Eat, Drink, and Be Scary

Cathy Smith/Flickr

The weeks leading up to Halloween in Erie County are brimming out the gourd with activities. For even more events (and no sickly pumpkin gut residues), sift through our print and online calendars (eriereader.com).

Fog encroaches on the streets, mingling with the aroma of pumpkin spice lattes and falling on the stitching of cable-knit sweaters. As the weather cools down, the proverbial ghouls come out. Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celts celebrating Samhain, a night when it was believed the line between living and dead became murky. As tradition goes, it evolved into the customary costume-wearing and gift-bearing holiday we know now.

Whether you're looking for the frightening fun of a haunted house or an old-fashioned corn maze and pumpkin patch, there are many Eerie options. Fiends and friends alike can attend these activities for a fa-boo-lous fall. Check out these events if you are dying for a good time this season.

ONGOING

Eeriebyss Factory of Terror

The abandoned Griswold Manufacturing Co. factory will 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. 27 // 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 levels to this haunted experience, including "Phobia," "Death Row," and of course the spookified Blue Streak Roller Coaster.

Running until Oct. 27 // Fri. - Sat. 7 p.m. - midnight, Sun. 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. // 12382 Center St., 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 Festival

With options that suit everyone, Port Farms is geared toward children of all ages. There are farm animals, slides, corn mazes, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and more on-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

Slides, pumpkin sling-shots, hay rides, an obstacle course, and a corn maze are some of the activities at Sisson's to put you in the "fall" mood.

Running until Nov. 2 // Fri. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. // 11244 Springfield Road, Girard, PA // $8, $5 for seniors, ages 2 and under free // sissonspumpkinpatch.com

Brewerie Haunted History Tours

In the spirit of Halloween, The Brewerie is hosting a series of haunted history tours through the spooky sites, tunnels, and shadowy spaces of Union Station. More boos please!

Running until Nov. 1 // Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. // 123 W. 14th St. Erie, PA // $15 per person // RSVP at 814.454.2200 // brewerie.com

Mason Farms Pumpkintown

Mason Farms transforms into Pumpkintown once again for children of all ages. With a petting zoo, corn maze, and plenty of inflatable fun, there's more than just pumpkins (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 Dr. // Free admission, rides/haunted house $1 per ticket, $10 ride-a-rama // masonfarms.com

Sparrow Pond Spooky Hayride

This campground transforms into a land of the walking dead as a hayride goes around the campground, followed by the "walk of darkness" through some spooky cabins.

Running until Oct. 26, Fri. - Sat. 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., Sun. Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. // 11103 Rt. 19 Waterford N, PA // $15.95, children 12 and under $8.95 // sparrowpond.com

Night of the Living Dead, the Musical at PACA

Deemed "a frightful musical with a humanitarian bite," Night of the Living Dead is a show with horror and gore, as well as racial commentary.

Running until Oct. 26, Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m. // PACA, 1505 State St. Floor 2 // $15 // paca1505.org

WEEKEND LONG

Conneaut Lake Fall Pumpkin Fest

Hosted by the Conneaut Lake Area Business Association, the annual fall celebration will feature carnival favorites, crafters, and food along with a pumpkin drop.

Fri. Oct. 11 - 13, Fri 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. -7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. // Conneaut Lake Park, 12392 Center St., Conneaut Lake, PA // Free // conneautlake.com

Asbury Woods Scary Creature Feature

A family-friendly, fall themed day complete with hayrides, donuts and cider, storytelling and a guided walk through the woods.

Oct. 10 - 12, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. // Asbury Woods, 4105 Asbury Rd. // $7 members, $9 non-members // asburywoods.org

ONE DAY ONLY

Thur 10/10

Painting at the Brew

This fang-tastic night starts out with lattes and moves into Halloween-themed painting. All materials are included in the price — just sign up with any barista.

6 p.m. - 8 p.m. // Brew Ha Ha at the Colony, 2612 W. 8th St. // $35 // facebook.com/brewhahaerie

Fri 10/11

Make Your Own Halloween Pots

Choose two projects (a witch hat, Jack-O-Lantern or a ghost) and make your own Halloween-inspired pottery. Create some festive decor for your home while having a ghoulishly good time.

6 p.m. - 8 p.m. // Erie ClaySpace, 1505 State St. // $50 // erieclayspace.com

Sat 10/12

Wizards & Wands Bar Crawl

A night to dress up and celebrate wizardry and magic around the bars downtown. Participating establishments include Big Bar, Bourbon Bar, Coconut Joe's, and Resolution. 

5 p.m. - 1 a.m. // Big Bar, 14 E. 10th St. // $15 // facebook.com/wizardswandscrawl

Sun 10/13

Halloween Photography Smoke Sessions

Get your pictures taken with a spooky color smoke bomb in a cemetery.

10 a.m. // Erie Cemetery, 2116 Chestnut St., Erie PA // $65 prepay // facebook.com/roxannmariephotography

Fri 10/18

Gory at the Quarry

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park hosts a night full of costume contests, a haunted campsite contest, and a chili cook-off. There will be food vendors and live music for everyone to enjoy.

8 a.m. - 7 p.m. // Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, 12001 Nelson Ledge Rd., Nelson, OH // For pricing options go to ticketquarry.com/events

Zone Divas Halloween Show

Misty Micheals Kall and the other Zone Divas return to celebrate Halloween in this drag show.

8 p.m. // The Zone, 133 W. 18th St. // $2 // ages 21+ // facebook.com/TheZoneDanceClub

Sat 10/19

Trunk or Treat

Come in costume with your car trunk decorated and share treats.

6 p.m. // Asbury United Methodist Church, 4703 W. Ridge Rd. // Free // facebook.com/Asbury.Erie

Niagara Spooktacular

Festive activities, trick-or-treating in the museum, U.S. Brig Niagara tours, and a costume contest with Captain Sabatini.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. // Erie Maritime Museum, 150 E. Front St. // Free for members, $10 nonmembers, $5 children // visiterie.com/events

Edgar Allan Poetry Slam

The Geek Erie teams up with the Erie County Library to host a night of Edgar Allen Poe inspired poetry. Anyone ages 13-18 are encouraged to join.

3 p.m. - 7 p.m. // Blasco Memorial Library, 160 E Front St // facebook.com/TheGeekERIEofNWPA

Sun 10/20

Port Eerie Costume 5K

If you're too old to trick-or-treat but still want to join in on the Halloween fun, this 5K is the place to be. Walk with witches or sprint with skeletons then gather afterwards for the costume contest results.

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. // Liberty Park and Highmark Amphitheater, 726 W. Bayfront Pkwy. // $17 // runsignup.com

Wed 10/23

Trail of Treats

Go to the Millcreek Mall for some primetime trick-or-treating.

Wed. Oct. 23 and Thur. Oct. 24, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. // Millcreek Mall, 5800 Peach St. // $5 // achievementctr.org/events

MOVIES

BIGHT ME and Joyful Vampire Ball

Award-winning independent feature film romantic comedy about people who believe they are vampires.

Fri. Oct. 11, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. // Erie Movie House, 3424 W. Lake Rd. // $10 // eriemoviehouse.com

Ghostbusters

Halloween classic Ghostbusters is shown by the National Comedy Center.

Fri. Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. // National Comedy Center, 203 W 2nd St. Jamestown, NY // Free // comedycenter.org

Hotel Transylvania: Baytober Movie on the Mural

Head down to Dobbin's Landing for the 2012 animated movie featuring the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, and more.

Sat. Oct. 12, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. // Dobbins Landing, Bayfront Pkwy. // Free // porterie.org

The Nightingale and Flower

Presented by the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, The Nightingale is a 2019 film thriller and Flower is a short film produced in Erie by Grant Larson Productions.

Wed. Oct. 16, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. // Bourbon Barrel, 1213 State St. // $12 // filmsocietynwpa.org

The Uninvited

Presented by the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, The Uninvited is a 1944 horror film noted to be the first to portray ghosts as true metaphysical entities. 

Wed. Oct. 23, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. // Bourbon Barrel, 1213 State St. // $12 // filmsocietynwpa.org

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Erie Movie House and Slaughter film present this 1982 cult horror film — the only one of the franchise to not feature Michael Meyers.

Fri. Oct. 25, 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. // Erie Movie House, 3424 W Lake Rd. // $10 // eriemoviehouse.com

Midsommar: Director's Cut

Presented by the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, this movie is a nightmare about a young couple whose relationship is falling apart directed by Ari Aster (Hereditary)

Wed. Oct. 30, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. // Bourbon Barrel, 1213 State St. // $12 // filmsocietynwpa.org

Spine Chiller

This local film by Jacob Perrett presented by the Erie Movie House consisted of four stories that pay homage to the genre films of the '70s and '80s.

Thur. Oct. 31, 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. // Erie Movie House, 3424 W. Lake Rd. // $10 // eriemoviehouse.com

There's Nobody at the Bridge

This documentary features paranormal investigator James McCann and his experiences at the Gudgeonville Bridge in Girard, PA. There will be a presentation afterward with McCann.

Sat. Nov. 2, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. // Erie Movie House, 3424 W. Lake Rd. // $8 // eriemoviehouse.com