The wintry weather didn't stop people from making their way to Erie for weekend tournaments and competitions.


From high school hoops, like the Burger King Classic, to the Champion Cheer Central Winter Blast, weekend events are picking back up again in the winter months.


Heather Petz, the President of the Champion Cheer Central said, "Everyone got here safely last night, so even though it was a little tricky on those roads. But we are happy that everyone made it here safe today."


The Winter Blast competition brought in 150 teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, and West Virginia for a weekend of competition.
Katy Mest traveled with Liberty Athletics in New York and explained, "It's close enough to home from where we are from, but far enough away that kids get that big experience of being at a competition."


Liberty Athletics have been making the trip to Erie for the last four years and they have enjoyed getting to know the area too. According to Mest, "There's always great places to go out to eat. I think there is a brewery near by that we have been to, there's always lots of shopping. The shopping is good, because there is no sales tax and we are from New York, so we are planning on buying some winter coats this weekend."


Venturing outside of a weekend event is something Visit Erie officials hope for. Christine Temple, the Director of Communications  for Visit Erie said,  "We want to get information in front of these attendees, not necessarily for the summer, although that would be great, so that they can come back at any time."'


People will travel for hours for this weekend competition and they like to make the most of their time here and that includes seeing what Erie has to offer. But it doesn't end with just restaurants and shopping, Temple said there's plenty of indoor and outdoor activities too, like Presque Isle or Splash Lagoon. "There are so many different things that visitors can come and see and do in the winter time time that they would be hard pressed to say there's nothing to do", said Temple.

Competitions with the Champion Cheer Central Winter Blast continues Monday and in April they have their Lake Erie Nationals competition for the end of the season. The Burger King classic wraps up Saturday night.