BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Waterfront announced that the Ice at Canalside will open for the season on Friday, November 21.
Officials said a grand opening is planned for the opening night and on Saturday there will be a celebration of the Buffalo Bills Hallmark Christmas movie "Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story."
Opening Weekend
- Friday, Nov. 21 – Opening Night, with a festive site lighting, plus a fireworks display and the ice train’s sophomore season debut
- Saturday, Nov. 22 – Hallmark Channel “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story” movie celebration, with Hallmark giveaways, a “Love Story” hot cocoa special and a photo op with the Buffalo Bills sleigh
- Sunday, Nov. 23 – A celebration of the musical Wicked, showing at Shea’s Performing Arts Center
WATCH: Hallmark Channel releases trailer for Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story
Officials also said for the first time ever, the Ice at Canalside will open on Thanksgiving, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Below are the hours of operation beginning November 21:
- Monday: Closed for ice maintenance and leagues. Private parties welcome.
- Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Special Holiday Hours:
- Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Winter Break, Dec. 22 – Jan. 2: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
*Christmas Eve, December 24: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
*Christmas Day, December 25: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 19: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Presidents’ Day, Feb. 16: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- February Break, Feb. 17 – Feb. 19: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This season, the Buffalo Waterfront said bumper cars, curling and ice bikes will return to the ice, as well as weekly programming, including:
- Festive Fridays, featuring weekly themes ranging from Harry Potter Night to Pokémon to Silent Discos
- Special Event Saturdays, featuring events like a Buffalo Bandits celebration, Jingle Bell Rock the Ice and Ice Festival
- Learn to Skate lessons on Saturday mornings with Skate Great
- Kids Club Sundays, which will debut after the New Year
A full event schedule is below.
Weekly Programming:
Festive Fridays
- Nov 28 - Bandits Celebration
- Dec 5 - Nutcracker Night
- Dec 12 - Holiday Pops & Ugly Sweater Contest
- Dec 19 - Glow Night
- Dec 26 - Live DJ
- Jan 2 - Harry Potter Night
- Jan 9 - Skate ‘Em All Pokemon Night
- Jan 16 - Silent Disco
- Jan 23 - KPop Demon Hunters Night
- Jan 30 - Star Wars Night
- Feb 6 - Olympics Night
- Feb 13 - Swiftie Night
- Feb 20 - Silent Disco
Special Event Saturdays
- Nov 29 - Bandits Banner Raising Night
- Dec 6 - Bills Mafia Skate
- Dec 13 - Brews on Ice
- Dec 20 - Jingle Bell Rock the Ice
- Dec 27 - Live DJ
- Jan 3 - New Year New You Fitness Challenge on Ice
- Jan 10 - Mascot Night
- Jan 17 - Sabres Night
- Jan 24 - Asian Cultural Night
- Jan 31 - Ice Fest (2pm - 7pm)
- Feb 7 - Live DJ
- Feb 14 - Love is Love - Live DJ, Pride giveaways
- Feb 21 - Bisons Night, with a Mascot race in the bumper cars
