Buffalo Tourism Guide

Buffalo NY Spring Things to Do

The Buffalo History Museum's marble portico above Mirror Lake, with pink cherry trees blooming in the Japanese Garden, a highlight of Buffalo NY spring things to do
Cherry trees in bloom around the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park, photographed in late April 2022.

The best Buffalo NY spring things to do follow the thaw. In March, Buffalo turns out for its St. Patrick’s Day parades (the downtown parade is on March 14, 2027) and then for Easter at the Broadway Market and Dyngus Day, which falls on March 29 in 2027. April brings the Botanical Gardens’ spring flower show, waterfalls at full flow and the Maid of the Mist’s return to Niagara, and late April or early May brings the cherry blossoms in Delaware Park’s Japanese Garden. By May the farmers markets, canal cruises and state park inns are open, and Memorial Day weekend kicks off the waterfront season.

This guide is for visitors coming between March and May, when prices are lower and the crowds haven’t arrived. The caveat is the weather, which swings wildly: March still averages a high of 42 degrees and 14 inches of snow, April can bring a snow squall one day and a 70-degree afternoon the next, and blooms shift by a week or two from year to year. Many seasonal attractions reopen between late April and Memorial Day, so check each date. Everything here was checked September 23, 2026 against official sources.

Spring pickCostTime neededBest timeBook ahead?
Cherry blossoms in the Japanese GardenFree1 to 2 hoursLate April to early MayNo
Botanical Gardens Spring Flower ExhibitAdults $191 to 2 hoursLate March to AprilNo
Broadway Market at EasterFree to browse1 to 2 hoursThe week before EasterNo
Dyngus DayFree parade; paid partiesA day and a nightEaster Monday; March 29, 2027Rides home, yes
Maid of the MistAdults $30.25 in 2026Half a day with the driveFrom late AprilHelpful
Tifft Nature Preserve bird migrationSee tifft.org1 to 2 hoursLate April and May morningsNo
Elmwood Village Farmers MarketFree to browse1 hourSaturdays from May, 8am to 1pmNo

What is spring in Buffalo really like?

Changeable, and then glorious. Spring comes late to the shores of Lake Erie, because the cold lake keeps the air cool well into May, and it arrives in fits and starts. By the National Weather Service’s 1991 to 2020 normals, March averages a high of about 42 degrees and a low of 26 with 14 inches of snow, April about 55 and 37 with a couple of inches of snow, and May about 67 and 48 with essentially none. The averages hide the swings: a warm April afternoon can hit the 70s, and a late snow squall can whiten the lawns a few days later.

Patches of late snow on the brown grass of the Meadow in Delaware Park under a bright blue spring sky
Late snow on Delaware Park’s Meadow in spring 2015: in Buffalo, March and April can still turn white.

That unpredictability is the main thing to plan around. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket, keep an indoor plan for each day, and don’t pin a whole trip on a single bloom date. The reward is a city waking up: the Olmsted parks turn green almost overnight in May, the patios reopen, the waterfalls roar with meltwater and the hotels are cheaper and quieter than they’ll be all summer.

MonthAverage high and lowAverage snowWhat reopens or starts
March42F / 26F14.1 inchesSt. Patrick’s parades, Easter (in 2027), the Spring Flower Exhibit
April55F / 37F2.5 inchesMaid of the Mist, Reddy Bikeshare, Graycliff’s full schedule, cherry blossoms late in the month
May67F / 48FAlmost noneFarmers markets, canal and river cruises, Letchworth’s inn, the bike ferry and carousel by Memorial Day

What’s the spring calendar, week by week?

Spring timing in Buffalo depends on the weather, but the sequence is reliable. Use this as a rough guide, and check the specific 2027 dates in the sections below.

WhenWhat to expect
Early MarchLate-season skiing to the south; the Sabres and Bandits at home; Friday fish fries through Lent
Mid-MarchSt. Patrick’s parades, downtown on March 14, 2027; maple weekends at the sugarhouses
Late MarchEaster at the Broadway Market; Dyngus Day on March 29, 2027; the Botanical Gardens’ Spring Flower Exhibit
Early AprilSnowmelt swells the waterfalls; Reddy Bikeshare restarts; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Shea’s to April 8, 2027
Mid-AprilDevil’s Hole restrooms reopen for gorge hikers; Graycliff on its six-day schedule; the first migrant birds at Tifft
Late AprilThe Maid of the Mist returns (April 24 in 2026); cherry blossoms in the Japanese Garden; the Bandits’ season ends April 24, 2027
Early MayFarmers markets and canal cruises open; Letchworth’s Glen Iris Inn reopens
Late MayThe carousel’s summer season and Memorial Day weekend: the bike ferry, weekend swimming at Woodlawn and the Buffalo Marathon

When do the cherry blossoms bloom?

Usually in late April or early May, and the best place to see them is the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park, behind the Buffalo History Museum. The garden, created through Buffalo’s sister-city tie with Kanazawa, Japan, has about 40 cherry trees around Mirror Lake, and when they bloom, the view of the History Museum’s marble portico through the pink branches is one of the prettiest in the city. The bloom lasts about a week to 10 days, depending on the weather, and wind or rain can end it early, so if blossoms are the point of your trip, keep your plans flexible and watch local reports in mid-April.

The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the bloom each spring with cultural activities at the History Museum and in the garden, live music on several stages and pink boats on Mirror Lake. The 13th festival ran on April 25 and 26, 2026, from 11am to 3pm; the 2027 dates haven’t been announced. The Buffalo NY cherry blossom visitor guide in this series covers the best viewing spots, the festival and parking.

A pink flowering tree in bloom in front of Victorian houses on Richmond Avenue in Buffalo in spring
Flowering trees brighten the West Side and Elmwood streets in late April, like this one on Richmond Avenue.

The Japanese Garden isn’t the only place to look. Flowering cherries, magnolias and crabapples bloom along the residential streets of the Elmwood Village, the West Side and Parkside in late April and May, and a slow walk or bike ride along Richmond Avenue, Bidwell Parkway and Lincoln Parkway makes a lovely spring afternoon. Our guide to Buffalo’s neighborhoods will point you to the prettiest streets.

Where can you see spring flowers?

Before anything blooms outdoors, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens puts on its Spring Flower Exhibit, filling the Victorian conservatory in South Park with hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and more than 20,000 blooming bulbs. It’s the region’s big indoor spring flower show and the best cure for a gray March day. The conservatory is open daily from 10am to 4pm, and adult tickets cost $19; in 2026 the gardens also ran Botanical Bunny Days for families around Easter. The 2027 exhibit dates haven’t been posted yet.

Outdoors, the sequence runs from the cherry blossoms and magnolias in late April to the lilacs, tulips and flowering trees of May, and into June, when the Rose Garden in Delaware Park, with its 1917 pergola, reaches its peak. Forest Lawn Cemetery’s landscaped grounds are also lovely in spring. The Buffalo NY spring gardens itinerary in this series puts the gardens in order, and our guide to outdoor things to do in Buffalo covers the parks.

The Delaware Park Rose Garden with a white arbor, gravel paths and beds of roses in bloom under a blue sky
The Rose Garden in Delaware Park peaks in June, just after spring gives way to summer.

What are Buffalo’s Easter traditions?

Shoppers crowding the Broadway Market in Buffalo before Easter, under signs for horseradish and chrusciki
The Broadway Market’s Easter rush is the busiest week of its year.

Easter in Buffalo belongs to the East Side’s Polish heritage, and the Broadway Market in Broadway-Fillmore is its headquarters. The market at 999 Broadway is open year-round from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, but in the weeks before Easter it fills with seasonal vendors and crowds of shoppers buying butter lambs, fresh and smoked kielbasa, pierogi, horseradish, Easter bread and chrusciki, the fried pastry bows. Easter vendors keep longer hours in Holy Week, including Saturday and Palm Sunday hours, and the market is at its most atmospheric then. In 2027 Easter falls early, on March 28, so the Easter market season runs through March. The Broadway Market Buffalo Easter visitor guide in this series covers the vendors, the hours and how to handle the crowds.

The day after Easter is Dyngus Day, which Buffalo celebrates harder than almost anywhere in the country: a parade through Broadway-Fillmore, polka bands in halls, churches and bars around the city, pussy willows, squirt guns and a sea of red and white. In 2027 it falls on Monday, March 29. The party runs from morning to late night, so plan a rideshare home. Our guide to Buffalo festivals and events covers Dyngus Day and the rest of the year’s big events.

Lent itself is fish fry season. Ash Wednesday is February 10, 2027, and Friday fish fries at churches, taverns and restaurants are a Buffalo institution all year but especially busy through Lent. Our Buffalo food guide covers the fish fry and the other local classics.

What happens in March?

March is late winter with spring in sight. The biggest event is St. Patrick’s Day: Buffalo’s downtown parade is listed for Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 2pm on Delaware Avenue, and the Old Neighborhood parade in the Old First Ward, the city’s old Irish heart, usually runs the Saturday before. Expect green everywhere, packed pubs and a very long weekend. Indoors, the Sabres and the Bandits are in the home stretch of their seasons at the KeyBank Center, and Shea’s Buffalo brings Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Main Street from March 31 to April 8, 2027.

Snow is still possible, and the ski areas south of the city usually keep running into March, so a late-season ski day is possible. New York’s maple producers open their sugarhouses for maple weekends in March, and Easter falls in the last week of the month in 2027, bringing the Broadway Market and Dyngus Day into March too. The things to do in Buffalo in March guide in this series has the full calendar, and our Buffalo winter guide covers the tail end of the snow season.

What opens in April?

The Rainbow Bridge arching over the Niagara River below the American Falls, with a tour boat in the water
The Maid of the Mist returns to the Niagara River in late April; it opened on April 24 in 2026.

April is when the seasonal attractions start to reopen. At Niagara Falls, the Maid of the Mist returns to the river in late April; the 2026 season opened on April 24, with adult tickets at $30.25 including the Observation Tower elevator to the landing, and children 5 and under free with a paying adult. The falls are at their most powerful with spring meltwater, and the ice along the gorge can linger into April. The restrooms at Devil’s Hole State Park reopen in mid-April for the gorge hikers. Our guide to Niagara Falls from Buffalo covers the boats, the parks and parking.

In the city, Reddy Bikeshare starts its season in April, Graycliff returns to tours six days a week, and the Bisons open their Triple-A season at Sahlen Field, as early as March 27 in 2026. Late April brings the cherry blossoms and the first real bird migration at Tifft Nature Preserve. The things to do in Buffalo in April guide in this series has the week-by-week detail.

What opens in May?

May is when Buffalo really wakes up. The Elmwood Village Farmers Market, a producer-only market at Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway, opens for Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Lockport’s canal cruises start their daily season in early May, Buffalo River History Tours runs from May through October, and Letchworth State Park’s Glen Iris Inn opens for meals and rooms on May 1, with the park’s vehicle fee collected from early May. The Buffalo Heritage Carousel at Canalside opens its summer season in late May.

Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer on the waterfront: the Queen City Bike Ferry begins its daily crossings between Canalside and the Outer Harbor, Woodlawn Beach opens for weekend swimming, and the Buffalo Marathon takes over the streets. It’s a busy, festive weekend, so book early. The things to do in Buffalo in May guide and the Buffalo NY Memorial Day weekend guide in this series cover the month in detail, and the summer guide in this series picks up from there.

What’s the waterfront like in spring?

Quiet, breezy and increasingly lovely as May goes on. Canalside is free and open daily from dawn to dusk all year, with free parking, and in spring it’s a calm place to walk the canals before the summer crowds arrive. The Explore & More Children’s Museum is open Wednesday to Saturday, and the Buffalo Heritage Carousel opens its summer season in late May. The Erie Basin Marina’s gardens and boats come back to life in May, and the Outer Harbor’s paved trails and the Wilkeson Pointe lawn make a good walk or ride on a sunny day, though the wind off the lake can stay raw until late in the month. Buffalo Harbor State Park’s splash pad reopens on Memorial Day weekend 2027, the same weekend the bike ferry starts its daily crossings. Our Buffalo waterfront guide covers the whole shoreline.

Where are the waterfalls at their best?

Spring is waterfall season, when snowmelt and rain push the region’s falls to full volume. Niagara is the obvious one, thundering with spring meltwater, and the Niagara Gorge trails north of the falls give you the rapids up close; the Whirlpool Rapids Adventure Trail takes about three hours round trip with some rock scrambling, the Devil’s Hole trail about two and a half, and Trail 5 south of the Flats remains closed after rockfalls. Letchworth State Park, about an hour and a quarter southeast, has three major waterfalls in a gorge up to 600 feet deep and is open year-round; Trail 7 from the Middle Falls to the Genesee Arch Bridge is permanently closed.

Closer to Buffalo, Eternal Flame Falls in Chestnut Ridge Park is at its best in spring, when the falls are full, though the creek-bed trail is muddy and slippery, so wear boots with grip. Akron Falls Park, about 35 minutes northeast, is another spring favorite. Our day trips from Buffalo guide covers Letchworth and the other drives in detail.

Where can you hike and watch birds?

Spring migration makes Buffalo a quietly great birding city. Tifft Nature Preserve’s marsh, ponds and woods fill with warblers, herons and waterfowl from late April through May, and the boardwalks let you get close; the Education Center is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Times Beach Nature Preserve on the Outer Harbor and the Niagara River corridor are the other spring hotspots, and early morning is the best time at all of them.

For easy hikes, start with Delaware Park’s 1.1-mile loop around Hoyt Lake, Tifft’s flat trails and the paved Shoreline Trail along the Niagara River. In early spring, expect mud on any unpaved trail, and pack waterproof boots; from May, check for ticks after walks in tall grass. Anglers should know that the lower Niagara River draws steelhead and trout into spring, and anyone 16 or older needs a New York fishing license. The Buffalo NY spring hiking for beginners guide in this series picks the best easy routes.

Which day trips work in spring?

Several of the region’s best day trips peak in spring. Letchworth’s waterfalls are fullest with snowmelt, and the Glen Iris Inn reopens on May 1. East Aurora’s village and the Roycroft Campus are pleasant in any season, and Knox Farm State Park’s meadows turn green in May. Lockport’s canal cruises begin their daily season in early May, and the orchards of the Niagara fruit belt, between Lockport and Lake Ontario, bloom pink and white in May. Across the border, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s wineries and gardens are at their freshest, though you’ll need a passport. Old Fort Niagara opens Friday to Sunday from January to March, so check its spring schedule before you go.

Is spring good for architecture and history?

It’s one of the best seasons for it, because the tours run, the crowds are small and the trees haven’t leafed out enough to hide the facades. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House runs its 75-minute tour, $25 for adults, all year except on Tuesdays, and Graycliff returns to six days a week in April. The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site is open daily from February, with guided tours every hour and adult tickets at $12. City Hall’s free observation deck is open on weekdays, and a clear spring day gives you the longest views over the lake. Explore Buffalo’s walking tours, $20 for general admission and free for under-18s with a parent, are a good way to see downtown and the neighborhoods as the weather warms. Our guide to Buffalo’s architecture and history covers the landmarks.

What should you do when it rains or snows?

Spring weather will send you indoors at least once, and Buffalo has plenty to fill a gray day. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, open Mondays and Thursday to Sunday, the Buffalo History Museum, open Wednesday to Sunday, and the Buffalo Museum of Science can each fill a morning. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House runs tours year-round, closed on Tuesdays, and the Botanical Gardens’ conservatory is the warmest, most colorful place in town during its Spring Flower Exhibit. Buffalo RiverWorks keeps its ice skating and curling going year-round, and a Shea’s show makes a good rainy evening. The Buffalo NY rainy spring day plan in this series lays out a full day, and our guide to Buffalo’s museums and art covers the indoor options.

What’s spring like with kids?

Spring break is a good time for a family trip, with fewer crowds than summer and lower prices. The Explore & More Children’s Museum at Canalside, open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and the Buffalo Museum of Science are the rainy-day anchors, and the Buffalo Zoo, open daily from 10am to 5pm, is at its liveliest on a mild spring morning. The Botanical Gardens’ spring show and its family events around Easter are a hit with younger children, and the Maid of the Mist, back from late April, is a thrill for older ones; children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. The Buffalo NY spring family activities guide in this series has more, and our Buffalo with kids guide covers the family attractions year-round.

What other events happen in spring?

Beyond Easter and St. Patrick’s Day, the spring calendar has a steady rhythm of smaller events. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is pay what you wish on M&T FIRST FRIDAYS, when it stays open until 9pm, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center is free on M&T Second Fridays, which makes for an easy, cheap night out in any month. The Botanical Gardens runs family events around its spring show, and the Cherry Blossom Festival is the season’s gentlest celebration. Shea’s Broadway season continues through spring, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra plays its season at Kleinhans Music Hall. By late May, the outdoor season is under way, with the Buffalo Marathon, the first outdoor concerts and the waterfront attractions reopening.

What should you eat in spring?

Spring eating in Buffalo follows the religious calendar at first and the weather after that. Through Lent, the Friday fish fry is everywhere, from church halls to corner taverns. Easter brings the Broadway Market’s butter lambs, pierogi, kielbasa and chrusciki, and Dyngus Day adds polka-hall platters and a lot of beer. By May the patios reopen, the Elmwood Village Farmers Market is back on Saturday mornings, and the first warm evening sends the whole city outdoors for wings and a pint.

Which sports are on in spring?

Spring is a crossover season. The Sabres wrap up their regular season in April, and the Bandits play lacrosse at the KeyBank Center until April 24, 2027, with playoffs possible after that. The Bisons open their baseball season at Sahlen Field in late March or early April, and the Buffalo Marathon runs on Memorial Day weekend. Our Buffalo sports travel guide covers tickets and getting to each venue.

How do you get around in spring?

Spring is easy without a car in the city. Metro Rail is free on its above-ground section downtown, from Fountain Plaza to Canalside, and Reddy Bikeshare restarts in April, at $3 to unlock plus 10 cents a minute. The Route 20 Elmwood bus reaches the museums, Delaware Park and the Japanese Garden. The bike ferry doesn’t start until Memorial Day weekend, so the Outer Harbor is a bike ride or a short drive in spring. For Niagara Falls, NFTA Route 40 runs from downtown in about an hour. The Buffalo NY spring without a car itinerary in this series has a full plan, and our guide to getting around Buffalo covers fares and routes.

What should you pack for spring?

Layers are everything. A spring day in Buffalo can start at 40 degrees and reach 70 by the afternoon, then drop again when the sun goes down or the wind turns off the lake. Bring a warm sweater or fleece, a waterproof jacket, waterproof shoes or boots for muddy trails and wet sidewalks, and a hat and gloves for March. Pack sunglasses and sunscreen too, since the spring sun is strong on a clear day. If you’re riding the Maid of the Mist, you’ll get a poncho, but shoes that can get wet are wise.

For travelers with limited mobility, spring’s main obstacles are leftover snow in March, muddy park paths and a few seasonal attractions that don’t reopen until late spring. The paved paths at Canalside, the Outer Harbor and around Hoyt Lake are the easiest early-season walks, and the museums are fully indoors. Our accessible Buffalo travel guide covers the details.

Where should you stay in spring?

Spring is shoulder season, which means better hotel rates and more choice than in summer, except on St. Patrick’s weekend, Easter and Dyngus Day, and Memorial Day weekend. Downtown puts you close to Metro Rail, the Theater District and the St. Patrick’s parade route. The Elmwood Village puts you steps from Delaware Park, the Japanese Garden and the museums, which is ideal for cherry blossom season. Our guide to where to stay in Buffalo compares the neighborhoods.

Spring’s other advantage is space. Outside the big holiday weekends, you’ll have the museums, the parks and even Niagara Falls on weekdays largely to yourself, and restaurants are easier to book. The trade-off is that a handful of seasonal attractions, from the bike ferry to the carousel’s summer hours, don’t start until late May, so a trip in the second half of May gets you the best of both: most things open, the city green and the summer crowds still weeks away.

What does a spring weekend look like?

For a late-April weekend, spend Saturday morning in Delaware Park: the Japanese Garden, the Hoyt Lake loop and, if the blossoms are out, as many photos as you like. Visit the Buffalo History Museum, then the Buffalo AKG in the afternoon, and have dinner in the Elmwood Village. On Sunday, drive 30 minutes to Niagara Falls for the Maid of the Mist, back on the river, and the roaring spring falls, stopping at a gorge overlook on the way back. If it rains, swap Delaware Park for the Botanical Gardens’ spring show. The Buffalo NY spring weekend itinerary in this series adds times and restaurants, and our complete guide to things to do in Buffalo covers the rest of the city. For planning basics, see our Buffalo travel guide.

Buffalo Spring Things to Do FAQ

When do the cherry blossoms bloom in Buffalo?

Usually in late April or early May, depending on the weather. The best place to see them is the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park, behind the Buffalo History Museum, with about 40 cherry trees around Mirror Lake. The bloom lasts about a week to 10 days. The Cherry Blossom Festival ran April 25 and 26 in 2026; 2027 dates haven’t been announced.

When does the Maid of the Mist open?

In late April. The 2026 season opened on April 24 and runs through November 8. Adult tickets cost $30.25 in 2026, including the Observation Tower elevator down to the boat landing, and children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult. The 2027 opening date will be announced by the operator.

When is Dyngus Day in 2027?

Dyngus Day is the Monday after Easter. In 2027 Easter falls on March 28, so Dyngus Day is Monday, March 29. Buffalo celebrates with a parade through Broadway-Fillmore and polka parties across the city. The Broadway Market’s Easter season, with butter lambs and pierogi, runs in the weeks before.

When is the Buffalo St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2027?

The downtown parade is listed for Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 2pm on Delaware Avenue. The Old Neighborhood parade in the Old First Ward usually runs the Saturday before. Book hotels early, since St. Patrick’s weekend is one of the busiest of the spring.

Does it still snow in Buffalo in spring?

Yes, sometimes. March averages about 14 inches of snow and April about 2.5 inches, and a late squall can whiten the lawns even after a warm spell. May is almost always snow-free. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket for any spring trip, and keep an indoor plan for each day.

Is spring a good time to visit Buffalo?

Yes, especially from late April. Hotels are cheaper and quieter than in summer, the waterfalls are at full power, the cherry blossoms and spring gardens bloom, and the Maid of the Mist is back. March is best for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and Dyngus Day, if you don’t mind cold, changeable weather.

What opens on Memorial Day weekend?

Memorial Day weekend starts Buffalo’s summer season. The Queen City Bike Ferry begins daily crossings between Canalside and the Outer Harbor, Woodlawn Beach opens for weekend swimming, the Heritage Carousel’s summer season is under way, and the Buffalo Marathon runs through the city. Book hotels early for the holiday weekend.

Related Buffalo Guides

Sources and How We Checked

Hours, prices, routes and other details in this guide were checked on September 23, 2026 against the official sources below. The guide is compiled from those operators and agencies rather than from other travel lists, and it doesn’t describe first-hand visits. Details change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the operator before you go.

Buffalo Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Visit Buffalo Niagara, the City of Buffalo or any attraction listed here, and no one paid to be included.

Photo Credits