from uwishunew.com
December 5, 2013
Roundup: A Guide To Public Ice Skating In The Philadelphia Region 2013
Ice skating is synonyms with the winter months and a number of sites throughout Philadelphia invite winter enthusiasts to show off their finest twirl at public ice skating rinks in the region. (Photo by Matt Stanley for DRWC)
Embrace the winter chill with open arms (for balance, of course) by showing off your finest ice skating moves at a number of public ice skating rinks in the Philadelphia region.
The well-loved Blue Cross RiverRink celebrates its 20th year of fine ice skating with a special addition to its Penn’s Landing grounds, Waterfront Winterfest, a pop-up holiday village with a heated restaurant and beer garden, fire pits for s’mores, a holiday light show and much more. So now there’s even more of a reason to head to Penn’s Landing for an evening of ice skating.
This year, Philadelphia welcomes a brand-new ice skating rink, Skate at The Piazza, a 5,000-square-foot pop-up rink complete with live DJs, classic winter movies and more all season long — dust off your ice skates and head to the new attraction!
Beyond the city limits, popular rinks reign in towns like Ardmore and Aston and provide skaters with everything from hockey leagues to free skating sessions throughout the day.
Read on for our picks for public ice skating rinks in the area, below.
• Blue Cross RiverRink: Old City, Market Street & Columbus Boulevard, November 29-March 2. At theBlue Cross RiverRink, an open-air Olympic-size rink on Penn’s Landing, skaters take in a spectacular view of the city while gliding alongside the Delaware River. Debuting this year, a pop-up holiday winter garden and village called Waterfront Winterfest features craft vendors, music, food and drinks. A new holiday-themed light show dazzles every hour from 5 to 11 p.m. Plus, under a massive 400-person warming tent created from recycled shipping containers, folks enjoy comfort food, holiday cocktails and local beers. The rink offers special events throughout the season.
• Skate at The Piazza: Northern Liberties, 1001 N. 2nd Street, November 30-February 23. The city’s newest outdoor rink offers 5,000 square feet of artificial ice for skaters who want to show off their best moves. Through the end of the Sochi Olympics in February, the pop-up rink at Northern Liberties’ Piazza at Schmidts will buzz with activity — live DJs, classic winter movies, a weeknight curling league and a winter market headlined by some of Philadelphia’s most popular food trucks and craft vendors.
• Class of 1923 Rink: University City, 3130 Walnut Street, Open year-round. In addition to being home ice for several local collegiate hockey teams, the Class of 1923 Rink, a NHL-size ice skating rink, hosts a number of youth and adult hockey programs. The rink also offers group and singles freestyle skating lessons, public skating sessions and freestyle sessions. Take note, the rink is closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For the complete schedule, click here.
• Rizzo Rink: Pennsport, 1001 S. Front Street, November 29-mid-March. Rizzo Rink, a covered outdoor rink, is devoted mostly to youth hockey. However, people can take advantage of public skating and skating lessons during various sessions, as well as time slots for open hockey and adult hockey.
• Laura Sims Skate House: West Philadelphia, 200 S. 63rd Street, Open year-round. Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider, Mayor Nutter and other community leaders celebrated the re-opening of a newly converted indoor ice rink in West Philadelphia two years ago. The Laura Sims Skate House, which is located in the Cobbs Creek Park Ice Skating Rink, is open to the public all year long. Enjoy learn to skate programs, public skating sessions, ice hockey instruction and league play.
• Flyers’ Skate Zone: Northeast, 10990 Decatur Road, Open year-round. The draws at this hockey-centric rink — public skating sessions and plenty of opportunities (practice sessions, clinics, teams at various levels) for hockey players to hone their skills on two NHL-size surfaces.
• Simons Ice Rink: West Oak Lane, 7200 Woolston Avenue, Open until February. Simons Ice Rink has everything from chess to spoken word, to art and sewing to ice skating. The rink is open every day through February and is an affordable winter escape as it provides skaters with free admission and $2 skate rental. For public skating times, click here.
• Wissahickon Skating Rink: Northwest, 550 W. Willow Grove Avenue, Open year-round. Freestyle, synchronized skating, hockey and public skating sessions and lessons keep Wissahickon Skating Rink, a family-focused rink, active all throughout the year. For skating enthusiasts, the pro shop specializes in equipment and custom blade sharpening.
• IceWorks Skating Complex: Delaware County, 3100 W. Dutton’s Mill Road, Open year-round.IceWorks Skating Complex boasts four skating surfaces — one Olympic-size and three NHL-size — keep hockey players and figure skaters on ice all year long. Lessons cover all disciplines and skill levels, and the pro shop sells a full line of equipment. Just watching? Guests can catch the action from the cafe or pub.
• Oaks Center Ice: Montgomery County, 100 Pennco Road, Oaks, Open year-round. Skaters of all levels flock to the three NHL-size rinks during dozens of public skating, freestyle and hockey sessions at Oaks Center Ice. Youngsters can get in on the fun of team synchronized skating or compete in the Broadway-style Theater on Ice program.
• Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society Rink: Montgomery County, 220 Holland Road, Open year-round. Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society Rink, America’s first skating club is still one of the finest with high-quality ice for skaters of all levels. The former training center for several national and Olympic champs (including Scott Hamilton), PSCHS welcomes skaters for public lessons, synchronized skating and lessons for beginners to elite levels.
• Skatium: Delaware County, 1002 Darby Road, Open year-round. Staying true to its family-friendly reputation, the Skatium offers programs for all ages and skill levels — hockey clinics, open hockey sessions, figure skating lessons and public skating.
