Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Another season of free ice skating is open to the public at Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Buffalo. This Wednesday also marks the first of several "Free" First Wednesdays at the rink, where skate rentals for kids and adults are also free.
"'First' Free Wednesdays are an opportunity for people to come down and enjoy free ice skate rentals, in addition to always free ice skating," said Jackie Jonmaire, marketing manager at Buffalo Place, who has operated Rotary Rink for the last 25 years downtown.
After opening for the public this past weekend, Jonmaire says what continues to make this ice rink different from the rest in the City of Buffalo and Western New York is the fact that ice time is always free.
"A guest could come down on any other night of the year and bring their own ice skates with them, and skate 100% for free. We do that really to encourage visitors to patronize different shopping and dining destinations throughout Downtown Buffalo, so it really serves as a catalyst for economic spin off throughout the district," Jonmaire said in an interview with WBEN. "And again, it's an opportunity for guests to enjoy a really magnificent setting, a backdrop of some historic and really significant architecture throughout the Central Business District, and an opportunity to get out of the house when they may have been cooped up from a snowstorm or just looking to burn off some steam from all of the holiday excitement."
While the early winter season has seen its ups-and-downs, to this point, Jonmaire says the conditions at the 30-year-old rink are quite favorable for skaters.
"We work very closely with our partners in the City of Buffalo to ensure that the ice skating surface is in good condition, and safe for all of our guests to enjoy," she said. "If it were the case where it gets to be very, very warm, that's something that we would post on all of our social media accounts so guests could avoid driving downtown and then us not being open. But as of today, and with the cold temperatures forecast for this weekend before Christmas, our ice skating condition looks to be in really, really great shape."
Regular hours of operation at Rotary Rink are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-to-2 p.m. EST, and then re-opening again from 5 p.m.-to-9 p.m. EST. For the weekend, the rink is open Saturdays from 11 a.m.-to-9 p.m. EST, and then Sundays from 11 a.m.-to-6 p.m.
In addition, there are special extended holiday hours for both the Christmas and New Year's holidays, in addition to February when Buffalo Public Schools is closed for February break week.
"We're really excited to be open. We're thrilled to be working with our presenting sponsor, Evergreen Health, again for the second year in-a-row," Jonmaire added. "This evening and today, all day, is our 'First' Free Wednesday, where in addition to always free ice skating, ice skating guests can come down and enjoy free ice skate rentals in the heart of Downtown Buffalo as well."
For the most up-to-date information on what's happening at Rotary Rink, visit BuffaloPlace.com, or follow Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza on Facebook or Instagram. Guests can also call Buffalo Place or Rotary Rink for more at (716)-854-RINK.