What You’ll Be Eating and Drinking at RiverRink and Winterfest This Year

The seasonal park returns Nov. 27 for its third year as Winterfest

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The Lodge at Winterfest | Photo by Matt Stanley


Blue Cross RiverRink
 is now approaching its 22nd year as an outdoor ice-skating rink and this marks the third year of Winterfest – a seasonal park and winter wonderland.

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation teamed up with partners to transform Penn’s Landing into a majestic holiday landscape, which will be open to the public beginning Black Friday, Nov. 27. 

The ice-skating rink surrounded by an illuminated winter forest, sits next to a chalet-style lodge with food and drinks from local Philly establishments like the Garces Group and Franklin Fountain.

The Lodge’s ski-chalet cozy cabin setting was a big hit last year, this season they added a new component to expand the scene. An entire section of the park is now dedicated to to stylized winter warming cottages, fire-pits and Franklin Fountain’s Confectionary Cabin.

The Confectionary Cabin, surrounded by fire-pits, will introduce a brand-new menu featuring hot drinks and sweet treats. Menu items will include ice-cream waffle sandwiches from Franklin Fountain including traditional Belgian waffles, chocolate waffles and gingerbread spiced waffles, drinking chocolate from Shane’s Confectionary Chocolate Cafe and s’mores kits with graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows, all made on-site.

You can also cuddle up with some ice-cream next to the warm fire-pits and try seasonal flavors including, cinnamon, eggnog, hot chocolate, vanilla and peppermint stick (also available dairy-free). Of course there will be hot beverages too like warm apple-cider, coffee and glogg.

Jose Garces’s restaurant group returns with guest favorites and adding some new items. “The Village Burger” will return along with rotating burger specials like a house-made veggie burger, short-rib and queso fresco topped fries. They will also offer sausages and hotdogs including, a Chicago-style dog, Bavarian salt pretzels with lager mustard, and a potato-bun grilled cheese sandwich with roasted tomato soup. On weekends, the Distrito Taco Stand will roll up to The Lodge serving traditional Mexican street tacos. Gluten-free items will also available.

But most importantly — we can’t forget about the alcohol.

There will be three different bar locations throughout The Lodge at peak times. The craft beer program will highlight local and regional beers and feature hot cocktails made with hot chocolate, spiked cider, plus additional Irish coffee.

The Lodge Bar and Restaurant will be open seven days a week, Franklin Fountain’s Confectionery Cabin will be open Thursday – Sunday and Distrito’s Taco Stand will be open Friday – Sunday. Times are subject to change and more information can be found on the website.

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest [Official]