Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Students and staff at schools across Western New York will enjoy a week off from classes for February break starting Monday. With some time away from school over the next several days, families may be looking to take part in some fun activities across the region.
In Downtown Buffalo, families can enjoy free admission and skate rentals at the Ice at Canalside. Skating has now been extended due to the continued cold weather in the forecast. Originally set to wrap up operations on Sunday, Feb. 23, the Ice at Canalside will now open on:
· Friday, Feb. 28 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
· Saturday, March 1 from noon to 8 p.m.
· Sunday, March 2 from noon to 6 p.m.
Project Play WNY’s Free Play Series works to provide youth in all eight counties of Western New York with opportunities to enjoy self-directed free play during school breaks, at no cost to families.
"We're looking forward to a great week next week," said Shannon Holfoth with Buffalo Waterfront. "It's looking to be great week to get outside, get outdoors and enjoy what is, maybe, hopefully, the last few weeks of winter weather here."
The folks at Canalside are happy with the season that has been at the rink, with many people having already taken in the fun winter activities downtown.
"It's certainly much better than last year, in terms of weather, and, certainly, I think the attendance numbers will reflect that as well," Holfoth said with WBEN. "The weather has been great this year, and the ice will open on Feb. 28, March 1 and March 2. That gives us another great weekend of skating, and another chance to enjoy the winter weather we have."
The Ice at Canalside will be open for extended hours throughout the school break:
- Monday, Feb. 17: 10 a.m.-to-6 p.m. (with free skating from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
- Tuesday, Feb. 18 – Thursday, Feb. 20: 10 a.m.-to-8 p.m. (with free skating from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 21: 10 a.m.-to-10 p.m. (with free skating from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 22: 12 pm.-to-10 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 23: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
At the Buffalo Zoo, the community is invited back for Polar Bear Days, featuring discounted admission tickets of $5, and exciting family fun.
"Our polar bears, Luna and Sakari, for probably about six months now, have kind of been separated, they're typically solitary animals. But right around now is when polar bear breeding season happens, so our bears will be going together, which is always really fun," said Christian Dobosiewicz in an interview with WBEN. "It's really fun to see Luna and Sakari interact with each other, they chase each other around, and it's definitely something cool to see, if you haven't seen it before."
Polar Bear Days is a special week dedicated to celebrating the wintertime creatures, and raising awareness about polar bear conservation.
"We've got keeper talks, we've got enrichment, we've got a book reading happening on one of the days. There's tons of things packed into the week, and all those activities, are available on our social channels, and our website, you can find out all that info," Dobosiewicz said.
"It's also a great way to promote and teach people about these animals, these arctic animals, and the conservation issues and things that they deal with. So getting out and getting some exercise in the winter by walking around the Zoo, and also learning about these animals and their stories is stuff we always look forward to."
Everyone who visits the Zoo during Polar Bear Days also has the chance to enter a rafle for Buffalo Sabres tickets.
Dobosiewicz says February break is always a time of year the Buffalo Zoo is looking forward to.
"There's so many things to do that we hope that people can come to the Zoo at times like this, when they get the opportunity during the week. We know there's a lot of people with kids, everybody's cooped up inside, and you need to get them out and do something. So the Zoo is a great option," he said.
The Buffalo Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m.-to-5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. Discounted Polar Bear Days Zoo tickets can be found online or at the gate.
Meanwhile, in Niagara Falls, the Aquarium of Niagara is celebrating the return of $7.16 Days during this mid-winter break, which is a discount on full-priced admission for everyone.
"We are a nice warm spot in the middle of this very cold winter," said president and CEO, Chad Fifer with WBEN. "I think if you remember back a few months, it was our seal that predicted it would be frigid, so this is a perfect week to come back inside and hang out with us."
The discounted price is applicable for both pre-order online, as well as in-person at the Aquarium.
Fifer says this week is one of the more anticipated weeks of the year at the Aquarium of Niagara.
"When it's nice outside, when tourism is in full effect here in Niagara Falls, it can be a pretty overwhelming and busy time to come and see us. This can be a more intimate time to come and connect, to take advantage of the way the weather is outside, and to escape that a little bit," he said. "This really is a good time to come and see us, and to have a chance to enjoy both buildings here at the Aquarium."
Guests who visit Monday will also be treated to special programming from 10a.m.-to-4 p.m. at the Aquarium’s newest expansion, Great Lakes 360, in partnership with the Birds on the Niagara International Birding Festival. Activities will include a guided bird watching walk (10:30 a.m.), owl pellet dissection demonstration (2 p.m.), and a self-guided scavenger hunt.
"Some events specifically about the birds in the area, some activities that will happen, walks out in the park. So some things happening around the Aquarium, as well as inside," Fifer detailed.
Fifer adds Great Lakes 360 has been a fantastic addition to the Aquarium of Niagara since it opened this past July.
"It sits about 500 feet from the entrance of our main building, right down on Niagara Falls State Park property in the old Niagara Gorge Discovery Center. That entire exhibit is focused on native species to the Niagara River, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and it's a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with the animals that are right in our backyard," Fifer noted.
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