PHILADELPHIA, PA--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 10, 2008 -- The winter months can be brutal for families trying to stay in a healthy fitness routine. You can beat the winter doldrums by spending quality time with the family in a healthy way at the Blue Cross RiverRink. Just in time for New Year's resolutions, families are encouraged to turn off the gadgets, get off the couch and head down to the Blue Cross RiverRink and enjoy a fun filled day of ice skating outdoors.

The Independence Blue Cross Annual HEALTHY KIDS FEST celebrates ways for kids to have fun that encourage adequate nutrition and exercise. The celebration will take place on Sunday, January 11 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.

HEALTHY KIDS FEST provides the opportunity to receive the same fitness counseling expertise as corporations like Independence Blue Cross with Fit Essentials president and owner Don Baxter. Baxter engages moms, dads and kids in interactive games to help families conquer those winter months. Independence Blue Cross will provide free information about nutrition and healthy eating.

St. Christopher's Hospital Healthy Weight Awareness Center will also be on site distributing information about the benefits of a healthy diet and physical activity. The Healthy Weight Awareness Center identifies potential weight problems in children and adolescents and determines medical and possibly surgical treatments to suit each patient's needs.

A party room inside the heated facility will be transformed into a workout center or mini-gym. There will be experts present for 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 of beverages, provided by the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, milk and cheese samples and other healthy snacks courtesy of ACME.

B101 radio will visit the Blue Cross RiverRink as part of this event celebrating healthy kids. They 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: "Better Body Bingo" in which the first person to match the foods on the Better Body 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.

ABOUT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is a 170-bed pediatric hospital located at Erie Avenue at Front Street in Philadelphia, PA. The hospital provides a wide range of pediatric medical and surgical specialties through its affiliation with Drexel University College of Medicine. With a medical staff of more than 270 pediatric specialists, St. Christopher's is a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and provides programs such as kidney transplantation, cancer treatment, burn and wound care, minimally invasive surgery and open heart surgery for the children of the greater Philadelphia area and from around the world. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation's oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is part of Tenet Healthcare Corporation's Hospitals in the Philadelphia market. To learn more about St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, visit www.stchristophershospital.com.

HEALTHY KIDS FEST activities are free to the public. Skating sessions cost $7 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. - to 5:30 p.m. . 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. Admission is $8 for the 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. sessions on Fridays and Saturdays.

Independence Blue Cross is the founding and presenting sponsor of 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.