Erie in Winter: Things to Do from November to March
Holiday lights on the peninsula, junior hockey downtown, an 84-degree indoor waterpark and quiet, snowy trails. Here is what is open, what closes and what it costs.
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15 Free Things to Do in Erie, PA
Erie's best sights cost nothing: a state park beach with no entrance fee, famous sunsets, trails, lighthouses and holiday lights.
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Erie is an easy place to travel cheaply. The biggest draw, Presque Isle State Park, has no entrance fee, and many of the best experiences are simply walks, views and sunsets. Here are 15 free things to do, plus a few deals that are nearly free.
Check before you goHours, prices and seasons change. We checked each official site in late October 2026 and link to it. Confirm before you go, especially around holidays.
01On Presque Isle
1. Spend a day at Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park is open every day of the year from 5 AM to sunset, with no entrance fee. In summer, the beaches are guarded from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. See our Presque Isle guide.
2. Bike or walk the loop
The park road makes a loop of about 13.5 miles, with a paved multi-purpose trail alongside much of it. Bring your own bike and it's free.
3. Watch the sunset from Sunset Point
The peninsula faces west over the lake. Sunset Point, near Beach 10, is the classic spot.
4. Climb the tower at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center
The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at the park entrance offers free interactive exhibits, an orientation film and a 75-foot observation tower. It's open 8 AM to 4 PM, daily from April to October and Tuesday to Saturday from November to March.
5. Visit the Perry Monument
On the bay side of the peninsula, the monument at Crystal Point honors Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, whose fleet won the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.
6. Go birding at Gull Point
Gull Point, at the eastern tip of the peninsula, has a trail and an observation platform and is one of the best birding spots in the park, especially during migration. Parts close seasonally to protect nesting birds.
02Lighthouses and the bayfront
7. See the Erie Land Lighthouse grounds
The grounds of the Erie Land Lighthouse, on the bluff east of downtown, have been open daily from dawn to dusk in season, according to the Presque Isle Light Station. Climbing the tower costs extra.
8. Spot the North Pier Light
The North Pier Light marks the channel entrance. The tower isn't open, but you can view it and the grounds during state park hours.
9. Walk Dobbins Landing and the bayfront
Watching boats from the foot of State Street costs nothing. The Bicentennial Tower there has a free admission day on the first Tuesday of the month, excluding holidays. Because the tower opens only Fridays to Sundays from October to April, that free day is a May-to-September perk. Otherwise, it's $6 for adults and $2 for children 7 to 12, and free for kids 6 and under.
03Trails and nature
10. Hike Asbury Woods
Asbury Woods, 4105 Asbury Road, has 234 acres and more than 5 miles of trails that are free and open every day during daylight hours. The nature center, with ambassador animals and a kids' Discovery Room, is free too. There's also the Little Woods, a natural play area for young children.
04Free events
11. Drive through Presque Isle Lights
Presque Isle Lights is free (donations welcome), on Fridays to Sundays from Nov 27 to Dec 27, 2026, closed Dec 25. Enter by 9 PM.
12. Downtown d'Lights
The holiday kickoff at Perry Square is on Fri, Nov 20, 2026, from 5 PM, with free hot cocoa, carriage rides and ice skating, according to VisitErie.
13. Discover Presque Isle
A week of mostly free events in the park during the last week of July, with a beach bonfire, sand sculpting and kite flying. In 2026 it ran July 20–26. See the Presque Isle Partnership.
14. CelebrateErie
CelebrateErie is a free three-day downtown festival in August. In 2026, it ran Aug 14–16.
05Nearly free
15. Walk into Waldameer for free
Waldameer charges nothing for parking or general admission, and you can bring a picnic into its picnic areas. You pay only for the rides you choose, with points starting at 2.5 ($2.50) a ride. See our Waldameer guide.
Museum deals
- Erie Maritime Museum: pay as you wish through December 2026 while galleries are renovated.
- Erie Art Museum: free for visitors 16 and under and active-duty military; $2 per person with an ACCESS EBT card.
- Hagen History Center: free for children 6 and under; $3 per person with an EBT card.
Local tipPack a picnic for the beach. Food options inside Presque Isle are limited, and a sunset picnic at Sunset Point costs nothing.
06Frequently asked questions
Is Presque Isle State Park free?
Yes. There's no entrance fee, and the park is open every day from 5 AM to sunset. Some extras, like lighthouse tours and rentals, cost money.
Is Waldameer free?
Admission and parking are free. Rides and Water World cost extra.
What is free to do in Erie in winter?
Presque Isle Lights, Downtown d'Lights, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, and the trails and nature center at Asbury Woods.
We link the official site for every place we name. Hours, prices and schedules change; confirm with the venue before you go.
