Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Ice at Canalside wraps up its 2023-2024 winter season this weekend, and Buffalo Waterfront will host several special events and activities for the final days at the rink.
Sunday, Feb. 25 will officially mark the last day of skating for the public.
"It always flies by, which is a good thing, I suppose, sometimes when you're talking about winter in Buffalo. It's nice to make it feel like it goes a little faster," said Shannon Holfoth with Buffalo Waterfront. "But we had a great season at the ice this year. We had a lot of really fun special events happening, and we've got a really fun weekend planned this weekend, as well."
After a bit of a delay to open at Canalside due to necessary maintenance repairs, the Ice was ready for its 10th winter season in Downtown Buffalo. While it pushed back skating time for the public a bit, Holfoth says the wait was well worth it, when it came to ensuring ice conditions on a daily basis.
"Thanks to those infrastructure upgrades that they made in the beginning of the season there, we were able to stay open during some of those 40 and even 50 degree days at time. We really did not have to close that often due to weather, which was fantastic," she said. "We actually held out a lot better this year than we had in previous years. So fortunately, those high 40s and low 50s didn't hit us too bad this year, which was great. We were able to stay open a lot."
With the success of the maintenance repairs and the ability to stay open on warmer days, could this open the door for a possible extension of the season in years to come at Canalside?
"That would be nice, wouldn't it?," Holfoth said. "We'd have to evaluate how we did this year and then sit down and talk about that, but I'm sure that's something that they're be going to be looking at. But for now, late February seems to be the time to wrap up."
So what's in store for anyone heading down to Downtown Buffalo this weekend, looking to enjoy the last weekend of the Ice at Canalside?
"This weekend, we are still celebrating Black History Month, so we have some Black-owned businesses setting up some pop up shops this weekend down at the Ice," Holfoth explained. "We also have our Pride Night Friday from 6-to-10 p.m., we're doing that with the Western New York Pride Center, which should be a good time. And then Sunday is our usual Sunday Family Fun Day, and we're looking forward to a great weekend and hope people come out. The weather looks good, not too hot for us and not too cold either. So I think it'll be a great weekend, and we're really looking forward to it."
This Sunday, $1 from each admission will benefit an organization dedicated to the advancement of Buffalo's Black community. Plus, anyone who brings in a piece of winter clothing to donate to Ladies Let's Be Real will receive a free skate rental.
This weekend will also see extended hours for skaters with Friday and Saturday seeing open hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, and then Sunday's final day open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
For the most up-to-date information at the Ice at Canalside, visit www.buffalowaterfront.com.
