Winter Guide 2023-2024

#MyPhillyWaterfront

2023-2024

B R O U G H T TO YO U B Y

D E L AWA R E R I V E R W AT E R F R O N T C O R P O R AT I O N

The winter wonderland on the Waterfront is back for its 30th Anniversary Season!

Gather your family and friends to rekindle traditions and enjoy whimsical winter pastimes including skating underneath the twinkling lights, sipping drinks by the fire or inside a toasty cabin, and enjoying delicious winter comfort food inside the festive Lodge.

And that’s not all! Take a spin on the holiday-lit Ferris wheel, marvel at our giant holiday tree, and test your skills with boardwalk amusements or classic arcade games.

With all this fun, Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is the place to create lasting memories this winter season. To top it all off, you can be sure to expect exciting promotions, deals, and events commemorating 30 years of winter fun on the Philly Waterfront.

Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is open 7 days a week including holidays from November 24 through February 20, 2024.

For more details on Waterfront events and to purchase ice skating tickets or a rental, visit RiverRink.com. Securing tickets and rentals in advance is strongly recommended.

Columbus Boulevard at Market Street RiverRink

@IBXRiverRink

@IBXRiverRink

INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS RIVERRINK WINTERFEST IS OPEN NOVEMBER 24, 2023 TO FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Open 7 days a week, including all holidays GENERAL ADMISSION FREE SKATING ADMISSION $5* SKATE RENTAL $12 * Free skating admission for all Independence Blue Cross cardholders and employees

Order Ice Skating Tickets at RiverRink.com

Events at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest OPENING WEEKEND Friday, November 24 — Sunday, November 26 Enjoy FREE ice skating tickets on November 24, courtesy of Independence Blue Cross. Advanced tickets for opening day have already been claimed but a limited number of tickets will be available on site. Plus, join us as we kick off the 30th Anniversary Season, Waterfront style, with a wave of fireworks on November 24 at 6:15PM.

FOOD DRIVE BENEFITING PHILABUNDANCE Friday, November 24 — Sunday, December 31

ZEN OF PHILLY MARKET Sundays, November 26, December 3, 10, and 17, 2:00pm–6:00pm

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING POWERED BY PECO Friday, December 1, 6:00pm–9:00pm

CAMPUS PHILLY’S PHILLY NIGHT OUT Thursday, December 7, 5:00pm–11:00pm

DAYS Saturdays, December 16, January 13, and February 10 (Rain dates are Sunday, December 17, Sunday, January 14, and Sunday, February 11)

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES ON ICE TICKETED Sunday, December 31, 5:00pm–8:00pm and 10:00pm–1:00am

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS ON THE WATERFRONT Sunday, December 31, 6:00pm and Midnight

SATURDAY SOUNDS FEATURING LIVE DJS Saturdays beginning January 6, 7:00pm–10:00pm

SWEETHEART SKATES TICKETED Wednesday, February 14 New events and promotions are always being added!

Continue to visit RiverRink.com for all the latest new additions.

RENTALS Are you looking for a fun and memorable location for your next holiday party, event, or birthday? Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is the perfect location. Celebrate in style with our festive Lodge, rustic Rinkside Lounge, or a cozy cabin and firepit.

THE LODGE This is the perfect party space to warm up your outing. The Lodge can accommodate groups of any size (up to 360 people), with delicious food and beverage catering options.

RINKSIDE LOUNGE Enjoy this heated, après-skate experience featuring plush seating areas, holiday decor, and an exclusive entrance on and off the rink. This space holds up to 40 guests.

CABINS AND FIREPITS Cozy up in a warm cabin or by a firepit for the ultimate winter vibes.

Single cabins fit 8 guests, the double cabin accommodates 15, and firepits are ideal for a gathering of 4.

For more information, contact riverrink@drwc.org. The Rinkside Lounge,

cabins, and firepits can also be reserved online at RiverRink.com.

GROUP SKATING We also offer discounts for group skating for parties of 15 or more.

To book your group outing, contact riverrink@drwc.org.

C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 Y E A R S O F

Brighten up your New Year’s Eve festivities with the time-honored tradition of exhilarating fireworks shows, as we celebrate 30 years of Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest.

Ring in the New Year in style on the Waterfront with your family and thousands of your closest Philly friends. These shows are FREE and open to the public. Can’t attend in person? Tune into NBC10 and Telemundo62 at 6pm for live coverage, and turn on KYW Newsradio 1060AM and 103.9FM to hear the official choreographed soundtrack.

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS ON THE WATERFRONT December 31, 6:00pm and Midnight

Cherry Street Pier is a fantastic destination for winter fun with Artist and Artisans markets, holiday events, and intriguing exhibitions. While you’re here, step out into the beautiful garden to soak in the picturesque views of the Waterfront.

THE ARTISTS SHOP This holiday season, shop small and support local artists while finding perfect gifts for everyone on your list with Cherry Street Pier’s The Artists Shop at

CherryStreetPier.com.

PARK HOURS Cherry Street pier is open 7 days per week. For the most up-to-date hours, visit CherryStreetPier.com.

CherryStreetPier.com Cherry Street Pier

Columbus Boulevard at Cherry Street

@CherryStPier

(Just South of Race Street)

CherryStreetPier

#MyPhillyWaterfront

Cherry Street Pier Events & Exhibitions HOLIDAY MARKETS November 25 and December 2, 9, 16, and 23, 12:00-5:00pm

FIRST FRIDAY AND ARTIST AND ARTISANS MARKET December 1, 4:00pm–9:00pm

PHILADELPHIA DANCE ACADEMY PRESENTS A PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER December 9, 2:30pm

TUBA CHRISTMAS December 17, 2:00pm–3:00pm

NEW YEAR’S EVE KIDS COUNTDOWN PARTY FEATURING FIREWORKS TICKETED December 31, 5:00pm–8:00pm

NEW YEAR’S EVE ADULT COUNTDOWN PARTY FEATURING FIREWORKS TICKETED December 31, 10:00pm–1:00am

5TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION Now through January 1 Commemorate five years of arts and culture at the Pier with this exhibition featuring art from the entire, current cohort of artists.

SEEING THE THE ANTHROPOCENE CURATED BY JULIA CLIFT Now through December 2 Through wide-ranging media, this exhibition fosters understanding of the moment we’re in, inspires personal connections with the natural world, and imagines different potential futures depending on how we act today.

HOLIDAY EXHIBITION WITH WALLS FOR JUSTICE FEATURING CHERRY STREET PIER ARTISTS December 1 – 23 Browse and shop from a collection of beautiful pieces listed at under $100.

New exhibitions and events are always being added!

Visit CherryStreetPier.com for all the latest happenings at the Pier.

The Delaware River Trail is a scenic, multimodal trail running over 3 miles along the Waterfront, connecting from Pier 68 in South Philadelphia to Penn Treaty Park in North Philadelphia.

Columbus Boulevard between Pier 68 and Penn Treaty Park

The Race Street Pier is an awe-inspiring spot with unparalleled views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and Delaware River.

Columbus Boulevard at Race Street

The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing is an ideal location to find peace of mind and marvel at incredible river and bridge views.

Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street

Nature lovers can admire the beauty of both land and river at this ecology-focused and historic spot along the Waterfront.

Columbus Boulevard at Washington Avenue

This peaceful pier allows enthusiasts and newbies alike to fish—or just chill—all year long. (Just remember, you must have a proper state fishing license!)

Columbus Boulevard at Pier 70 Boulevard

ON THE HORIZON Graffiti Pier

Pier 18, originally part of Philadelphia’s industrial history as a coal pier and now affectionately known as “Graffiti Pier,” has played an important part in Philadelphia’s art scene, helping put the city on the map for some of the most creative street art in the world. DRWC’s conceptual design for the pier is inspired and informed by the diverse community of artists and neighbors who have made the space what it is. The concept takes a “light touch” approach that buffers the pier from surrounding development and sea level rise, enhances Waterfront access for nearby neighborhoods, and allows for the continued creation of art while still retaining the special character of pier as it is now.

South Wetlands Park

The southern section of the Waterfront offers a unique opportunity to establish a “tidal wetlands park” between a series of abandoned piers to enhance water and land habitats for ecological resiliency. Over the coming decade, the Waterfront from Washington Avenue and Pier 70 Boulevard will be transformed into a wetlands park. With assistance from the Natural Lands Trust, DRWC purchased the pier and berth spaces with an eye towards improving the riparian ecology and restoring the tidal wetlands while offering unprecedented public access to a naturally reawakening river.

New Park at Penn’s Landing

Stretching from Front Street to the Delaware River and Chestnut to Walnut Streets, the new Park at Penn’s Landing will feature 11 acres of green space, play areas, dining, a performance space, introspective gardens, water features, unparalleled water views and much more. In collaboration with PennPraxis, DRWC convened meetings in neighborhoods across Philadelphia and asked residents how they want to experience this new public space, the results of which informed the Park’s design. Thanks to city, state, and philanthropic leaders, the Park at Penn’s Landing construction began in 2023.

DONATE We wouldn’t be able to do this without you! If you’ve enjoyed ice skating at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, experiencing exhibitions at Cherry Street Pier, strolling the Delaware River Trail, or any of the free programs we produce throughout the year, please consider making

a donation so that we can continue to transform the Waterfront for all of Philadelphia and its visitors.

Celebrating

30 years

of winter fun!

The Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is back and celebrating 30 years as Philadelphia’s favorite winter destination. As the founding sponsor, Independence Blue Cross (IBX) is proud to continue its support of this annual tradition.

Perk alert! IBX members can receive up to four skating admission tickets when they show their member ID card.

Visit ibx.com/discounts for more money-saving deals.

Partners in possibility.

Being your power company means so much more than keeping the lights on and natural gas flowing.

It’s about bringing our communities together. That’s why we are proud to sponsor the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest and kick off the holiday season with Philadelphia’s favorite winter tradition for the past 30 years.

This is our home, too. And neighbors like you inspire us to make our communities even more vibrant, every single day.

Learn more at peco.com

© PECO Energy Company, 2023. All rights reserved.

DelawareRiverWaterfront.com 215-922-2386 Delaware River Waterfront @DelRiverWFront DelawareRiverWaterfront JOSEPH A. FORKIN President, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation A L A N P. H O F F M A N N Chairman, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation Information was correct at press time, but is subject to change.

Photography by Albert Lee, Ananda Connolly, Beaumonde Originals, James Abbott, Maria Young, and Matt Stanley Design by Roni Lagin & Co.

Public programming on the Waterfront would not be possible without the continued support of our partners: