If you would like your event considered for posting here on ErieBlogs.com, please send us your information using our online contact form. Make sure you check our daily News & Events for new event listings and events happening that day.

Events for this Week

Tour the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail November 1-2 and 8-9. The Holiday Wine Weekend is a trail about 40 miles long and runs amidst 30,000 acres of vineyards along Lake Erie in western New York and Pennsylvania in “America’s Grape Country.” Plan your trip and experience the rich heritage of one of America’s oldest grape growing or viticulture regions.

Tuesday, November 4th is election day. Vote!

The Friends of the Rice Avenue Community Public Library will hold its annual spaghetti dinner the evening of election day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 from 5 – 7 p.m. The dinner will be held at the Girard High School the cost is $7.50 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6 – 12, and kids under age 6 eat for free.

The Erie County Historical Society presents Gales of November: Lake Erie Shipwrecks Series II at the Erie Planetarium. Noted historian and mariner Dr. David Frew will tell gripping tales of Lake Erie shipping disasters and awe-inspiring stories of survival. The event will be held Tuesday, November 4 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. Cost is $6 or $4 for children.

Wednesday, November 5th the Guelcher Film Series at Mercyhurst College will show “schism” the first feature film from Lyons Den Productions, an Erie-based, award-winning production company. The film was shot in various locations in Erie including Brevillier Village, the Armory, and East Erie Turners. It also stars several local actors. This is the first locally-produced film to be selected for the prestigious film series.

The Harlem Quartet will perform as part of the Penn State Behrend Music at Noon Concert Series on November 5th at noon in the Reed Union Building. The Harlem Quartet’s mission is to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire, highlighting works by minority composers.

Gem City Concert Band will present a fall concert Thursday, November 6, at the Blasco Library’s H.O. Hirt Auditorium. The hour-and-half-long program will begin at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public, although a free-will offering will be accepted to benefit Gem City Bands.

The McDowell Center for Performing Arts will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical The King and I in the newly renovated Little Theatre (3320 Caughey Road) on November 6-7-8, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m. and November 9, 2008 at 2 p.m. Featuring such songs as “Hello Young Lovers”, “I Whistle A Happy Tune”, “Getting To Know You”, “Shall We Dance”, “I Have Dreamed”, and so on.  Reserved seat tickets for The King and I are only $5.00 and are on sale now. Call  (814) 836-6925 for ticket information.

Films For Food announces it will show Michael Moore’s newest documentary Slacker Uprising at the 2008 Films For Food Event. The event is a 24 Hour Marathon of Indie Films held at Theater 145 with beginning Friday November 7th at 8:00 p.m. through Saturday the 8th with the last film beginning at 8:00 p.m., followed by a Public Reception on 10:00 p.m. The cost of admission? Food. Visit Films For Food to find out more.

The Erie Philharmonic presents A Night in Old Vienna, featuring musical compositions by Brahms and Korngold. The concert will be held one night only on Saturday, November 8, at 8:00 p.m.

November Events

The Erie Art Museum’s Contemporary Music Series presents Lou & Peter Berryman in concert at the Erie Art Museum Annex on Wednesday, Nov.12, 2008 at 8 p.m. The performance will be held in the Erie Art Museum Annex,423 State Street, admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested. They have appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and NPR’s Weekend edition.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome “The Bus” Bettis will share his championship choices at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Bettis appears at the college as part of its annual Speaker Series. His presentation, titled “Championship Choices,” will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Nov 13, in Penn State Behrend’s Junker Center. Admission is FREE but will require a ticket; tickets will be distributed to the public beginning on Tuesday, Oct 28. Tickets will be limited to four per person and must be picked up at the Reed Union Building main desk. Desk hours are 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm on Friday, and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday. The desk is closed on Sunday. No tickets will be available by phone or mail. Bettis’ “Championship Choices” presentation is sponsored by Penn State Behrend’s Student Activity Fee, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Harriet Behrend Ninow Memorial Lecture Series Fund. For more information about his lecture, please phone the Office of Student Activities at (814) 898-6171.

The Erie Chamber Orchestra will hold a concert on Friday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Central Tech Auditorium located at 3325 Cherry St. The concert is free and open to the public and will feature the Edinboro University Singers. For more information call (814) 871-7755.

The CMT on Tour 2008 hits the Warner Theatre on November 15. This year’s tour features Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Eric Durance. Tickets are on sale today. Buy them here.

The Brewerie located at Union Station will hold an International Beer Festival on Saturday, November 15. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door with two 3 hour sessions (12 – 3 and 4 – 7 p.m.).  For more information call (814) 454-2200.

Gannon University’s Schuster Gallery will host the exhibit “The Art and the Artist,” beginning November 16, 2008 and continuing through January 16, 2009. The exhibit will feature the work of Vitus J. Kaiser who is a longtime art teacher in the Erie School District. A reception open to the public will be held from 3 – 6 p.m. on the opening day. The exhibit will be at the Schuster Gallery located in the Nash Library. For more information call (814) 871-5467.

From November 19-23, The Festival of Trees will be held at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center located at 7794 Peach Street. This Annual event will feature an array of beautifully decorated trees from various sponsors and artists from the area. For more information call (814) 452-5302.

The Victorian Holiday Ball will be held on November 22 at the Watson-Curtze Mansion. Ballroom dancing in the ballroom, parlor games, elegant edibles and much more! Guests are encouraged, but not required, to come in historic costume. Music provided by Conneaut Creek String Band. Limited number of tickets. Reservations required by November 20th. Call 814-454-1813 Ext. 0. Cost is $25 for a single ticket, $40 for couples.

Peek N’ Peak will hold a Bourbon Tasting event on November 22 from 6 – 9 p.m. in the Crown Room, second floor of the Inn.  The cost is $35 with a selectionof bourbons and hors d’oeurves to accompany each taste.  Reservations required (716) 355-4141 x7155.  That same day the Peek will hold a Couples Cooking Class for $199 per coule which includes a night lodging, cooking class and wine.  Same number to make reservations but use extenstion x7154.

Victorian Holidays will be on display in the Watson-Curtze Mansion at 356 West Sixth Street, and will include traditionally decorated trees, seasonal workshops for children and adults, lectures, and elegant Victorian teas. Victorian Holidays will run from November 22 – December 28 on Wednesdays through Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 – 4:00 p.m. The cost of museum admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and a whopping $2 for children.

Light Up Night will beheld in Gibson Park and Welcome Santa at Common Ground on November 23 at 6:15 p.m.  Call (814) 725-4262 for more information.

The Erie Playhouse will host a five-day, four-night stay in the Big Apple, Wednesday through Sunday, November 26-30, 2008. 40 spots are available for this holiday theatre trip. You can get more info here.

The Erie Runners Club will hold their annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 at 9 a.m. at Presque Isle. There will be a 10k run, 5k run and a 5k walk.

December Events

Erie’s downtown d’Lights will be held Friday, December 5th beginning at 6 p.m. The annual lighting of downtown Erie kicks of the Christmas Season with a number of events.

Erie Dance Conservatory presents “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” which runs from December 5 – 7 and will be held in the Hirt Auditorium at the Blasco Library. For more information call (814) 476-7123.

There will be a Gingerbread House Workshop at the Watson-Curtze Mansion, December 13 and 20, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Kids of all ages are invited to make their very own graham cracker gingerbread house, complete with a gumdrop chimney. Cost is $4 per gingerbread house.

Erie Philharmonic Chorus & Friends presents Come Home for the Holidays on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 8 p.m.

On December 14 and 21 there will be a Sunday Brunch at the Watson-Curtze Mansion from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The brunch includes admission to the museum’s annual exhibit Victorian Holidays: Whimsical Wonderland, with a selection that may include: Quiche Lorraine, Egg Sausage Casserole, Dried Tomato Tart, Special Potato Casserole, and Ham. The cost is $15 per person and reservations are required. Call (814) 454-1813 Ext. 0.

A Battles Family Holiday at the Battles Museums of Rural Life will be held December 20th in Girard. Guests will have the opportunity to visit both the R.S. Battles Farmhouse and the Charlotte Elizabeth Battles Memorial Museum during the holidays. You will also learn to Cook Christmas Dinner on a wood-burning stove, make traditional tree ornaments, all the while enjoying civil war era dances and music.   The cost of admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and a whopping $2 for children or bring a new or slightly used toy to donate.