The Wheeling Recreation Department invites the community to celebrate Halloween at Dr. Mercer’s Great Pumpkin Party on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Heritage Port. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and will feature trick-or-treating, entertainment, activities, prizes and a free showing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

The evening will offer something for all ages, with activity stations and a trick-or-treat trail set up around Heritage Port from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Children can visit stations featuring candy, prizes and fun, including cookie decorating, the Joe Too Cool to Vape Initiative and photo opportunities. 

Free T-shirts will be available at the event while supplies last on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests also can pick up a raffle ticket at the t-shirt table for a chance to win one of several prizes donated by local businesses and community members. Prize drawings will take place at 7 p.m., immediately before the movie begins.

Additional activities and entertainment throughout the evening include:

5 - 6:30 p.m.: Live music by Eli Lambi

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Learn to draw with Joe Wos inside the WesBanco Arena lobby

6:30 - 6:50 p.m.: Halloween pumpkin carols

6:50 - 7 p.m.: Performance by John Marshall High School theatre students

7 p.m.: Raffle prize drawings, followed immediately by a showing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Food will be available for purchase from Wood Fired Pizza Company, Izzy’s Food Truck and Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Dr. Mercer’s Great Pumpkin Party is made possible through the generous support of The Health Plan, UPMC, Barry and Lisa Allen, Oglebay, West Virginia Catholic Foundation, West Liberty University, McDonald’s, Wheeling University, LEDE, Dr. Dan Joseph, Panhandle, Kroger, Toy and Train Museum, WTRF, Shawn Fluharty, Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal and the many community members who donated prizes for the raffle.