We checked one place to ice skate with little kids in and around Buffalo: one holiday or outdoor rink. Ice at Canalside opens Fri, Nov 20 and runs to Feb 28. One posts skate aids for beginners, like Ice at Canalside. Each card has season dates, prices, skate rental and aids from the rink’s own page.
Holiday season
Seasonal and pop-up rinks, soonest first. Outdoor rinks can close for warm or wet weather, so check the rink’s page the morning you go.
Canalside, next to Explore & More · Waterfront
Hours: Closed Mondays. Tue 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Wed–Thu 4–8 p.m.; longer hours on weekends and holidays (see the calendar)
Any season
Public skate sessions open to families. Session times change week to week, so the card links to the rink’s current schedule.
We add indoor rinks once their own page posts public skate times and prices.
Before you go
SafetyBring a helmetFalls are part of learning. A bike or hockey helmet protects little heads, and some rinks ask for one.Skate aidsAsk about skate aidsA walker-style aid lets new skaters push and glide on their own. Each card says whether the rink posts them.
FitThin socks, warm mittensOne pair of thin socks fits rental skates best. Waterproof mittens keep hands dry after a tumble.Keep planning
Free things to do in BuffaloFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in BuffaloIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with prices
Library storytimes in BuffaloBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in BuffaloParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
This week in BuffaloDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Ice at Canalside (Waterfront). The holiday or outdoor rink is listed first; indoor rinks with public skating follow.
Ice at Canalside: Nov 20 – Feb 28. Dates come from each rink’s own page, and warm or wet weather can close outdoor rinks for the day.
Ice at Canalside: Training walker $2. Rinks that don’t mention aids say Not listed on their card.
Ice at Canalside: Age 5 and under free; skate rental $6. Prices are the rink’s own and can change on holidays.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 20, 2026, and we recheck them every week from November through February. How we choose and check.
Littles Weekly
One short email every Friday morning with the best things to do with little ones in Buffalo that weekend, rinks included.
