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.
This Week’s Events
Willy Wonka will be at the Erie Playhouse January 9-11 and 16-18. This play is adapted from the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which starred Gene Wilder in the title role. All of your favorite characters and songs (including “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination”) are featured in this show that overflows with music, comedy and heart. All seats $12.00 with special Saturday matinees. For more information visit the Erie Playhouse website.
Discover Presque Isle’s winter wonderland on snowshoes during the Little Naturalist: Snowshoeing on Presque Isle event on January 7, 2009 from 1 – 2 p.m. at the Presque Isle Rotary Pavilion. The event is perfect for kids ages 3 to 6 accompanied with an adult. No fee but is registration required. For more information call 833-7424 or visit the website.
Erie Gay Business Alliance will hold a social get together at the Twelve O’ One Restaurant, 1201 State St, from 6 – 8 p.m. on January 9, 2009. Social mixed for GLBT/friendly professionals and business people. Email for more info.
The Pittsburgh Bellies will be in Erie, January 10 and 11, 2009. The belly dance event will offer workshops for all ages and levels from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Long’s School of the Dance, Selinger location. The Saturday night family-friendly belly dance Show will be at 7 p.m. inside the Bel-Aire Hotel Ballroom. The show will feature local and national belly dance acts with the after party providing live music from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. The weekend fun concludes with an All-U-Can-Eat Mediterranean Buffet following the Sunday workshops at The Casablanca Grill. Register for workshops, order show tickets, and make buffet reservations online.
January Events
January 11, 2009 there will be a Rite of Offering by Whispering Lake Grove ADF at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation building in Erie. Three rounds of toast are planned for the event. For additional information regarding this event, please contact Raven Mann or visit the website.
Ken Springirth will present “Make Way for the Trolley,” a history of public transportation in Erie, on Wednesday, January 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Mercyhurst North East’s Alex Theater, 16 West Division Street, North East. Springirth has published a number of books on railroads and trolleys. The presentation is free and open to the public. Call (814) 725-6277 for more information.
The Manufacturer and Business Association presents New Trends in Spam and the Emerging Threats of Spyware, with speaker John Vedrody of Barracuda Networks on January 14, 2009 from 8 – 9:30 a.m. This presentation will review the latest spam and spyware attacks, and how to protect against them. Pre-registration is required to attend and the event is free and open to the public. For more information including registration visit the event website.
The 26th edition of the McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held in Erie on Friday, January 16th and Saturday, January 17th, 2009 at Gannon University’s Hammermill Center. This year’s event features nationally renowned programs from Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, D.C., complete with many top-ranked players. The field includes Archbishop Carroll from Washington, D.C., Chester High School, Westbury Christian and host Erie Cathedral Prep.
The Erie Chamber Orchestra will hold its annual tribute concert to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebrating the life and dreams of a special American. The concert will be held Friday, January 16, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 130 East 4th Street. For more information call (814) 871-7755.
The annual McDonald’s High School Basketball Classic will be held at the Hammermill Center for two days from January 16-17. Tickets can be purchased through the Prep athletic office. The McDonald’s Classic is a four team boys basketball tournament featuring some of the best talent the United States has to offer. This is the 26th year the classic has been held since 1983.
Erie Playhouse will begin its Youtheatre classes beginning January 17th and concluding February 28th, 2009. Classes meet once a week, on Saturday, and are limited to 15 students per class. Each class will focus on the students needs, building a positive self-image, while students learn to work with their peers through the art of theatre. Classes are designed for specific age groups.
The Cleveland Indians Winter Caravan will be held at the Gertrude Barber Center on January 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event features a ballpark dinner, remarks by the players and coaches, an auction of team memorabilia and game ticket packages, and autographs for all the kids. Tickets are $8 per person, and are available in advance at the Barber National Institute, or at the door the day of the event. For information, call 453-7661. Last year the event drew more than 600 baseball fans. The roster for last year’s event included right-fielder Franklin Gutierrez, left-handed pitcher Aaron Fultz, promising pitching prospect Jeff Stevens, batting coach Derek Shelton, and broadcaster Matt Underwood.
Saturday, January 31 from 6 – 8 p.m. is Erie Bluffs Night Hike. Those interested in attending should meet at Tom Ridge Environmental Center at 5:30 p.m. before proceeding to the Erie Bluffs for a guided tour. For more information call (814) 833-7424 or email.
February Events
Saturday, February 7 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. there will be a guided ski tour of the Erie Bluffs. You will see animal tracks, winter landscapes and much more. If there is not sufficient snow, a hike of the same subject will still take place. No fee but you must register by February 1 and bring your own equipment. Meet at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at 10 a.m. to carpool or meet at the Erie Bluffs parking lot at 10:30 a.m. For more information call (814) 833-7424.
Bean Day is a fundraiser for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Attendees are invited to bring a bean-based entry to be judged and shared. Event will be held Saturday, February 7, 2009. Still to be determined is the time and location (tentatively 3 – 8 p.m. at the Ss. Peter and Paul social center, 34th and Wallace).
Erie’s favorite event is right around the corner. The 18th Annual Erie Trivia Night Challenge will be held on Thursday, February 26 at the Avalon Hotel, 16 West Tenth Street, Erie. The event will benefit children in the Achievement Center’s Physical Rehabilitation programs. Participants in the event will be treated to an evening of lavish raffles, a silent auction; dinner fit for a king, and of course, the coveted Achiever’s Title. “Captain Dan” Geary will be returning as our master of ceremonies. “Captain Dan” will be navigating participants through three rounds of rip-roaring, mind-teasing Erie trivia questions to arrive at the infamous, “final question.” Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with the trivia to start at 7 p.m. Cost is $50 per person or $400 per table of eight. Dinner and game play included. For more information, call Susan A. Smith at 814-459-2755, Ext. 1115.
