We Haunt Eerie Days
One platform to promote best of the season
It's time to get spooky, Erie.
Residents and visitors alike can now plug into one place that promotes county-wide fall fun throughout the month of October. From family fun to eerie lore and tours, and even the inaugural Erie Playhouse Ghostlight Halloween 5K through downtown on Halloween – there are tricks and treats for everyone loving this season and this great space on the lake.
If readers of a certain older, wiser age group think this branding rings a bell (recalling a celebration launched by Mayor Lou Tullio in 1976) why yes, "it's a nostalgic nod to the old We Love Erie Days," said Susannah Faulkner of Erie Arts and Culture, one of the partners behind the project.
Inspired by the phantasmagorical fanfare surrounding places such as Salem, Massachusetts, Erie Arts and Culture and its partners (including The City of Erie, the Erie Downtown Development Corporation, Eerie Horror Fest, and the Erie Playhouse) are looking to cement Erie's reputation as a spooky season destination city. "There's so much that's already happening and we want to capture it all in one place," Faulkner expressed. Giving credit to the Eerie Horror Fest (once highlighted in The New York Times), she and the team hope to build upon what's already being recognized here.
Central to their creepy-crawly curation efforts is their website (wehaunteeriedays.com). There, visitors can view upcoming events (several of which are featured in this issue), contribute to the calendar, and share with your friends and family via Facebook and Instagram. "We're keeping it fun this first year and seeing what evolves," Faulkner explains. "We are creating the tools so that the community can run with it."
And what would a promotional toolkit be without merch? Erie Apparel has played a key role in the Haunt Eerie visual identity thus far, including creating its logo. A We Haunt Eerie Days tee designed by Erie's own Mark Kosobucki (aka "Monster Mark") should be on Erie Apparel's shelves by the time you read this. If you're wondering what it looks like, you need only look at the cover of the issue you hold in your hands (claws? tentacles?)
We encourage you to keep your eyes (however many) peeled for everything else the crew conjures up in the month (and years) to come. Peace out, witches, and happy haunting, Eerie! See you around this spooky city in October!
Calendar Highlights:
Friday, Oct. 9 The Pumpkin Walk 2026
Featuring 1,100 illuminated carved pumpkins created by 52 local groups.
5:30 to 9:30 p.m. // Waldameer Park, 220 Peninsula Dr. // $5 // extension.psu.edu
Premiering Thursday, Oct. 22 Clue: Onstage
The beloved whodunit presented by the Penn State Behrend Theatre Club.
Multiple dates through Nov. 1 // 7:30 to 9 p.m. // Studio Theater at Behrend, 4701 College Dr. // $15 // sites.psu.edu
Friday, Oct. 23 Halloween Party at the Food Hall
Featuring costumes, live music, and seasonally-themed beverages and comestibles.
6 to 10 p.m. // Flagship City Food Hall, 22 N. Park Row // flagshipcitydistrict.com
Thursday, Oct. 29 The Vampire Circus
Feel your blood rush as you behold this mad spectacle of acrobatics, dark comedy, and magic.
7:30 to 10:30 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St. // From $50.88 // axs.com
Saturday, Oct. 31 Ghostlight 5K
A race through downtown Erie on All Hallow's Eve. Prizes awarded to best-dressed.
9 a.m. to noon // Erie Playhouse, 13 W. 10th St. // $45 // runsignup.com
