Buffalo Place promotes Downtown through the management and production of special events and initiatives.

These events work to create a positive Downtown narrative for visitors, employees, and residents. The events roster serves as an opportunity to familiarize the community with Downtown, create memories, and encourage initial and return visitation.

DOWNTOWN COUNTRY MARKET

The 41st Anniversary season of the Downtown Country Market will take place on Main Street in Downtown Buffalo in 2023. The Downtown Country Market is Presented by M&T Bank, Supporting Sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, & Media Partner, The Buffalo News.

Held on Thursdays on Main Street between Court and Church Streets, the Market provides a delightful shopping experience for residents, workers, and visitors, and features an eclectic mix of fresh goods and fine wares. The Downtown Country Market is a proud participant in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Field & Fork Network Double Up Food Bucks Program, and the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York.

The season will begin on Thursday, June 1st and continue weekly on Thursdays through October 12, 2023 between 10am and 2:30pm. Learn more about the Market and apply to be a vendor today by emailing: info@buffaloplace.com. Click here​ to view our Grow Guide for information on peak timing for fresh fruits and vegetables. Click here​ to download our 2023 brochure.

Buffalo Place Inc. is pleased to announce a new free delivery service for customers of the Downtown Country Market. Free delivery of products purchased at the Downtown Country Market will be available during Market hours to any location within the Buffalo Place District (Main, Pearl, Washington Streets between Goodell Street and the Buffalo River).

The delivery service is available as part of a New York State Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant awarded to Buffalo Place. The delivery program will increase the ease of shopping at the market, as well as increase sales for, and better meet the needs of farmers. Typically, shoppers might be limited by what they can carry several blocks back to work or home. Delivery will encourage purchase of more and/or larger items offered for sale by vendors at the Market: bags of apples, pumpkins, hanging baskets, etc. It may also encourage sales to Downtown restaurants, seeking ‘fresh today’ menu offerings for diners.

To schedule free delivery during Market hours, customers are invited to visit the Buffalo Place Community Tent. The tent is set up within the Market area, where Double Up Food Bucks is offered. The Market takes place weekly on Thursdays on Main Street between Court & Church Streets from 10am – 2:30pm through October 12, 2023.

+ LOCAL FARMERS & VENDORS

Buffalo Artisan Food Traders

Amherst | All local speciality food items

Charlie's Greenhouses

Clarence | Fruits and vegetables

Duke's Donuts

Buffalo | Freshly made donuts & hot/cold cider

Ko’s Kettle Corn
Buffalo | Freshly made kettle corn and caramel corn

Najah Corporation

Buffalo | Sauce, chai tea, Somali crepes

Peppermint Farms

East Aurora | Greenhouse specializing in flowers and naturally grown herbs

Senek Farms

Ransomville | Fruits and vegetables

Simone's Natural Creations

Buffalo | Homemade soaps, body butters, lips balms, and bath scrubs

We R Nuts

Hamburg | Homemade roasted nuts

Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza is a free, open-to-the-public ice-skating rink in Downtown Buffalo. The 2023-24 Ice-Skating Season is Presented by Evergreen Health Services. Special thanks to our media sponsor and partner, The Buffalo News.

Rotary Rink is now open for the 2023-24 free ice-skating season!

Rotary Rink is weather dependent. If the air temperature reaches 45 degrees, please call (716) 854-RINK or (716) 856-3150 to check the rink’s status before you come Downtown to skate. ​ Visit our Facebook page for additional information.

Rotary Rink is Downtown Buffalo’s free and open-to-the-public outdoor ice-skating rink, located at the corner of Main and Chippewa Streets at Fountain Plaza. Rotary Rink opened in 1991, the result of ten years of planning and design. The Rotary Club of Buffalo donated $500,000 to the project.

In 1998 Buffalo Place Inc. entered into a partnership with the City of Buffalo to manage the Rink and offer free ice-skating in the heart of Downtown. The program offers families, visitors, residents, and workers the opportunity to ice-skate outdoors in an urban setting, surrounded by many of Buffalo’s architecturally significant buildings.

The official opening of Rotary Rink and the ice-skating season is the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration and the season runs through March on an annual basis. Rotary Rink welcomes many school groups throughout the season, who utilize the Downtown amenity for field trips.

Regular Hours of Operation

Monday: Closed

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 11a-2p, 5p-9p

Saturday: 11a-9p

Sunday: 11a-6p

Last ice-skate rental 30 minutes prior to closing

Special Holiday Hours

February 19 - 23: 11a-9p

Birthday Parties, Celebrations, School Groups

Download our 2023-24 School Group Form

Download our 2023-24 Birthday Party Form

To host a party or special event at Rotary Rink, call (716) 856-3150 for information on group rates, party packages, and rink reservations. Rotary Rink hosts school groups throughout the season.

Click the link above or call (716) 856-3150 for a school skate form.

Students K-12 receive free skate rentals, compliments of our Rotary Rink Presenting Sponsor, Evergreen Health Services.

Amenities

Ice skate rental is available for $2 for children and $3 for adults. Skate rentals end 30 minutes before closing. Snacks and beverages are available for purchase at the Rotary Rink concession stand. Profits from concession sales support the rink’s operation.

Download our 2023-24 Free Ice-Skating Season Brochure

THURSDAY & MAIN

Thursdays at Fountain Plaza

Buffalo Place will produce the 7th Anniversary season of the free outdoor summer series, Thursday & Main, weekly from June 8th through July 27, 2023​ in Downtown Buffalo at Fountain Plaza. Thursday & Main is presented by M&T Bank. The series continues to pay homage to the venerable Buffalo Place-produced summer tradition, Thursday at the Square.

Thursday & Main is made possible with the generous support of our official sponsor family. The series is presented by M&T Bank. Supporting Act Sponsors include: Crowley Webb, Big Ditch Brewing Company, The Buffalo News, Hyatt Regency Buffalo, Iroquois Construction Services, Katz Americas, Lawley Insurance, National Grid, Rec Room, Try-It Distributing, and Uber.

Visit our Facebook page​ for updates on the 2023 schedule!

The free and open-to-the-public happy hour, presented on Thursday evenings in the heart of Downtown Buffalo at Fountain Plaza (Main at Chippewa Streets), continues the mission of Thursday at the Square: creating awareness and spin-off business for Downtown restaurants, bars, and retailers.

Thirty-six years ago, in 1987, Fountain Plaza hosted the first Thursday at the Park season, produced and managed by Buffalo Place. One year later in 1988, crowds for the happy hour became too large for the space. The series was shifted to Lafayette Square and Thursday at the Square was born. Fountain Plaza is a beautiful public space in Downtown and provides a picture-perfect setting for this summer’s Thursday & Main series.

To kick off the 2023 season presented by M&T Bank on June 8th, Buffalo Place is pleased to welcome Ron Hawkins of Canadian alt-rock superstar band, Lowest of the Low. Hawkins holds a special place in Thursday at the Square history, performing with Lowest of the Low in 1993 and 2005 to a rabid Buffalo fanbase. Whitetails will serve as support for the opening night at Fountain Plaza.

On June 29th, the week leading into the 4th of July holiday weekend, Thursday & Main is pleased to welcome Laura Jane Grace. Laura Jane Grace is a major figure in today's rock scene as both a solo artist and the frontwoman of Against Me!, which she founded in the late 1990’s. As a working artist, she has released four solo offerings and seven albums with Against Me! In 2012, she went public with her gender transition in the pages of Rolling Stone. In her music, she continues to detail her journey all while staying true to her earlier themes of outspoken political critique: environmentalism along with personal and social liberation. Fresh from a performance in Austin at SXSW ‘23, Sunday Reign will open the evening of performance.

Buffalo Place is delighted to welcome Tokyo Police Club to Downtown on July 13th. Veterans of the Thursday at the Square series, Tokyo Police Club closed the 2011 season at Canalside to a massive crowd of revelers. The Ontario-based band has been twice nominated for the Juno Awards “Alternative Album of the Year.” Earlier this year, they celebrated the 15-year anniversary of their debut LP, “Elephant Shell” with a special vinyl press. The incomparable, Lockport-based, garage rock heroes, Handsome Jack will support the evening.

The 2023 season will also feature new and returning Buffalo-based favorites, including masters of the music of The Tragically Hip, The Strictly Hip; Dueling Pianos 716 Band, a modern spin on dueling pianos, where talented musicians play the crowds favorite songs; GROSH, a high energy rock band with a visceral, heavy, and inspiring sound; Organ Fairchild, who was voted NY’s Top Emerging Band in 2021; and the genre-bending outfit, Lazlo Hollyfeld.

Saturday, December 9, 2023, BankOnBuffalo​ Presents the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza. This annual event marks the official opening of the free ice-skating season in the heart of Downtown Buffalo. The event begins at 5pm with free ice-skating. At 6pm, Buffalo Place and BankOnBuffalo representatives, countdown the lighting of the official tree and fireworks display over Fountain Plaza.

“We look forward to carrying on the tradition of free ice-skating in the heart of Downtown Buffalo and to working with BankOnBuffalo, Presenting Sponsor of the Tree Lighting” said Michael T. Schmand, Executive Director of Buffalo Place, Inc. “In partnership with the City of Buffalo and Rotary Club of Buffalo, Buffalo Place has managed the operation of this outdoor ice-skating rink for 25 years. Renovations to Fountain Plaza provide residents and visitors with a charming outdoor winter activity to enjoy all season long.”

"The Downtown Buffalo Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is a cherished tradition that brings the community together in the spirit of joy and celebration, and BankOnBuffalo is proud to be the presenting sponsor for this event. As a community bank, we understand the importance of supporting local initiatives that help create a vibrant and cheerful environment for our customers, neighbors, and friends. We are proud to be a part of this wonderful tradition and to contribute to the magic and excitement of the holiday season in Buffalo" says Michael Noah, President of BankOnBuffalo.

Immediately following the fireworks and tree lighting, the fun will continue with visits with Santa, holiday gifts, and ice-skating. Hartland Carriage will offer free horse and carriage rides around Fountain Plaza with their esteemed equine. Thistle Creek Alpaca Farm and their friendly furry alpacas will roam throughout the event site, visiting with guests. The Buffalo AKG Art Truck will also be on-site. The new truck is a mobile center for hands-on artmaking that brings art activities and workshops for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of ability. Fat Bob’s Smokehouse food trucks will offer delectable bites for purchase.

Ice-skating is free and ice-skate rental is available; $2 for children and $3 for adults. Guests are encouraged to bring their own ice-skates and avoid waiting in the ice-skate rental line. Santa will visit with children from 6:30pm to 8pm.

Ice-skating is free and ice-skate rental is available; $2 for children and $3 for adults. Guests are encouraged to bring their own ice-skates and avoid waiting in the ice-skate rental line. Santa will visit with children from 6:30pm to 8pm.

Buffalo Place also thanks our official Media Sponsor and Partner, The Buffalo News.

Click here to download our 2023 Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Brochure

Contact Us

We appreciate your questions and comments about Buffalo Place and Downtown Buffalo. If we can be of any assistance, please send us a message.

Buffalo Place
671 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 856-3150

Photography by Mike Shriver
at
Buffalo Photo Blog.

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Contact Us

We appreciate your questions and comments about Buffalo Place and Downtown Buffalo. If we can be of any assistance, please send us a message.

Buffalo Place
671 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 856-3150

Photography by Mike Shriver at Buffalo Photo Blog.

Follow Us

Email Newsletter

Send Buffalo Place a Message

Contact Form - COPY