Five Family-Friendly Fall Festivals
Tuesday Sep 20th, 2022
Fall is a time for colorful leaves, Halloween costumes, hay rides, pumpkin spice everything and some of Erie’s favorite festivals. From corn mazes and hay rides to pumpkin cannons and scary creature features, Erie Pennsylvania has a cornucopia of family-friendly fall activities. This season, be sure that these five fall favorites are at the top of your list.
Port Farms Harvest Fest
September 17 – October 30
This six-week long celebration features over 25 family-friendly attractions, including an eight acre-corn maze, corn box, wagon hay rides, slide mountain, pedal cart track, apple cannons, pasture paintball, low ropes adventure course, animal exhibits, barnyard blasters, and much more. Port Farms also offers pumpkins, corn stalks, mums, and other fall décor for purchase. Look for new events taking place throughout the Fall Harvest Fest including Superhero Day September 24 and the Not So Spooky Halloween October 29 and 30.
Fall Harvest Fest is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $13.95 on weekdays and $16.95 on weekends. Kids ages two and under are free. Admission for ages 60 and over is $8.00. College students with ID are $10.00. Military members are free with I.D.
Peek’n Peak Fall Fast
October 8-9 and 15-16
Celebrate the season among the scenic foothills of Western New York during the 34th Annual Peek’n Peak Fall Fest! Brilliant foliage sets the scene for two weekends of fall fun including a juried arts and craft show featuring more than 100 vendors and a farmers' market. A special kid’s zone will be set up near the Gazebo Grill and includes a rock climbing wall, inflatables, face painting, balloon animals and pony rides. The popular pumpkin cannon will make its booming return along with a classic car cruise-in and the annual snow sports equipment swap.
Fall Fest runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Zoo Boo 2022
October 12-30
The Erie Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration is one of the largest kid-friendly Halloween events in the tri-state area. The “scary but not too scary” event invites children of all ages to put on their favorite costume and stop at trick-or-treat stations scattered throughout the Zoo grounds. Swing by Adventure Center for songs and silly jokes courtesy of talking pumpkins. Do the monster mash to the tunes of DJ Bill Page and his spooky jukebox, wind your way through the corn maze and say hello to the Troll camped out near the bridge. The Wildlife Carousel will be open as well as the Eerie Express Train where riders can try and find the Yeti.
ZooBoo is open Wednesdays through Fridays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 9 p.m. Admission is $13 for trick or treaters ($9 members) and $11 for non-treaters ($7 non-members). Tickets can be bought online, the admission gate or the Zoo Main office M-F 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Asbury Woods Scary Creature Feature
October 13-15
Spiders and other creepy crawlies take center stage at this annual family fall event. Set amidst the natural beauty of Asbury Woods, Scary Creature Feature is complete with family activities, storytelling, and a guided walk through the woods where visitors can encounter and learn about some not-so-scary, nocturnal creatures that live in the forest. It’s the perfect chance to explore the woods at night and enjoy the cool, crisp air of an autumn evening.
Scary Creature feature takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $9 per person and pre-registration is required.
Downtown Erie Fall Fest
October 23
Immerse yourself with the beautiful colors of fall, endless tables of handmade items and delicious food during Downtown Erie’s annual Fall Fest. Located in Downtown Erie’s Griswold Park at the corner of West 14th and Peach Streets, this annual celebration includes various produce and merchant vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities and local food trucks. New to the Fall Fest this year is the Classic Car Trunk or Treat, where classic car owners will show off their timeless beauties while handing out candy to the little ones. Prizes for Best Car and Spookiest Car will be awarded at 3 p.m.
Fall Fest is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
