DOWNTOWN COUNTRY MARKET
The 43rd Anniversary season of the Downtown Country Market will take place at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Buffalo in 2025. The Downtown Country Market is Presented by M&T Bank, & Media Partner, The Buffalo News. Fountain Plaza is located on Main Street, between Chippewa and Huron Streets.
The season will begin on Thursday, June 5, 2025 and continue weekly on Thursdays through October 23, 2025 (No Market on Thursday, July 3rd) between the hours of 10am and 2pm.
Visit our Facebook and Instagram for updates on the 2025 season.
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.
Learn more about the Market and apply to be a vendor today by emailing: info@buffaloplace.com. Click here to download our 2025 Vendor application
Click here to view our Grow Guide for information on peak timing for fresh fruits and vegetables.
+ LOCAL FARMERS & VENDORS
Anzalone's Olive Oil
Clarence Center | Branch to bottle olive oils
Bee's JAMboree
Lockport | Homemade jams and jellies
Charlie's Greenhouses
Clarence | Fruits and vegetables
Emily's Corner Diner
Buffalo | Pie's and tasty treats of all kinds
Ko’s Kettle Corn
Buffalo | Freshly made kettle corn and caramel corn
Najah Corporation
Buffalo | Sauce, chai tea, Somali crepes
Nikki's Chocolates WNY
Buffalo | Chocolate and more sweet treats
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 2024-25 Ice-Skating Season is Presented by Evergreen Health Services. Special thanks to our media sponsor and partner, The Buffalo News.
The 2024-25 season closed on Friday, March 14, 2025.
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
2024-2025 Special Holiday Hours
December 23: 11a-9p
December 24: 11a-2p
December 25: Closed
December 26 & 27: 11a-9p
December 30: 11a-9p
December 31: 11a-12midnight
January 1: 11a-9p
January 20: 11a-9p
February 17-21: 11a-9p
Birthday Parties, Celebrations, School Groups
Download our 2024-25 School Group Form
Download our 2024-25 Birthday Party Form
Download our 2024-25 Concession Menu
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.
Coming soon: Download our 2024-25 Free Ice-Skating Season Brochure
THURSDAY & MAIN
Thursdays at Fountain Plaza
Buffalo Place will produce the 9th Anniversary season of the free outdoor summer series, Thursday & Main, weekly from June 5th through July 31, 2025 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, Lemur Studios, National Grid, Premium Parking, Try-It Distributing, Uber and VanDette Law PLLC.
Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on the 2025 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.
In 1987, Fountain Plaza hosted the first Thursday at the Park season, produced and managed by Buffalo Place. One year later, crowds became too large for the space. The series was shifted to Lafayette Square and renamed Thursday at the Square. In 2016, the new Buffalo Place produced series, renamed Thursday & Main, returned to Fountain Plaza.
Guests will enjoy a rotating roster of local restaurants on site weekly. Bijou Grille, Fat Bob’s Smokehouse, and Jack Rabbit will be set up Fountain Plaza weekly with wonderful food items available for attendees to purchase and enjoy.
Saturday, December 14, 2024, Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union presents the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. 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, we will 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 Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union, 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.”
“At Cornerstone, we’ve had the privilege of serving the trust of our community for 67 years, and we’re honored to continue that legacy as we light up this holiday season,” said Eric Hepkins, CEO of Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union. “Our legacy is built on trust, and as we celebrate this time of year, we renew our commitment to the Western New York community. We’re not just here for the holidays - we’re here for the long haul.” Eric continued, “With strong roots in this community, we’re excited to share many more seasons of growth and service together.”
Immediately following the fireworks and tree lighting, the fun will continue with visits with Santa, holiday gifts, face-painting, and ice-skating. The Buffalo AKG Art Truck will also be on-site. The new Art Truck is a mobile center for free hands-on artmaking that brings art activities and workshops for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of ability. 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 thanks Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union for their Presenting Sponsorship of the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. Buffalo Place also thanks our official Media Sponsor and Partner, The Buffalo News, for their support of the event.
