Eerie Horror Fest

10/10/2026

TONIGHT! Catch our special screening of House on Haunted Hill with the Erie Playhouse

At 6pm before the film, enjoy a pre show social hour with food trucks such as The SweetErie & BBS Burgers Brauts and Sausages , Blood Bag cocktails , and spooky fun.

At 7pm doors will open and exclusive announcements about what’s next for Eerie Horror Fest and the Erie Playhouse will begin.

At 8pm our special screening with emergo effects will take place.

This event is priced on a sliding scale to help make the arts as accessible as possible.

Tickets are available at $20, $30, and $40 at the Erie Playhouse Box Office.

The $20 tier covers the base costs of the event, while $30 is our recommended ticket price. For those who are able, the $40 tier helps support both organizations and allows us to continue offering lower cost tickets to those who need them.

All ticket proceeds go directly toward our organizations, and future programming.

Online Tickets and event details are available here: https://www.erieplayhouse.org/events/house-on-haunted-hill-26/

10/07/2026

If you missed our President Margaret Dieudonne last night on Erie News Now First at 4 don’t fret! You can view the full interview on the Erie News Now Website.

At 6pm October 10th at the Erie Playhouse before the film, enjoy a pre show social hour with food trucks, themed cocktails, and spooky fun.

At 7pm doors will open and exclusive announcements about what’s next for Eerie Horror Fest will begin.

At 7:30 our special screening with emergo effects will take place.

This event will be priced on a sliding scale to help make the arts as accessible as possible.

Tickets are available at $20, $30, and $40 at the Erie Playhouse Box Office.

The $20 tier covers the base costs of the event, while $30 is our recommended ticket price. For those who are able, the $40 tier helps support both organizations and allows us to continue offering lower cost tickets to those who need them.

All ticket proceeds go directly toward our organizations, and future programming.

Online Tickets and event details are available here: https://www.erieplayhouse.org/events/house-on-haunted-hill-26/

10/05/2026

WE ARE ONLY 5 DAYS AWAY from our Special Screening of House on Haunted Hill complete with emergo effects thanks to the help of the Erie Playhouse October 10th at 7PM

This event is priced on a sliding scale to help make the arts as accessible as possible.

Tickets are available at $20, $30, and $40 at the Erie Playhouse Box Office.

The $20 tier covers the base costs of the event, while $30 is our recommended ticket price. For those who are able, the $40 tier helps support both organizations and allows us to continue offering lower cost tickets to those who need them.

All ticket proceeds go directly toward our organizations, and future programming.

Online Tickets and event details are available here: https://www.erieplayhouse.org/events/house-on-haunted-hill-26/

09/30/2026

Did you miss the chance to catch Affirmation at last year's horror fest? We have great news, it has released on youtube!

Give this fantastic short film a watch and see why it was an official selection in 2025
https://youtu.be/q4E-rlB_77c

When mantras, affirmations and wellness culture turn...unwell.A pa...

09/28/2026

Tickets are officially on sale for our inaugural fundraiser this October 10th through the Erie Playhouse.

🎟️: https://bit.ly/EHFHauntedHill

Join us and the Erie Playhouse for a special screening of William Castle’s classic House on Haunted Hill, complete with some of Castle’s most infamous Emergo techniques, as well as a few of our own.

Before the film, enjoy a pre show social hour featuring food trucks, themed cocktails, and communal spooky fun. We will also be sharing exclusive announcements about Eerie Horror Fest’s next ventures.

As we mentioned in our initial announcement, this event will be priced on a sliding scale from $20-$40 to help make the arts as accessible as possible. Please see the link in our bio or the next slide for more details.

All ticket proceeds go directly toward our organizations, and future programming.

Frights and delights are just around the corner.

09/25/2026

A scary good time is coming to the Erie Playhouse 🦴💀

Join Eerie Horror Fest on October 10th for our inaugural fundraiser and a special screening of William Castle’s classic House on Haunted Hill, complete with some of Castle’s infamous Emergo techniques… plus a few surprises of our own.

Before the film, enjoy a pre show social hour with food trucks, themed cocktails, spooky fun, and exclusive announcements about what’s next for Eerie Horror Fest.

As we mentioned in our initial announcement, this event will be priced on a sliding scale to help make the arts as accessible as possible.

Tickets are available at $20, $30, and $40 at the Erie Playhouse Box Office.

The $20 tier covers the base costs of the event, while $30 is our recommended ticket price. For those who are able, the $40 tier helps support both organizations and allows us to continue offering lower cost tickets to those who need them.

All ticket proceeds go directly toward our organizations, and future programming.

Online Tickets and event details are available here: https://www.erieplayhouse.org/events/house-on-haunted-hill-26/

08/14/2026

To celebrate becoming our own independent 501 (c) (3), we’re hosting our inaugural fundraiser

October 10th. Join us with the Erie Playhouse for a special screening of William Castle’s classic: House on Haunted Hill.

SWIPE -> to learn more 👻

For those unfamiliar, golden age horror director, William Castle, never did things in standard fashion. With a background in theater work and scene building Castle created what he referred to as “Emergo”. An immersive technique meant to bring the film into our world by breaking the fourth wall.

Famous Emergo techniques included placing small motors underneath theater seats to shake the seat during certain points during a film. Or having an on site paramedic to administer first aid to any in the audience too frightened to continue watching the feature presentation.

We have proudly teamed up with the Erie Playhouse to recreate some of William Castle’s most infamous Emergo techniques. As well as our own.

Image: Baseline Drive-In advertisement, May 13, 1959, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

Before the film, we will be hosting a pre-show social hour. So join us for food trucks, themed cocktails, and communal spooky fun. Alongside the film presentation, hear exclusive announcements regarding Eerie Horror Fest’s next ventures.

We at the 💀 EERIE HORROR FEST 💀 and the Erie Playhouse believe in making art as accessible as possible. So this event will be priced on a sliding scale.

With tickets starting at $20, the first tier is sufficient for both orgs to cover the event’s base costs.

Then it tiers to $30, with the middle tier being the recommended ticket price.

Our final tier is $40 for folks who want to help not only us as nonprofits but also help us offer lower-cost tickets to those who need them.

All ticket proceeds go directly to staff, organizations, and future programming. Tickets, along with details about food trucks, will be posted soon. So keep your eyes peeled.

We cannot wait to welcome you back to the Eerie Horror Fest. We’ve just been dying to see you all again.

- The Eerie Horror Fest and Erie Playhouse teams

08/11/2026

IT’S ALIVE! The Eerie Horror Fest is proud to announce that we are now operating under our own 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. As we continue to build a thrilling 2027 fest, this status will allow us to continue to uplift the horror genre and film industry, but also serve our community.

However, today is not just about us. It is about giving back to those who put the “Erie” in Eerie Horror Fest. Our staff are your neighbors, educators, and even your technical support. The best way to get to know some of them is through the local nonprofits they have chosen to highlight for Erie Gives. Below, you’ll find each staff member’s pick. As you swipe, you’ll learn a little more about each organization and why we value the work they do.

If you’d like to support the Eerie Horror Fest, we are not currently registered to receive Erie Gives donations. You can still stay connected by following our socials and visiting our website to sign up for our newsletter, where you’ll be the first to hear about upcoming programming.

We wish we could have listed every organization participating in Erie Gives today. If there’s a cause you’d like to support but don’t see represented here, visit the Erie Gives website to learn more and find an organization that speaks to you.

And, of course, keep an eye on the We Haunt Eerie Days calendar to find out what we have in store for you this fall!

07/02/2026

Please note: this episode contains spoilers for the feature films Obsession (2026) Backrooms (2026) and Shelby Oaks (2026).

A new wave of filmmaking is bubbling up from the digital underground—and it's reshaping what horror and indie cinema can be. Forget what you thought you knew—these creators are proving that small budgets and internet followers can catapult stories to global prominence, rivaling Hollywood giants.

The question is: are we witnessing a rebellion, or just raw talent breaking free?

This episode dives deep into the explosive rise of YouTube-born filmmakers like Curry Barker, Kane Parsons, and Markiplier—artists who harness the power of digital platforms, grassroots marketing, and sheer audacity to beat box office giants. In this episode, Eerie Horror Fest's Aaron "Madman" Mook and David Bostaph join us to talk about:

• How independent films like "Obsession" and "Backrooms" are setting new box office standards, outpacing even star-studded IP.
• The secret sauce behind creators like Markiplier leveraging their online audiences for direct-to-fan distribution, bypassing traditional Hollywood bottlenecks.
• Why analog horror, found footage, and internet lore are transforming horror's aesthetic and narrative rhythms—some even hinting at the next film movement.
• The rising phenomenon of crowdfunded and self-released films, championed by creators like Chris Stuckman, reshaping what it means to debut in the modern era.
• The cultural implications: are we entering a renaissance where horror's raw, experimental edge can thrive amid mainstream's formulaic sameness?

This isn’t just about movies—it’s about a seismic shift in who creates, how they create, and how audiences connect with stories in the age of TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube. If you care about the future of horror, or want to see how independent voices are fighting back against blockbuster fatigue, this episode is your front-row seat.

Published on July 2, 2026 | Produced by Lyons Den Productions and Cinemactivist LLC | Hosted by John C. Lyons | Music by Tony Grey | Recorded and Edited with Riverside

Support us by becoming a patron at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/LyonsDenProductions

Recorded at Centennial Hall Erie Lavery Brewing Company

05/04/2026

We have an exciting update to share with our Eerie Horror Fest community.

As we peer into the future of the Fest, we’ve made the decision to let 2026 be a dedicated planning year, giving us the time and space to conjure a more thrilling (and sustainable) Eerie Horror Fest in 2027.

We know this news may be a bit of a scare, especially for those who have made the festival part of their yearly tradition. But behind the scenes, we're brewing up a number of changes designed to improve the Fest experience for years to come.

While there won’t be a full-scale Fest in 2026, the spirit of Eerie Horror Fest is far from resting. We’re looking forward to staying connected through smaller programming and fundraising events throughout the year, including Eerie Horror Fest Presents... and other TBA film events.

Thank you as always for your continued support, enthusiasm, and love for all things eerie. We couldn’t do this without our beloved attendees.

Stay spooky - we’re not done yet.

All the best,
Your Friends at the Fest