Erie, Pennsylvania is set to impress in 2025 with exciting new experiences. Here’s a look at five must-try additions to the region’s ever-growing lineup of things to see and do!

1. Waldameer Park and Water World will welcome a new family thrill ride, the Time Twister, in May. This $2.5 million, 35-foot attraction promises an exhilarating experience, sending riders spinning, floating, and twisting in all directions. “It’s a twisty and spinny experience with a great color scheme and awesome nighttime lighting,” said Brian Gorman, Waldameer’s vice president of operations. “It’s a lot of fun to watch, even if you’re not a thrill-seeker.” Watch a sneak peek of the ride here. The excitement continues with Water World improvements, including an expanded entrance, a new swim shop retail building, and upgrades to the Potato Patch and Sundeck Café.
   
   
2. Get ready for an adventure millions of years in the making! The expERIEnce Children’s Museum has unveiled its latest exhibit, Dino Discoveries, in the museum's traveling exhibit space on the basement level. Visitors can unearth fossils, explore interactive displays, and even roar alongside a life-sized triceratops. Highlights include dig pits, a reading nook, and a build-your-own dinosaur skeleton. Dino Discoveries is currently on display through April 2025, with new exhibits rotating every six months in the museum’s traveling space.
   
   
3. The Hagen History Center is gearing up for an exciting 2025 with three new exhibits and a major addition. On the third floor of the Watson-Curtze Mansion, 100 Years of the Erie Zoo highlights the zoo’s history through animal displays, timelines, vintage photographs, and artifacts. On the second floor, Made You Look delves into the captivating world of advertising, showcasing iconic signs and the art of branding from familiar and forgotten names. Also on the second floor, Triggering History: Legacy of Erie Firearms features weaponry made, used, or discovered in Erie. In the summer of 2025, the Frank Lloyd Wright Welcome Center will open in the Exhibit Building adjacent to the Carriage House. This new addition will enhance the experience for architecture enthusiasts visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright San Francisco Office exhibit.
   
   
4. A new restaurant is set to open just south of Erie, bringing moonshine and waffles together in a fresh dining concept. The collaboration between Before The Barrel Distillery and A Waffle Miracle food truck will transform the former Dan’s Boardwalk Restaurant on Route 8, just south of Interstate 90, into an exciting new culinary destination. Before The Barrel owner Bernie Blore shared, “We’re hoping to be open very soon. Our goal is to create food and beverages that are distinct and handcrafted, incorporating Before The Barrel spirits into the food while also keeping waffles as a core menu component. This is an exciting opportunity, blending our specialties into something even more special.” Expected to open in January, the yet-to-be-named restaurant will also feature creative takes on bar food favorites like wings and pizza.
   
   
5. The Erie Zoo is marking a major milestone, celebrating 100 years of wildlife, conservation, and family fun. What began as a small animal collection has blossomed into an institution offering visitors of all ages the chance to connect with over 400 animals from around the world. In 2025 the zoo is in the midst of planning exciting events, programs, and opportunities to get involved, celebrating its rich history while looking forward to another century of impact. Zoo visitors are also invited to share their favorite Erie Zoo stories, photos, and special moments here.