PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/19/09 -- Even during the winter months it's important for you and your family to stay healthy. Put down the snacks and soda pop, turn off the gadgets, and join for the Independence Blue Cross Annual HEALTHY KIDS FEST. This event celebrates ways for kids to have fun that encourage adequate nutrition and exercise. The celebration will take place on Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn's Landing on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street.

Ice Skating at the Blue Cross RiverRink can be an invigorating, inexpensive activity that provides an amazing source of exercise and entertainment from the youngest to the more mature in your family. Did you know you can burn an average of 600 calories for every contiguous hour of ice skating. That's almost the equivalent of running 5 miles; GO FIGURE!

HEALTHY KIDS FEST will offer fitness counseling information and demonstrations and engage moms, dads and kids in interactive games to help families conquer the winter months with exercise-oriented fun. Independence Blue Cross will provide free information about preventive health, good nutrition and overall wellness.

An area inside the heated facility will be transformed into a workout center or mini-gym. There will be experts presenting exercise instruction, fitness demonstrations, displaying fitness equipment and providing information on how to stay active all year long. Healthy Snacking can build healthy kids, so there will be free samples from a variety of sponsors and participants.

B101 radio will host this event celebrating healthy kids. B101 will have crafts and special giveaways along with their mascot Buzzbee. Added to the entertainment will be FREE activities including face-painting and make-and-take crafts. The giant video wall inside the heated facility adjacent to the rink will feature family-friendly fitness videos.

Fun fitness games will include: "Healthy Food Bingo" in which the first person to match the foods on the Healthy Foods Bingo Cards to create the proper meal will win a prize. Another game will be "If You Must Snack," allowing participants to compare snacks as they are quizzed on the better snack choices. There will be a variety of games set up for kids to try that are designed specifically to increase coordination and promote good sportsmanship.

HEALTHY KIDS FEST activities are free to the public. Skating sessions cost $8 per person and skating hours during HEALTHY KIDS FEST are from 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Children of Independence Blue Cross Cardholders will skate for free during this special event (Ages 12 and under and up to 4 children per card holder). Skate rental is available for $3. Convenient parking is also available on site for only $10.

Weekend hours at the Blue Cross RiverRink are as follows: Saturday; 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. and Sunday hours are; 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Independence Blue Cross is the founding and presenting sponsor of the Blue Cross RiverRink. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation owns and operates the Blue Cross RiverRink. Other supporters include: TD Bank, CBS 3 and the CW Philly and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

The Blue Cross RiverRink, Philadelphia's only public outdoor ice rink, is located on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street. For more information on HEALTHY KIDS FEST, skating times, lessons, birthday parties or private sessions, please call 215.925.RINK or visit www.riverrink.com.