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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Waldameer & Water World: 2027 Tickets, Rides and Tips
Free admission and parking, wristbands or pay-per-ride, a wooden coaster that crosses a highway and a brand-new launched coaster for 2027.
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Waldameer is one of the oldest amusement parks in the country and still family owned. It sits on Peninsula Drive just before the entrance to Presque Isle, with the Water World water park next door. It's easy on the wallet compared with big theme parks, because you don't pay to walk in, and parking is free. Here's how tickets work, what to ride and how to plan your day.
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.
01The basics
- Address: 220 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505 (East parking lot). The West lot is at 1 Waldameer Park Road.
- Admission and parking: free. You pay only for rides and Water World.
- Season: summer only. In 2026, Waldameer opened May 2 and Water World May 23, both on weekends at first, and the season ended on Labor Day.
- Hours: they vary by day. Typical summer days run noon to 9 PM for the rides and 11 AM to 7 PM for Water World. Use the official park hours calendar.
Waldameer says not to trust hours posted on search engines and travel sites, so check its own calendar before you go.
022027 tickets and prices
Waldameer uses two price levels: one for guests 48 inches and taller, and a lower one for guests under 48 inches and seniors 60 and older. These are the 2027 rates posted by the park.
| Ticket | 48″ and over | Under 48″ / 60+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Combo Pass (rides and Water World) | $59 ($54 online) | $47 ($42 online) |
| Evening Combo Pass (after 5 PM, in park) | $41 | $32 |
| 1-Day Ride-A-Rama (rides only) | $43 | $30 |
| Night Rider Ride-A-Rama (after 5 PM, in park) | $31 | $23 |
| 1-Day Water World Pass | $40 | $32 |
| 2027 Season Pass | $150 ($145 online) | $120 ($115 online) |
The evening passes are sold in the park after 5 PM starting May 29. Children under 30 inches don't need Water World admission. Everyone entering Water World, including spectators, needs a Water World or Combo wristband.
Pay per ride with a Wally Card
If you only want a few rides, load points onto a Wally Card instead. One point equals $1, and rides cost 2.5 to 6 points each. The big coasters, including Ravine Flyer II and Eagle's Pursuit, are 6 points. Adults riding with children need to pay too.
Season passes
The season pass covers rides and Water World any day the park is open, with no blackout dates, and the park says it pays for itself in three visits. 2027 passes are on sale now.
03The rides
Ravine Flyer II
Waldameer's signature wooden coaster has drops of 120 and 105 feet, the largest of any wooden coaster in Pennsylvania, according to the park. It crosses a four-lane highway and has been named a Top 10 wood coaster in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards since 2009.
New for 2027: Eagle's Pursuit
Eagle's Pursuit, the park's sixth roller coaster, arrives in summer 2027. It's a family coaster with two magnetic launches, a top speed of 46 mph, a 60-foot drop and 1,885 feet of track on the hillside overlooking the lake. Riders must be at least 38 inches tall.
Comet and the classics
The wooden Comet coaster opened in 1951. It's 45 feet tall reaching speeds up to 25 mph, a good first coaster. There are also more than 10 kiddie rides, a Ferris wheel, a Merry-Go-Round, Whacky Shack and Thunder River.
Water World
Water World has a giant wave pool, two children's areas and water slides, including Rocket Blast, a water coaster with uphill launches that won Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for Best New Water Park Ride in 2023.
04Food and park rules
- Picnics are welcome in the amusement park. You can bring your own food and drinks into the picnic areas.
- Water World is stricter. No outside food or drink except one bottle of water per person, baby food or special dietary items. Coolers larger than 10 by 12 by 9 inches and glass are not allowed.
- It's cashless inside. Pay with a card, phone or Wally Card. Cash is accepted only at Admissions, Guest Service and Wally Card kiosks.
- Rain doesn't close the park. Attractions run in light rain, though some close for lightning. There are no rainchecks or refunds.
- Holidays have extra rules. On Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day, guests under 18 without an adult must buy a wristband, there's security screening and no alcohol is allowed.
See the full park policies before you go.
05A little history
Waldameer began in 1896, when a trolley company bought a popular picnic grove on the lake and renamed it Waldameer, German for "woods by the sea." The park says it's the sixth-oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States. Read more on its park history page.
06Plan your day
- Buy Combo Passes online to save $5 a person.
- Arrive later? Use the East lot, which the park recommends for afternoon arrivals.
- Pair it with Presque Isle. The park entrance is just down Peninsula Drive. See our Presque Isle guide.
- Stay nearby. Peninsula Drive has hotels and rentals close to both parks. See where to stay.
Local tipEvening passes after 5 PM cost less than all-day wristbands, and summer evenings on the hill above the lake are lovely.
07Frequently asked questions
Does Waldameer charge admission?
No. General admission to the amusement park and parking are free. You pay for rides with a wristband or a Wally Card, and Water World requires its own wristband.
How much is a Waldameer wristband in 2027?
A 1-Day Combo Pass for rides and Water World is $59 ($54 online) for guests 48 inches and taller, and $47 ($42 online) for guests under 48 inches and seniors 60+. A rides-only Ride-A-Rama is $43 or $30.
When does Waldameer open for 2027?
The 2027 calendar wasn't posted when we checked in October 2026. In 2026, the rides opened May 2 and Water World May 23. Check the official park hours calendar.
Can you bring food into Waldameer?
Yes, into the picnic areas of the amusement park. Water World allows only one bottle of water per person plus baby food or special dietary items.
We link the official site for every place we name. Hours, prices and schedules change; confirm with the venue before you go.
