Ted’s Hot Dogs
$Several Buffalo-area locations
Hot dogs, burgers and sausages grilled over hardwood charcoal since 1927, with fries or onion rings. The open cast-iron grills are right on display.
OCT 16 – 22 Buffalo · The Queen City of the Lakes
Buffalo weekend plans for little kids, found and checked for you.
Boo at the Zoo opens an evening trick-or-treat trail on Saturday for kids 2 to 12, rain or shine. Earlier that day, kids build a pirate ship to take home at Explore & More, and on Sunday the Botanical Gardens fills its conservatory with bounce houses for the BOOtanical Bounce Party.
This week: 20 outings at 16 places, each one linked to the page we checked it on. How we check
Top 5 picks
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Saturday, sorted
A Saturday that actually works.
Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 17. Two things from this week’s list, plus one of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGBuild & Play Jr. Workshop at Explore & More11am–2pm · Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum · Free with museum admission- LUNCHAround townElmwood Taco & SubsOpen 10am until 2am · Elmwood Village, 937 Elmwood Ave. · $ (opens their site)
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap. Car seat, stroller, whatever works.
AFTER NAPBoo at the Zoo4–8pm · Buffalo Zoo · Ticketed; prices on the zoo’s site
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Plans change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Every outing this week
Find your thing
Around town9 spots · checked Oct 16
The Buffalo places we go back to, again and again.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Eat
Kid-friendly restaurants
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
Elmwood Taco & Subs
$Elmwood Village, 937 Elmwood Ave.
A quick-service taco and sub shop. Enzo’s Kiddy Menu has a taco or tenders with nachos or waffle fries and milk, plus a bracelet to collect.
Fri–Sat 10am until 2amSite ↗ for Elmwood Taco & Subs
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Buffalo that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
$16per child (1–59)
Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum
Canalside, 130 Main St.
A big children’s museum at Canalside, with the new Science + You exhibit. Kids and adults pay the same.
Tickets
- Adults $16
- Under 1 free
Seniors 60+ $15
$19per child (2–17)
Buffalo Museum of Science
East Side, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy.
Science exhibits, the Science Stadium and family weekends like DinoFEST.
Tickets
- Adults $23
- Under 2 free
Cash prices; slightly more by card
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Buffalo that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
North BuffaloFree
Delaware Park
Olmsted’s 350-acre park, with a meadow, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, a playground and a path around Hoyt Lake. Free mobile audio tours.
South Park, 2655 South Park Ave.$$
Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
A historic glass conservatory full of plants.
Tickets
- Kids 3–12 $9.50
- Adults $19
- Under 3 (ticket required) free
Seniors and students $17
Daily 10am–4pm (last entry 3:30pm)Site ↗ for Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
South BuffaloFree
Tifft Nature Preserve
Five miles of trails and boardwalks through marshes, free from dawn to dusk. Run by the Buffalo Museum of Science.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Buffalo that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Buffalo Zoo
$$Delaware Park, 300 Parkside Ave.
A city zoo by Delaware Park, with a prehistoric exhibit included in admission through October.
Tickets
- Kids 2–12 $19.95
- Adults 13–64 $25.95
- Under 24 months free
Seniors 65+ $22.95
Daily 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm)Site ↗ for Buffalo Zoo
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Buffalo that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Stay
Staycations and overnight trips
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
North Buffalo$$$
Hotel Henry
An 88-room hotel designed to fit the architecture of a Buffalo National Historic Landmark, with its own restaurant.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Buffalo that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
On the horizon
Coming up
OCT 23 – 29Halloween weekendMore trick-or-treating, a few costume parades and some gentle spooky stuff. The list goes out next Friday.Get it in your inbox →
OCT 31Trick-or-treat night guideNeighborhood hours and the streets that are easy with a stroller. Early ones too, for kids who are asleep by 7.Get notified →
NOVEMBERFirst holiday lightsThe first holiday lights in town, and which ones you can see before bedtime.See it first →
Good questions
Outings for little ones in Buffalo: the FAQ
What can I do with a little one in Buffalo this weekend?
This week we found 20 outings that work for kids ages 0–6. Our top three: Boo at the Zoo, Build & Play Jr. Workshop at Explore & More, BOOtanical Bounce Party. See the full list.
Are there free things to do with little ones in Buffalo this week?
Yes, 17 of this week’s 20 picks are free, including library storytimes and Halloween in the Library (Grand Island Memorial Library). Tap “Free” in Find your thing.
What are good indoor activities for kids in Buffalo when it rains?
16 picks this week are indoors, mostly library programs and shows. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing.
Where can I find storytimes and toddler activities in Buffalo?
This week we list 17 library storytimes and baby or toddler programs. Each one links to the library or venue page with the time and place. See them in the list.
How do you pick what goes on the list?
We look at venue and library calendars and local family pages every week. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the details there. We lean toward things that fit around naps and don’t need a long walk.
How do I get this list every week?
Sign up for the Friday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.
For local businesses
Running something for little kids in Buffalo?
If it’s good for the under-6 crowd, we’d like to hear about it. Free events go on the list for free, always. If you want a guaranteed spot at the top or in the Friday email, there’s a sponsored option too, and it’s clearly labeled. We’re just getting started, so the first 10 local partners in each city get 50% off your first booking.
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