DOWNTOWN COUNTRY MARKET
The 44th Anniversary season of the Downtown Country Market will take place at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Buffalo in 2026. 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 take place weekly on Thursdays from June 4th through October 15, 2026 between the hours of 10am and 2pm.
Click here to download our 2026 vendor application and learn more!
Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram for more information on our upcoming 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: jjonmaire@buffaloplace.com. 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
Bittersweet Buffalo Jam Company
Williamsville | Homemade jam and honey
Charlie's Greenhouses
Clarence | Fruits and vegetables
Clear Creek Dahlias
Arcade | Seasonal cut flowers and vegetables
Dirty Pop Soda Cart
Clarence | All natural homemade soda
Environmental Design Landscape Farm + Greenhouse
Cowlesville | Flowers and plants
Immersion Cold Pressed Juice
Buffalo | Fresh, organic and local ingredients pressed into delicious nutrient dense blends
Ko’s Kettle Corn
Buffalo | Freshly made kettle corn and caramel corn
Najah Corporation
Buffalo | Somali sauce, spices, chai tea and sweet treats
Nikki's Chocolates WNY
Buffalo | Chocolate and sweet treats
Senek Farms
Ransomville | Fruits and vegetables
Simone's Natural Creations
Buffalo | Homemade soaps, body butters, lips balms, and bath scrubs
Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza is a free, open-to-the-public ice-skating rink in Downtown Buffalo. The 2025-26 Ice-Skating Season is Presented by Community Bank. Special thanks to our media sponsor and partner, The Buffalo News.
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
2025-2026 Special Holiday Hours
December 22-23: 11a-9p
December 24: 11a-2p
December 25: closed
December 26: 11a-9p
December 29-30: 11a-9p
December 31: 11a-1a
January 1: 11a-6p
January 2: 11am-9p
January 19: 11am-9p
February 16-20: 11a-9p
Birthday Parties, Celebrations, School Groups
Download our 2025-26 School Group Form
Download our 2025-26 Birthday Party Form
Download our 2025-26 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, Community Bank.
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 10th Anniversary season of the free outdoor summer series, Thursday & Main, weekly from June 4th through July 30, 2026 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, Iroquois Construction Services, Katz Americas, Lawley Insurance, National Grid, Premium Parking, Try-It Distributing, and VanDette Law PLLC.
Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates!
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.
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.
Saturday, December 6, 2025, Community Bank 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 Community Bank, 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.”
Immediately following the fireworks and tree lighting, the fun will continue with visits with Santa, holiday gifts, face-painting, and ice-skating. 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 Community Bank 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.
