Good morning, Erie.

The AHN Festival of Trees will begin Friday at 9 a.m. at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie and run through Sunday at 5 p.m. More than 80 decorated trees will be on display for visitors to vote on, with admission costing $10 for those thirteen or older, $8 for ages 12 and under, and free for infants—while the winning tree will be announced December 1.

Erie City Mission opened its gates at 8 a.m.—November 24 at 1017 French St.—to serve over 800 individuals Thanksgiving meals.

The Erie City Mission distributed ‘Boxes of Love’ Thanksgiving meals this morning—1,200 turkeys with fixings, winter clothing, and donated Bibles were given out to help serve about 7,000 people in need.

Robert O’Connell Jr. explained that many volunteers and months of planning helped make the event a success for the community.

Diverse Erie awarded a total of $650,000 to four local organizations on Nov.

21 at its East Bayfront Parkway headquarters—grants that support maternal health, workforce development, and chronic-disease prevention. The award winners include Birthroot Community Doula Alliance, MHEDS, Saint Vincent Health System’s Talent Attraction Program, and The Sight Center of Northwest Pennsylvania, marking a step toward generational change in the community.

Erie International Airport will see longer lines and more travelers during the winter holiday season as American Airlines and Breeze Airways add extra seats and routes from the Friday before Christmas through Jan 2.

Airport executive Derek Martin said last year's holidays saw a 32% jump in daily travelers—a change that has prompted plans for extra capacity.

On Monday, students at Barber National Institute's Elizabeth Lee Black School learned to cook Thanksgiving classics in their new adaptive kitchen where they practiced skills like measuring, cleaning, and following instructions.

They prepared dishes they will serve at a Thanksgiving feast today to build kitchen independence.

Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System announced plans to move Mother Teresa Academy to the former Blessed Sacrament School campus for the 2026-27 school year—this move will provide a larger space and updated facilities to serve growing enrollment.

School officials said families will receive more details on open houses and community forums soon.

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for Erie and nearby counties starting Wednesday evening—Chautauqua begins at 7 p.m. and other counties at 1 a.m.—with the alerts lasting through Friday.

The forecast predicts lake effect snow with up to 6 inches of accumulation and winds reaching 45 mph that may cause drifting snow, hazardous roads and possible power outages when heavy snow hits Thursday afternoon and early evening.

Erie Mayor Joe Schember announced Monday that 38 small businesses received up to $5,000 each from the Erie Flagship Fund, totaling over $148,000.

Casey Corritore of Casey’s Ice Cream Cart and Max Weber of Shop Hero Dashboard said the funds—granted by the city—will help them grow their businesses.

Erie region diners serve simple American food and bottomless coffee with no frills but friendly service; the article lists diner names, addresses, phone numbers, and hours—helping locals pick a spot that fits their taste.

This guide shows key details so readers can easily find a favorite meal venue.

Today, the Erie Times-News is running its first poll for District 10’s winter sports season to choose the fan favorite preseason female swimmer/diver; voting began (Nov.

24 at 5 p.m.) and ends (Nov. 26 at 5 p.m.). A separate poll for the male swimmer/diver will run from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3.

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.

Brantford Bulldogs vs Erie Otters

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. — Erie Insurance Arena — Streaming available — Catch the action as the Bulldogs face off against the Otters in this exciting hockey match.

North Bay Battalion vs Erie Otters

7-8:30 p.m. — Erie Insurance Arena — Check local listings — Watch the North Bay Battalion battle against the Erie Otters on the ice.

Holiday Joy Paint & Sip

6-8 p.m. — Deer Creek Winery Tasting Room — $35 per ticket — Unleash your creativity while sipping wine in a festive atmosphere.

Erie Otters vs. Flint Firebirds

7-8:30 p.m. — Erie Insurance Arena — Watch the exciting clash as the Erie Otters take on the Flint Firebirds live at the arena.