Celebrate Erie 2026 is officially in the history books after three days of free entertainment, music and activities in downtown Erie.
The annual festival, which dates back to the Lou Tullio administration, featured a new executive director this year and a revamped layout designed in part to improve access for downtown businesses.
Crews spent Monday cleaning up the festival footprint, folding up stages and taking down tents and barricades until next summer.
One of the biggest changes moved the main stage to a new section of State Street near the Warner Theatre. Headlining acts including the Plain White T’s and Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band drew large crowds to the area.
The new layout put the main stage directly near Floral Gallery. Owner and manager Marsha Eaton said the event went well overall, despite some challenges caused by road closures and increased traffic.
“Everything was very well run,” Eaton said. “We had a few challenges with our customers getting down here with the roads being closed, getting through all the traffic and the people, but all in all I think it really was a good event and went well, even for us.”
Another major change involved the popular Chalk Walk. It was moved north of Perry Square, keeping State Street open to customers and businesses.
That change was especially welcomed by Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe owner Kelli Graham. In previous years, the festival’s main stage had blocked the business and made it difficult to attract customers.
“It was phenomenal,” Graham said. “We normally are just kind of tucked behind that stage. A lot of times we wouldn’t even open for Celebrate Erie, but we probably at least doubled our business by having it open and people being down here, so it was great for us.”
Organizers with the nonprofit Cultures, Arts, Festivals and Events of Erie, or CAFE, say they’re encouraged by the positive feedback but recognize there is always room for improvement.
CAFE Executive Director Hunter Lytle said the organization will consider feedback from businesses, festivalgoers and others as it begins planning for next year’s event.
“I think there’s always room to improve,” Lytle said. “I want to expand, you know, Taste of Erie a bit more. I want to make the Community Resource Zone bigger, so yeah, just things like that. But overall, I think the changes are great.”
With the stages down and the streets cleaned up, Celebrate Erie 2026 is now in the books — and organizers are already looking ahead to next year.