohol, diner food, and it's super well heated! Good luck finding a spot on the luxuriously comfy couches next to the fireplace!!! Get there way early and maybe you will--I mean like on a weekday, around 5pm when everyone else is commuting. Another awesome element they had was rocking chairs lining the outside, under heat-lamps, WITH heavy blankets = total protection from the cold while still being outside! How cozy is this? I took a nap when it was 35F after some beer and lots of walking. I will always remember that nap as being one of the best experiences in Philly....how crazy great is that?! But really, it was that. GREAT. You live in Philly? You need to come here a few times, with friends. Don't expect fast service since there are so many people and many children. Don't expect to get full. This is a place to hang-out. So chill....under a canopy of warmth. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Like I said...luxurious comfy couches near a fireplace...all in a pop up tent. - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lots of skating time, every skate sizes available Vendors were plentiful, ice was cold, read more

We paid for 3 "new years" party tickets...which includes snack, still here... it's taking hours, personally it's not that important, but to advertise that!!! after we spent so much money over the years at this place since it has opened is deplorable ! read more

Love The Lodge at the RiverRink! My husband's former company threw his farewell party there, and we had a private area catered with huge trays of Chickie's crab fries. Amazing. I was back again for a family fun night on Saturday and we had a blast. The ice was pretty crowded for the 5pm skate but not enough that you couldn't get around without knocking into people, if you can skate somewhat strategically. I did see quite a few spills. Our crew ice skated for probably 25 minutes tops before we decided to warm up in The Lodge. I love the selection of beers, wine and hot spiked beverages. There are also food offerings from Chickie & Pete's, Garces and Franklin Fountain. We grabbed a bunch of food to share and I have to admit the cheesesteak from C&P's hit the spot. Why not five stars? The bathroom situation is dire. It's one of those trailer bathrooms that are often just fine, but looked absolutely gross on the night we visited. I took one look and turned right back around. The bathrooms inside the rink are a much safer bet. read more

This place is INCREDIBLE! I knew going in that I was going to love it because it's by the same people that set up the Pop Up Garden on Broad. And this place didn't fail to deliver! The grounds are gorgeously landscaped (PHS wouldn't have it any other way) and the lights are stunning. The drinks are great (see the picture I posted) and my favorite is the spiked hot cider. The hot chocolate with vanilla vodka was awesome too, but a little too heavy for me to drink all night. But if you're a chocolate lover, it's a safe bet you'll never go without vanilla vodka in your cocoa ever again. The food was delicious! They had mashed potato fritters...yes balls of fluffy mashed potatoes and delicately deep fried served atop short rib. You read that right. I split one with the fiance and then went back up and got another order. The turkey leg with gravy looked insane, and by the speed that my friend ate it- I'm assuming it was great too. The vegetarian chili was perfectly spiced and made my meat loving fiance a convert (so much so, he stole it from me. lol). Head over here for the skating, the s'mores by the fire, the drinks and just to relax in something that looks like a classic Christmas movie. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Awesome cider! - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place is the absolute cutest. Came here with a group of friends to ice skate and hang out. Feels exactly like a ski lodge. We got some drinks and went outside to sit around the fire until it was our turn to skate. Very comfortable. Ice rink was a little crowded but expected for a Saturday in December. Also lots and lots of kids but nothing to complain about. Would definitely bring my family or friends here. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friend had a birthday party here and rented out a double cabin. The cabin was adorable and was a great place for our group of approximately 20 people to socialize. The cabin, though it had a fireplace, did not feel as warm since it isn't enclosed. However, the indoor area that hosts the bars and restaurants is enclosed and heated. There is plenty of seating and games/activities in there. Between fire pits, log trees, rocking chairs, xoxo Philly structures, Christmas trees, lights, and ice skating with a view of the Ben Franklin bridge, there are tons of photo opportunities. I had eaten before arriving not realizing how many food options were on site including a Chickie and Pete's and a Franklin Fountain. There were also fun winter cocktails in addition to the usual drink selection, like spiked hot chocolate, coffee, and apple cider. Tip: if you have Independence Blue Cross insurance, you don't have to pay the $3 admission to ice skate. Just $10 for skate rental. You can reserve a time slot to skate in advance online. read more

Love love love this place. The perfect place immerse you in the holiday mood. The cute swing chairs for couples, the fire pits, lodge, cabins, Christmas tree, string lights, pine bushes, skating rink and the music. Be ready to get transported to the magical winter wonderland with nice drinks, chickies and pete's (can't thank them enough for the crab fries), village burger (they do have a veggie black bean burger), and cool drinks. read more

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest - Outdoor area with fire pits - Comfort Food Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I'm not sure if The Lodge is just the tent area or the entire space surrounding the ice skating rink? (arcade, Franklin Fountain, fire pits). I'll say that it is. The Lodge is basically a winter version of Philly's summer Spruce Street Harbor Park. The layout is spacious and separated in distinct social areas. I entered the arcade section, which includes faux patios with rocker chairs (small ones for kids maybe?). The arcade is in a tent so provides shelter from the elements. Games are overpriced but what the hell, its a pop-up. There are three air hockey tables. The one on the right (closest to the parking lot) had a bad puck, so i wasted a $1 on that. Patrons in this section were more urban males. We made our way towards the Lodge but first scoping out the ice skating rink. The speakers were kinda messed up skipping songs, etc. The rink was crowded. We skipped ice skating as we had an infant with us. The lodge itself is pretty cool. There are a few "living room" set up with faux fireplaces and has a cottage/log cabin feel. There are picnic tables scattered with food and beer vendor in the back. The miss would be the bathroom. I understand it is a pop up, but the bathroom trailer for the men's room was whack. They should get the ones like Independent Beer garden. Much more spacious and less grimey looking. I can't imagine what the women's one looks like. Beer was not marked up too much, $6. The outside area is lit up with some lights and surrounded by chairs, tables, picnic tables, fire pits. It was a warm night for December (50-60s) so the firepits weren't roaring.. instead, it was smokey so the smell was a bit unpleasant. There is also a pop-up franklin fountain whichi thought was a nice touch. The small cabin structure is really cute too. Service was nice but a bit slow? I assume it took a while to make the coffee drinks ahead of my order of one scoop of vanilla. The shipping containers in the rear are make shift cabin living rooms. These looked really cozy but were all occupied. The beer garden /Lodge area were mostly filled with Yuppies while the ice skating rink were a younger/teen/family oriented crowd--essentially the same crowd make up from SSHP. Overall, i think this a really good addition to the winter nightlife scene in Philly. read more

This place is awesome! I didn't get a chance to visit in the 2013-2014 season, so I was really glad when they not only brought this back, but also added more features. My husband and I ended up here two nights in a row over Christmas Break. Interestingly enough, we didn't even skate either night! The first night, we were by ourselves and hung out in the firepit area, while drinking spiked hot chocolate and local beers. Prices are on the higher side, but honestly, they aren't more than you'd pay elsewhere in old city. We didn't get a chance to eat there, but the selection seemed small and the wait was massive. I'd suggest eating elsewhere. The second night, we met up with my husband's cousins (he has something crazy like 20+ cousins just on his mom's side). We had a picnic table with about 10-12 people and it was perfect. It's a good place for a group because you can just buy yourself food and drinks as you go, without having to wait for a waitress and then split the bill (and all the other things that annoying about going out with a group). If you want to skate, I've heard its free if you are a BlueCross insurance holder (but you have to rent skates). Not sure about the prices, but from what I remember, it's not crazy expensive. Also, the rink is pretty big and has nice views of the water. Overall, this is a great place for a date night, group outing with friends, or a family night. I highly recommend for a fun winter activity that won't break the bank. read more

A few friends and I took a trip here on New Years Day, hoping the place wouldn't be overly crowded with all the mummers festivities happening in town. While it was definitely busy, it also felt suprisingly manageable. I had been to the rink/lodge last year and this year most definitely takes the cake. We loved all the lights still hanging around from Spruce Street Harbor and the light show every so often was great. The food selection was also awesome (hello, Distrito tacos!) and the cozy atmosphere in the lodge was perfect for after skating in the cold. My only critique is that is was $8 (!!!) for a S'mores kit that served two people. In it you got 4 Marshmallows, plenty of graham crackers, but only enough chocolate for one s'more each. While I find one to be enough...it should not cost $8 and the marshmallows should at least be fresh....ours were a bit stale. Props to the idea of providing the option to have reese's instead of plain chocolate, though- that was a win. read more

Due to the unseasonably warm December so far, we were nervous that the RiverRink would be closed. To our luck, it mustered up the resources to make sure that our holiday party would be a success. Even on a Wednesday evening the rink was full of people of all ages having a great time. I'd imagine that it gets fairly crowded on the weekends, so I would absolutely suggest a week night. After skating, we rested in our cottages that were immaculately decorated for the season/occasion. There were plush pillows and warm fleece blankets throughout. The heaters that they have in there are mighty warm too. We had light bites by Garces catering; some were typical (salsa & guacamole with chips, hummus with pita) but there were a few stand outs, such as the pineapple jicama salad and sea salt chocolate chip cookies. While there was a bar window outside, next to the cottages, it didn't seem like anyone was manning it. Perhaps it only opens on weekends. We went into the Lodge to get our drinks, which some people wanted more a selection. Right now they have about 6 beers on tap (mostly local) and spiked cocoa and hot apple cider (but no plain mixed drinks). read more