Falling for Halloween
Many ways to celebrate the season around town
By: Nick Warren and Hannah McDonald
Pumpkins, apple cider, orange leaves, and sweaters. Ghosts, bloody axes, black lights, and monsters. These are the things that October is made of. Ranging from the truly terrifying to the child-friendly, there will be a chance to soak whichever brand of autumnal energy strikes your fancy. Perhaps you want to gorge yourself on gourds and get lost in a corn maze or two? Hay, wheat-ever suits your fancy. Or maybe a real-life jump scare is what you crave to get that heart rate up a bit? For families and horror fans alike, here's just a few of the recommended places and events to check out to exorcise your samhain spirits.
ONGOING
Eeriebyss Factory of Terror
Back after being closed last year, the Griswold Manufacturing Co. factory will once again become a four-story walk of frights. Boasting over a half-mile of scares housed under one roof, this place is not for the faint of heart.
Running until Oct. 28 // Fri. - Sat. 7 p.m. - midnight, Sun. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. // 1053 W 12th St. // $20 //eeriebyss.com
Ghost Lake at Conneaut Lake Park: 13 Levels of Fear
Claiming to be the "largest, longest, and scariest haunted attraction in the world," Conneaut Lake Park has been transformed into a terrifying site. There are 13 different zones to tackle, including "The Ice," "Scaryland Forest," and of course the spookified Blue Streak Roller Coaster.
Running until Oct. 28 // Fri. - Sat. 7 p.m. - midnight, Sun. 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. // 12382 Center Street Conneaut Lake, PA // Adults: $25 Fri. - Sat., $20 Sun., children 11 and Under: $15 on Fri. - Sat., $10 Sun. // ghostlake.net
Port Farms Fall Harvest Fest
With 30 different attractions, Port Farms has plenty of fun activities geared for children of all ages. There are rides, slides, animals, and mazes to check out at the picturesque rural site.
Running until Oct. 31 // Mon-Wed., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thur. -Fri., 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat. - Sun., 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. // 2055 Stone Quarry Rd, Waterford, PA // Mon. - Wed. $8, Thur. - Sun $12, free with military ID, ages 2 and under free // for more info and pricing options go to portfarms.com
Sisson's Pumpkin Patch
Featuring hay rides, a corn maze, an obstacle course, and pumpkin slingshots, Sisson's is a great place for children and adults to get that real "fall" feeling, and have some fun at the same time throughout the month of October.
Running until Oct. 28 // Fri. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. // 11244 Springfield Road
Girard, PA // $8, $6 for seniors, ages 2 and under free // sissonspumpkinpatch.com
Haunted History Tours at The Brewerie
In the spirit of Halloween, The Brewerie is once again hosting a series of haunted history tours through the spooky sites, tunnels, and shadowy spaces that occupy Union Station.
Running until Nov. 2 // Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 // 123 W. 14th St. Erie, PA // $15 per person // RSVP at 814.454.2200 // brewerie.com
Mason Farms' Pumpkintown
With a petting zoo, corn maze, and plenty inflatable fun, there's more than just pumpkins at Pumpkintown (though there are, of course, plenty of pumpkins).
Running until Oct. 31, Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. // 839 Peninsula Drive // Free admission, rides/haunted house $1 per ticket, $10 ride-a-rama // masonfarms.com
WEEKEND LONG
Thu 10/11
Asbury Woods Scary Creature Feature
A family-friendly, fall themed day complete with hayrides, food and crafts will take place from Thursday-Saturday.
Oct. 11, 12, 13, 6 p.m. // Asbury Woods, 4105 Asbury Road Erie, PA // $7 members, $9 non-members // asburywoods.org
Fri 10/12
28th Annual Fall Pumpkin Fest Conneaut Lake
Hosted by the Conneaut Lake Area Business Association, the annual fall celebration will feature carnival favorites along with a pumpkin drop.
Fri. Oct. 12 - 14, Fri 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. // Conneaut Lake Park, 12392 Center St. Conneaut Lake, PA // Free // conneautlake.com
ONE DAY ONLY
Fri 10/12
Weird Fiction - Local Horror film by Jacob Perrett at the Erie Movie House
Local filmmaker Jacob Perrett introduces his rated-R horror film Weird Fiction (2018), created to spook and mystify, at Erie Movie House.
Fri. Oct. 12, 7-11 p.m., movie begins at 8 p.m. // 3424 W. Lake Road Erie, PA // $8 // eriemoviehouse.com
Sat 10/13
Muslim City Fest: Fall Festival
For the first time ever, Philadelphia's Muslim City Fest will come to Erie, bringing food, rides and special performances to Perry Square
Sat. Oct. 13, 1-7 p.m. // Perry Square Park, 568 State Street Erie, PA // Free // muslimcityfest.com
Zombie Fun Run at Sparrow Pond
This year you have the option to be either the runner or zombie at the campground's spooky 5k.
Sat. Oct. 13, Check in at 1:30, Run at 3 p.m. // Sparrow Pond Campground, 1103 US-19 Waterford, PA // Child Runners, $20, Adult, $40; Zombie (16+), $40 // sparrowpond.com
Sat 10/20
Niagara Spooktakular
Costume contests, trick-or-treating, and museum tours are all part of 2018's Halloween Spooktacular at the Erie Maritime Museum.
Sat. Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. // 150 E. Front St. Erie, PA // Flagship Niagara League members, Free; GA, $10 // flagshipniagara.org
Eerie Fall fest at Gridley Park
This family-friendly event celebrates all things eerie in Erie as autumn settles in.
Sat. Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. // Gridley Park Erie, PA // Free
Faces of Terror Premiere Party
This locally-made short fan film brings iconic screen villains together to terrorize a band of teens. The premiere party includes live performances from Sounds Like a Plan, Human Delusion, Aria and The Voiceless, Roger Flo, and Dezzy Call.
Sat. Oct. 20 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. // Basement Transmissions, 145 W. 11 St. // facebook.com/facesofterror
HOWLoween Human Society NWPA
Drinks, food, music, costume contests and more are all part of this (well-behaved) pet-friendly adult halloween party.
Sat. Oct. 20 7-11 p.m. // 100 Boston Store Place Erie, PA // $34 // humanesocietyofnwpa.com
The Exorcist at EMH
Presented by Slaughter Film, Erie Movie House will host cult classic The Exorcist (1973) to celebrate the spooky season.
Sat. Oct. 20, 8-11 p.m. // 3424 W. Lake Road Erie, PA // $8 // eriemoviehouse.com
