Good morning, Erie.

The downtown Erie senior center at 823 Peach St. will close Dec.

23 due to long-standing funding issues and low attendance—officials noted that limited parking has kept daily visits to 10–15 while nearby centers draw far larger crowds. Seniors now must look to other local centers for meals, exercise, and social activities.

Erie mariners recalled the Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking in Lake Superior on November 10th when the deadly storm with 80-mph winds and 25-foot waves took all 29 crew members—local sailors and marine workers shared personal memories of the ship and its crew, conveying the lasting impact of that historic event on our community.

PNC donated new winter coats at Century Child Development Center on East 27th Street during its 17th annual Operation Warm Coat distribution on Thursday morning to help children stay warm for winter—organizers said the program has delivered more than 18,000 coats across northwestern PA since 2008.

Erie businesses released the Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide 2025, offering a curated list of local stores and gift ideas for the holiday season (the guide aims to support local shops).

Historic November storms on the Great Lakes claimed many lives—one storm in November 1913 brought fierce winds and huge waves that sank 18 ships and drowned over 250 sailors.

Local seamen have long called these deadly gales the curse of the 11th month.

A metal bison draped in stars and stripes has been installed at the Fort LeBoeuf School District administration building at 34 E.

Ninth St. in Waterford—created by local artist and school director Larry Hanas, it honors the upcoming US 250th birthday, the 70th anniversary of Fort LeBoeuf High School and the Fort LeBoeuf class of 2026.

Erie will host many fun arts and entertainment events for the holiday season with shows such as Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Frozen: The Broadway Musical and a pops concert by the Erie Philharmonic.

Many events at local venues (including museum tours, concerts, films and comedy shows) offer tickets starting as low as $5.

Courteney Cox is directing a new true crime film called Evil Genius that is based on the 2003 Erie pizza bomber case—Patricia Arquette and David Harbour star in the film from a 2018 documentary series.

The movie uses details from the bank robbery that ended with the deadly explosion of pizza deliveryman Brian Wells.

Brown trout arrived at the SONS of Lake Erie hatchery on November 6th when about 1,500 small fish were delivered from Linesville Fish Hatchery in Crawford County.

They will be cared for on Chestnut Street until they are released into Presque Isle Bay by the end of March — an effort led by hatchery manager Jack Bock to boost the sport fishing population.

Gannon University’s Model UN and Mayor Joe Schember raised the United Nations flag at City Hall on Thursday morning — kicking off Model United Nations Weekend — as part of a long-standing tradition.

Students are preparing for debates and diplomatic exercises this Friday and Saturday.

Erie County Executive Brenton Davis announced an emergency supplemental appropriation of $1 million to the Northwest PA Second Harvest Food Bank to help fight food insecurity amid the federal shutdown and state budget impasse—Erie County Council will decide on the funding at its next meeting to ensure swift food distribution. This measure comes as one in seven local residents face food insecurity.

Two45 Waterfront Grille now offers guests clear igloos with Presque Isle Bay views for cozy winter dining—manager Christina Davis said the setup has been used for nearly 10 years and will be updated with holiday decor for events like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day.

Restaurants + grocers in Erie are offering a range of Thanksgiving dinner options for pickup, delivery and dine-in, with menus designed for families and prices starting around $18 while orders will be due on various November dates ahead of the holiday.

Service on Thanksgiving Day will include special hours to meet different customer needs.

Michael Dec will play his first home game for the Erie Otters today after a Halloween trade sent him from Owen Sound in exchange for Wesley Royston—he also reunites with his former college teammate Oliver Turner at Erie Insurance Arena.

Self-Care Workshop: Dry Brushing

10:30-11:30 a.m. — The Park Coffee & Bread Co. — Workshop FREE; donations for Erie Cancer Wellness Center — Explore the benefits of dry brushing for skin, lymph, and energy in a hands-on session.

Get the Led Out - A Celebration of Led Zeppelin

7:30-9 p.m. — Warner Theatre — Ticket price varies — Experience a remarkable tribute to rock legends Led Zeppelin with an unforgettable performance.

Bark Celebration 2025

6-9:30 p.m. — Concourse of Union Station Catering — $65/person — Celebrate all things dog with a buffet dinner, live music, and a gift auction.

Barrie Colts vs Erie Otters

7:00–8:30 p.m. — Erie Insurance Arena — Stream on FloHockey — Don't miss the action as the Colts take on the Otters in this exciting hockey showdown.

Flicker // Fade Live Emo Night

5-10 p.m. — BIGBAR — 21+ only — Experience the best of Emo and Pop-Punk music live in Erie this Saturday night.

ERC Turkey Trot

7:30-10:30 a.m. — Presque Isle: Beach #1 — Registration required — Enjoy classic 5k and 10k races to burn calories before Thanksgiving dinner.

Erie Otters vs. Peterborough Petes

7-8:30 p.m. — Erie Insurance Arena — Check FloHockey for streaming options — Catch the exciting matchup between the Erie Otters and Peterborough Petes live from Erie.