Author Archives: Bobby Cherry

Ja Rule, Mýa to perform at Celebrate Erie

You read that headline correctly: Ja Rule and Mýa will perform Aug. 20 at Celebrate Erie on State Street in Downtown Erie.

Mýa is, of course, known for “Ghetto Superstar,” among other singles, and for her collaboration work with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Pink and Missy Elliot on the “Lady Marmalade” single used in “Moulin Rouge.”

Ja Rule is known for a number of hits, including “I’m Real (Remix)” with Jennifer Lopez and “Always on Time” with Ashanti.

On Aug. 21, country musician Jimmie Allen performs.

Check out the Celebrate Erie schedule to see musicians scheduled to perform.

Giant pretzels at The Plymouth in Erie

Where to eat around Tall Ships Erie 2022

If you’re coming to Erie for the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival, you’re going to need some food.

Check out some of our recommendations for other things to do, places to eat, things to see.

Where to eat?

Along the Bayfront, near the tall ships

Elsewhere in Downtown Erie

Pizza, pizza!

Outside of Downtown Erie
(There are many places, but these are some popular ones)

Dessert?
Ice cream and more!

Made to order

  • Wegmans: 6143 Peach St. near Millcreek Mall; and 5028 W. Ridge Road near Erie International Airport
  • Sheetz: 750 Peninsula Drive, 24/7; other nearby locations
  • Country Fair: Multiple locations, hours vary

Is Presque Isle State Park worth visiting?

Yes, Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, is worth visiting.

Beaches along Lake Erie.

Presque Isle offers 11 miles of hiking trails.

The peninsula has a 13.5-mile multipurpose trail for biking, walking and cross-country skiing.

Presque Isle offers swimming at guarded beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Presque Isle State Park is consistently rated among the top places in the country to bird-watch. The peninsula is located along the Atlantic Flyway, making it an excellent place for birds to stop on their migration across Lake Erie. At least 339 species of bird have been identified on Presque Isle.

Presque Isle’s Gull Point is considered the peninsula’s most ecologically dynamic area. Gull Point is the most fragile area of the peninsula, and many plant species there are threatened or endangered in Pennsylvania.

Presque Isle offers kayaking, canoeing, boat ramps and countless fishing spots.

Surfing is permitted in three spots at Presque Isle: Areas near Beach 1, Beach 10 and North Pier Light. More details here.

From a quiet spot under a tree or at a picnic table to pavilions for up to 200, Presque Isle offers many areas for picnicking.

Walk on water (well, ice) in the winter. While the state does not monitor ice thickness, visitors regularly find ice fishers and other winter activity enthusiasts out on the ice. Take a walk across the bay if it’s thick enough!

Watch the sun set. Nobody knows where it started, but allegedly, Presque Isle is considered to have the third best sunset in the world? Even if it’s not based on a real survey, sunsets are gorgeous here all year.

If all of that isn’t enough, simply sitting in your car reading a book or sipping a milkshake can be great. Drive to Sunset Point when it’s storming, stay in your and watch the waves whip around.

There’s so much to do at Presque Isle!

Celebrate Erie is back!

Erie’s biggest Downtown celebration returns.

Celebrate Erie is back!

The three-day festival is designed to celebrate all things Erie — food, business, art, culture and family.

Check out the 40 vibrant chalk displays along State Street.

Along with local and regional music acts, Celebrate Erie will feature a number of national musicians:

  • X Ambassadors, 8 p.m. Aug. 19
  • Mýa, 7:15 p.m. Aug. 20
  • Ja Rule, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20
  • Jimmie Allen, 8 p.m. Aug. 20

For more information, visit celebrateerie.com.

Erie named a top Pennsylvania city for young professionals

No surprise here!

Erie has been named among the top Pennsylvania cities for young professionals.

Livability said Erie is “one of the state’s best-kept secrets.” Obviously.

Presque Isle State Park, the relatively low cost of living and opportunities for business are among the reasons Erie was named to the list.

Also on the list were Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Scranton.

Read more here.

Talls Ships returns to Erie in 2022

Talls Ships Erie is back!

Tall Ships Erie returns to Erie’s bayfront on Aug. 25-28.

The festival celebrates Erie’s maritime heritage with ships from across the world.

Among the highlights of the festival is the Parade of Sail, where viewers can see the tall ships entering Presque Isle Bay. The Parade of Sail begins at 4 p.m. Aug. 25.

The remainder of the festival will take place around the Bayfront Convention Center, Dobbins Landing and the Erie Maritime Museum.

Visiting ships

Visitors will have a chance to view seven ships during the festival.

And, more might be added!

Mama duck, baby duck

In a return to Erie, visitors will get to see what’s considered the “World’s Largest Rubber Duck” and a smaller duck.

Admission tickets

» Single-day pass: $10
Includes: All-day access to festival sites. Dockside viewing of tall ships fleet. Live music and entertainment. Educational seminars. Family activities. Food vendors. Vendor marketplace.
Does not include access onto ships for deck tours. A deck tour add-on must be purchased for access onto available ships for deck tours.

Deck tour add-on: $5: The deck tour add-on must be purchased with a corresponding single-day pass.

» Weekend Pass (Friday, Saturday and Sunday): $39
Includes access to festival sites and deck tours for all three days of the festival. Does not include sailing tours. Weekend passes are non-transferable. Does not include sailing tours.

» VIP Pass: $199
Includes festival sites and deck tours for the weekend as well as all VIP-only hospitality areas. VIP areas include complimentary refreshments and appetizers. VIP passes also include VIP line access and VIP parking. VIP passes are non-transferable. Does not include sailing tours.

» Sailing tours
Check the Tall Ships Erie link for available sailing tours.

Plan your visit

Looking to spend the weekend? Hotels fill up quickly and can be pricy. Plus, there are campgrounds, RV parks and a variety of other options. Plan ahead. Find a list of places to stay.

No parking is available on festival grounds. But there are many parking opportunities nearby with shuttle service or a quick walk. Find more details here.

And if you’re coming from out of town, visit this link for driving details.

Volunteer, vendors, sponsorships

Want to volunteer, be a vendor or sponsor? Visit the Tall Ships Erie site for more details.

What to know about taking your dog to Presque Isle

Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the perfect spot for your pooch.

With 3,200 acres, Pennsylvania’s only seashore offers a great experience for you, your family and your dog.

With all of the fun, though, there are some things you should know and prepare for before heading to Presque Isle with your dog.

  • Dogs must be leashed at all times on leashes of no more than 6 feet.
  • Dogs are not permitted at guarded beaches in the summer. Dogs can walk and be in the water at unguarded beaches.
  • At guarded beaches, dogs are only allowed along the tree line.
  • Harmful algal blooms can kill your dog. More information is below.
  • Dog owners must properly clean up after their dogs.
  • Ticks are prevalent at Presque Isle.
  • Presque Isle is home to a variety of animals. Caution should be taken at all times.

Harmful algal blooms

The Erie County Department of Health regularly tests water from beaches for swimming safety.

Advisories are issued by the health department to help protect people and their pets from risks of contracting waterborne diseases from contaminated waters, including exposure to toxins found in harmful algal blooms.

The thresholds for dogs are lower than for humans because dogs tend to drink water when they swim.

The advisory map is updated regularly from late May to the end of October.

The Erie County Health Department site details more information about what harmful algal blooms look like and the damage they can do.

Locations

There are many locations along the shore for your dog to have fun.

Some popular shoreline spots include:

  • Sunset Point (Kite Beach): Located west of Beach 10
  • Between Sunset Point and Beach 9
  • Between Barracks Beach and Beach 6
  • East of Beach 10 to Gull Point
  • Shoreline near North Pier Lighthouse to Beach 11

Other popular spots for dogs include:

  • Any of the trails throughout the park
  • Picnic areas
  • Perry Monument area

For more information, call the Presque Isle State Park office at 814-833-7424.

Erie area July Fourth weekend fireworks

Check out these fireworks displays over the Fourth of July weekend around Erie!

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

  • Mega Blast Fireworks Spectacular
  • North East, launched from the old Mercyhurst University campus
  • Lawrence Park at Iroquois Jr/Sr High School stadium
  • Pymatuning State Park, 2660 Williamsfield Road, Jamestown, at 9 p.m.
  • Dunkirk, N.Y.
  • Findley Lake, N.Y.
  • Mayville, N.Y.

Experience Erie: Summer family getaway!

Build a castle with the kids at Presque Isle, ride the Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park and make a splash at Splash Lagoon!

There’s so much to do in Erie, Pennsylvania, with your family!

The perfect family getaway is in Erie.

Going for the weekend, a few days or the week? Here are some of the must-do family getaway activities!

Go beaching, biking and build a sandcastle at Presque Isle

No family summer trip to Erie is complete without a trip to Preque (pres-k) Isle. It’s almost an island (literally, presque in French means almost and isle in French means island.)

Here are the top family-friendly things to do at Presque Isle!

Hang out at the beach!

Seriously, beaching is the biggest draw to Presque Isle. The state park offers miles and miles of Lake Erie beaches.

There are several guarded beaches where visitors can swim during guard hours. Visitors are not permitted to swim at unguarded beaches or outside of guard hours.

Pack food, stop at Wegmans or Sheetz for hoagies, pick up snacks at Beach Zero and spend several hours under an umbrella and on a towel. The kids can play in the sand, and you can walk the beach or read a book.

If you don’t want to waste the day being a beach bum, Presque Isle offers so many other activities.

You can rent bikes, water trikes, surreys and rollerblades from the Yellow Bike rental company inside Presque Isle.

Presque Isle offers an array of hiking trails — ranging from 0.2 miles to 13.5 miles. Take a hike to Gull Point for the wildlife and serenity!

Go fish! Literally. There are many great spots along Presque Isle to cast a reel. Have a boat? Even better.

Go kayaking! Drop the kayaks in the water from a number of locations throughout the park.

Go birding! Presque is home to many bird species. And many more use the peninsula as a rest stop during migration season.

Tour the Presque Isle Lighthouse!

Plan ahead and take part in programming offered by the state Department of Natural Resources. Find events on this page — nearly all events are free but many require registration.

You could spend two hours or all day at Presque Isle!