Everything You Need to Know About Penn’s Landing’s Summerfest Including Games, Fireworks, & Shows!
Everything You Need to Know About Penn’s Landing’s Summerfest Including Games, Fireworks, & Shows!
Philadelphia’s only outdoor roller skating rink is back this summer for its third season and opened to record breaking crowds this past Memorial Day Weekend. But the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) is pulling out all of the stops to ensure that the 2017 summer on the waterfront will be the most exciting yet. Opening on June 23rd, a new section which will be known as The Summerfest Midway will make its debut as the finishing touch in completing Philadelphia’s urban boardwalk. And what would a boardwalk be without rides and games?
The Midway’s main attraction is without a doubt the 60-foot Ferris Wheel ($4 per person to ride) that will transform the skyline and offer rides with panoramic views across the river and a birds eye view of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest and beyond.
Operated by Skelly’s Amusements, The Midway will open with a 60-foot, 16 gondola Ferris Wheel, accompanied by a carousel ($3 per person to ride). The Ferris Wheel will operate from The Midway’s opening on June 23rd through July 9th. The popular Pharoah’s Fury swinging boat ride ($4 per person to ride) will bring new energy and shake things up (literally!) from July 10th through July 23rd at which point the Ferris Wheel will return and run through August 14th. A Typhoon Magic Carpet ride ($4 per person to ride) will cap off the season. In short, the carousel will be a permanent attraction throughout Summerfest, while the featured ride will change between the Ferris Wheel, the Pharoah’s Fury swinging boat ride, and the Typhoon Magic Carpet ride.
Of course, boardwalk entertainment would not be complete without a collection of exciting games and the chance to win great prizes. The Midway will include six pay-as-you-go games including:
Water Race ($3 per player)
A group of players shoot water at a target, making their character rise. The first player that makes it to the top of the game wins. The more players there are, the larger the size prize.
Basketball game ($2 a shot or 3 for $5)
Players take aim and shoot their basketball into the basketball net.
Balloon Bust (3 darts for $5)
Players aim and throw their dart at a board filled with inflated balloons. The more balloons the player breaks, the bigger their prize is.
High Striker/Ring the Bell game (3 swings for $5, everyone wins a prize)
Kids get to show how strong they are by swinging a kid-sized hammer at a target. Hit the target hard enough and they ring the bell. And if they don’t ring the bell, they’re still winning!
Cork Gun game ($5 to play, players keep shooting until they win)
Players use an old-fashioned Daisy cork gun to shoot corks at plastic cups. The player keeps shooting until they knock one over. The prize size is listed on the cup they knock over.
Break a plate game (3 balls for $5)
Players take aim at plastic plates lined up side by side in rows. Break 2 plates with a ball and win a prize.
HOURS (subject to change):
Rides
Monday through Thursday– 1:00pm-10:30pm
Friday– 1:00pm-12:30am
Saturday– 11:00am-12:30am
Sunday– 11:00am-10:30pm
Midway Games
Monday through Thursday– 5:00pm-10:30pm
Friday– 5:00pm-12:30am
Saturday– 11:00am-12:30am
Sunday– 11:00am-10:30pm
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest complements its fellow waterfront attractions; Race Street Pier, Pier 68, Washington Ave. Pier, and Spruce Street Harbor Park sustained by Univest Bank and Trust Co. (SSHP) on the Delaware River Waterfront, and provides a strong summertime counterpart to the ever-popular Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest. The roller skating rink, which is made possible by the continued generosity of Independence Blue Cross, provides a fantastic outdoor summer activity for family, friends and date nights.
The Artful Golfer is the place to practice your mini-golf game and enjoy the artwork of local artist, Peter Slavin who’s work now graces each of the nine holes along the course. Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will be open seven days a week through Labor Day. Perhaps one of the most popular opening weekend features was Zoltar who tells your fortune for $1.00.
Chickie’s and Pete’s Waterfront Crabshack is back by popular demand, this year with the addition of weekly Thursday night all-you-can-eat snow crab feasts for $40 per person. The air-conditioned space features picnic tables with paper table covering, crab pots, and beach-themed décor. Ice cream and treats from Franklin Fountain offer sweet relief on those upcoming hot summer nights.
Paired with the continued activity at Spruce Street Harbor Park, weekly themed nights, weekend programming and special events throughout the summer, and soon featuring the highly anticipated addition of The Midway, the third season of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest has already begun to set the idyllic scene to enjoy summer days and nights.
FIREWORKS SCHEDULE
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest goers can enjoy as many as five fireworks shows over the river throughout the summer.
- June 30– 9:30 p.m. – The Philadelphia Orchestra Neighborhood Concert presented by Wells Fargo and Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by Comcast NBCUniversal & Pyrotecnico over the Delaware River Waterfront
- July 1– 9:30 p.m. – United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by Comcast NBCUniversal & Pyrotecnico over the Delaware River Waterfront
- July 4– 9:30 p.m. – Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by Comcast NBCUniversal & Pyrotecnico over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- July 4– 9:30 p.m. – Freedom Festival Fireworks at Wiggins Park over the Delaware River Waterfront Sponsored by the Camden County Chosen Board of Freeholders
SPECIAL EVENTS & PROGRAMMING
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest Late Night Series – NEW for 2017!
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest offers a series of late night events for those 21 years of age and older. The late night series takes place after Summerfest closes to the public. All events are ticketed and include a drink and a night of themed activities. The series themes are as follows:
- June 15– Caddyshack Classic: complete with a Caddyshack screening, mini-golf, Yards Beer, and a costume contest.
- July 20th – TBA
- August 24th – TBA
Visit our website for the latest schedule of events.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Blue Cross Summerfest Season is May 26 – September 3.
Admission
$3 admission, $10 skate rental
Admission is free for all Independence Blue Cross cardholders and employees
Visitors are welcome to bring their own skates
Hours
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest tickets purchased will be for an open skate, offering flexibility and fun for our guests.
- Monday – Thursday, 1pm-11pm
- Friday & Saturday, 11am-1am
- Sunday, 11am-11pm
