DOWNTOWN COUNTRY MARKET
The 42nd Anniversary season of the Downtown Country Market will take place at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Buffalo in 2024. The Downtown Country Market is Presented by M&T Bank, & Media Partner, The Buffalo News.
Held on Thursdays on at Fountain Plaza (Main Street Chippewa and Huron 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 6th and continue weekly on Thursdays through October 24, 2024 between 10am and 2:00pm.
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.
+ LOCAL FARMERS & VENDORS
Clarence | Fruits and vegetables
Ko’s Kettle Corn
Buffalo | Freshly made kettle corn and caramel corn
Buffalo | Sauce, chai tea, Somali crepes
East Aurora | Greenhouse specializing in flowers and naturally grown herbs
Ransomville | Fruits and vegetables
Simone's Natural Creations
Buffalo | Homemade soaps, body butters, lips balms, and bath scrubs
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.
THURSDAY & MAIN
Thursdays at Fountain Plaza
Buffalo Place will produce the 8th Anniversary season of the free outdoor summer series, Thursday & Main, weekly from June 6th through August 1, 2024 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, Premium Parking, Try-It Distributing, and VanDette Law PLLC.
Visit our Facebook page for updates on the 2024 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.
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.
Send Buffalo Place a Message
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.