Don’t Give up on Summer Yet Buffalo, There’s Still So Much To Do!

Just because this is Labor Day weekend and school starts next week doesn’t mean it’s time to put away the sunscreen and take out the snow shovels. Western New York, we can do better! 

We get so few precious months of great weather that it’s a shame to think it’s time to start preparing for hibernation. There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors and great temperatures before we declare summer 2024 over. 

Here are a few summer activities that will continue after the calendar flips to September:

Kayak and boat rentals usually go into September and October. Kayak rentals along the Outer Harbor are open Saturdays and offer single and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and hydrobike rentals for an hour, two hours, or the whole day! Bike rentals are also available if you’re not keen on getting into the water but still want to enjoy the scenery. Looking to take a different path? Consider launching from BFLO Harbor Kayak with single and tandem kayaks and stand-up paddleboards departing from the heart of the old grain silos. Tours are available as well if you’d like to learn a little more about the importance of Buffalo’s waterways.

Farmers markets are thriving as we get into the last weeks of summer and the first weekends of fall. You’ll find great fresh fruits and vegetables, along with some snacks and surprises, at farmers markets every weekend, including but not limited to: 

• Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) Mobile Market, daily through the end of September 

• Clinton Bailey Farmers and Flea Market, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily through the end of September at 1443-1517 Clinton Street 

• Bidwell Parkway Farmers Market, Saturday mornings in the heart of the Elmwood Village, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

• Williamsville Farmers Market, Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. through the end of October, 5583 Main Street 

• Medina’s Canal Village Farmers Market, Saturdays through the end of October, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., 345 Main Street in Medina (and plenty of little roadside stands to check out along the way!) 

• South Buffalo Farmers Market, Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through the end of September, 29 Cazenovia Street 

• Kenmore Farmers Market, another Sunday morning special, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through the end of October, 2919 Delaware Avenue 

If you want to combine a nice afternoon drive with some history while getting fresh local produce, mark your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., for the annual Agricultural Fair at the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford, offering a glimpse into agricultural practices and traditions from the 19th century.

Maid of the Mist runs into the fall! If you didn’t have the chance to see the falls up close this summer, don’t fret: There’s still plenty of time. The observation deck is open until nearly Christmas, but the boats are running through early November (because no one wants their face frozen by mist that late in the year!). Daily schedules may vary for the boats, observation deck, and store; more information is available here. If you’re looking for a little more action, Whirlpool Jet Boat tours also run into October! With covered and open-air boat options, imagine seeing the beautiful fall colors along the gorge while bouncing along in the rapids. There’s time for that too!

Drive-ins are still open! It’s a longstanding summer tradition that most places in the country just don’t have anymore, but in WNY we’re fortunate enough to still have the wonderful Transit Drive-In on Transit Road in Lockport. With five screens showing double features (for less than what you’d pay for a single ticket at your local multiplex), the drive-in will be open weekends until Mother Nature closes them down for the season. Don’t live that close to Lockport? The Van Buren drive-in is still open for the season, at 5349 Van Buren Road in Dunkirk, with movies showing on weekends and the ticket booth opening at 8 p.m. 

There’s still plenty of walking tours with all kinds of themed experiences from Explore Buffalo, including the very popular Doors Open Buffalo event on Saturday, September 28, in which city landmarks like City Hall, the Electric Tower, and others welcome guests for free! 

Don’t be sad that August is ending—there’s still so much to do!