Written by Erik Perrino, Erie Sprout Creative Director
With summer slowly coming to an end, check out our list of upcoming local festivals and activities for families in Erie County and surrounding areas.
Warren County Fair: August 10-14 Hours: Monday 8 AM - 11 PM (no gate fee), Tuesday-Thursday 8 AM - 11 PM (gate fee), Friday and Saturday 8 AM-Midnight (gate fee) Location: Warren County Fairgrounds, Pittsfield, PA 16340 Phone: Fair Office 814-563-9386, Concert Tickers 814-563-3565 Admission: $30 (season pass for 1), $7 (single advance admission), $9 (single gate admission), $25 (family 4 pack-until August 9)
Special Events:
- Concert featuring Gloriana and Edens Edge, Tuesday 7:30 PM (reserved seat tickets needed), $26 floor seat, $24 bleacher seat
- Modified Tractor Pull, Friday 8:00 PM, $5 advance bleacher seat ($6 after August 9), $12 advance pit seat ($15 after August 9)
Tickets are available now by calling 814-563-3565. For more information, visit www.warrencountyfair.net
Celebrate Erie: August 19-22 Hours: Thursday 5 PM, Friday 2 PM, Saturday and Sunday 12 PM Location: State Street from 4th to 12th Streets Website:www.celebrateerie.com Admission: All concerts are FREE of charge
Special Events:
Concerts at the Giant Eagle Main Stage:
- Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx, Friday 9 PM
- Gin Blossoms:, Saturday 9 PM
- Craig Morgan, Sunday 8 PM
- Erie Insurance Family Fireworks, Sunday 9:30 PM
Taste of Erie at Perry Square
Hours: Thursday 5-9 PM, Friday and Saturday 12-10 PM, and Sunday 12-9 PM
Features The BrewErie at Union Station, Matthew's Trattoria, La Bella, Victor's in the Bel Aire Clarion, Connie's Ice Cream, and Slugger's
Crawford County Fair: August 21-28 Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9 AM, Monday 8 AM, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 AM, Thursday 8:30 AM, Friday 9 AM, Saturday (August 28) 11 AM Location: Route 77, Meadville, PA Phone: 814-333-7400 or 1-800-332-2338 Website:www.crawfordcountyfair.net Admission: $4/person at the gate, $15 general pass for the week, FREE to children under 12, Crawford County 4-H members, and FFA members
Special Events:
Concerts at the Grandstand:
- American Jam, Monday 2:30 PM, tickets $10
- Josh Turner and Phil Vassar, Wednesday 7:30 PM, tickets $30 for racetrack and $25 for grandstand
- Darius Rucker and Kellie Pickler, Thursday 7:30 PM, tickets $40 for racetrack and $35 for grandstand
Crawford County Fair Queen Pagent
- Sunday 7 PM
Truck and Tractor Pulls at the Grandstand
- Semi, 4x4 Truck and Tractor Pull: Saturday, August 21 6 PM, pit gates open at 2 PM
- Big Rig, Truck and Tractor Pull: Friday, August 27 7 PM, pit gates open at 4 PM
North East National Rib Feat: August 27-29 Hours: Friday 4 PM-Midnight, Saturday Noon-Midnight, Sunday Noon-6 PM Location: Gravel Pit Park on West Main Road, North East Phone: 814-725-3308 Website:www.fullerhoseco1.org Admission: $3 general admission, 12 and under FREE, bring a canned god and get $1 off
Special Events:
- Rib Eating Contest, Friday 8:30 PM
- Bull Riding Contest, Saturday 8:30 PM
- Jim Archer Memorial Bike Show, Sunday Noon
Zabawa Polish Heritage Festival: August 27-August 29 Hours: Friday 5-10 PM, Saturday 1-10:30 PM, Sunday 12-6 PM Location: Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, East 23rd and Reed Streets Phone: 814-456-0671 Website: www.zabawa2010.com Admission: FREE
Special Events:
- Polka Family Band, Friday 6-10 PM
- Mar-Vels of Erie, Saturday 1-4 PM
- Henry and the Vera J's, Saturday 6:30-10:30 PM
- Wiwaty Folk Dancers, Sunday 1 PM
- 2 Polish Masses, Saturday at 5 PM and Sunday at 11 AM
Wattsburg Erie County Fair: August 30-September 4 Location: Wattsburg Fairgrounds, Wattsburg, PA Phone: 814-739-2232 Website:www.wattsburgeriecountyfair.com
Special Events:
- Jared Ashley and Jeremy McComb, Wednesday 7:30 PM, tickets $10
- Demo Derby, Thursday 7 PM
- 4x4 Truck Pulls, Friday 7 PM
- Northwest Truck Show, Saturday 7 PM
German Heritage Festival: September 4-5 Hours: Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM, Sunday 11 AM - 6:30 PM Location: St. Nicks Grove, 5131 Old French Road Phone: 814-456-5300 Website: www.dank-erie.org Admission: $5 per person, 12 and under FREE, bring in a canned good and save $1 Entertainers: The Mad Bavarian Bob Hamilton, Hank Haller, Alpen Schuhplattler and Trachtenverein, and Henry Doktorski
Erie Heritage Festival: September 11 Hours: All Day Event Location: Liberty Park Phone: 814-454-1813, ext. 24 Website:www.erieheritagefest.com Admission: FREE and open to the public
Activities:
- Historic Trolley Ride of Downtown Erie
- Traveling African American History Exhibit
- Kids-As-Curators History Museum Program
- Ethnic Marketplace
Sponsors: Erie County Historical Society, Connoisseur Media, County of Erie, Erie Community Foundation, Erie Insurance, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Arts Council of Erie, US Brig Niagara and Maritime Museum, WJET TV, and WQLN Public Media.
Wine Country Heritage Festival: September 24-26 Hours: All Day Event Location: North East's Gibson and Gravel Pit Parks Phone: 814-725-4262 Website: www.nechamber.org
At the Wine Country Heritage Festival, you will find 9 wineries in the wine tent, serving more than 40 varieties of wine. Dance to some of the regions best music and browse through the fine arts and crafts. You might even try your skill as a grape stomper-a festival tradition.
