By Joselyn King
For The Intelligener
WHEELING — Legend has it, according to noted comics philosopher Linus Van Pelt, that “The Great Pumpkin” appears only at the “most sincere” locations to bring cookies and presents to children each Halloween.
Local Peanuts aficionado Dr. William Mercer and the city of Wheeling are partnering to bring a Peanuts-themed Halloween celebration to Heritage Port next month. Apple TV and the Charles Schulz Museum also are providing permission to assist with the event.
An “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” party is slated to take place from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Heritage Port.
“It’s going to be epic,” Mercer said. “Two years ago, the weather was perfect. WesBanco Arena has offered to let us go inside if the weather is terrible.”
He planned a similar Peanuts-themed event in 2024 at the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum and expected about 200 children would attend.
An estimated 650 turned out for “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in 2024, leading Mercer to realize a larger venue was needed.
This year he contacted Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder to ask about the possible use of Heritage Port, and Mercer said Magruder was quick to agree.
Wheeling officials are now involved with planning for the event, which may result in the closing of Water Street for a time, according to Mercer.
The Charles Schulz Museum also has given its permission for 1,000 Peanuts-themed shirts to be printed and distributed at the event.
Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos will be in attendance to teach children how to draw some of the Peanuts characters. Wos has worked with the Charles Schulz Museum in the past.
A “trunk or treat” section will be set up, and there will be singing of Peanuts-themed Halloween carols.
Not only will the famous cartoon be streamed live on the big screen during the event via Apple TV, but students from John Marshall High School will be performing the famous “Great Pumpkin” scene live at the event, Mercer said.
Props and set pieces from their past theater production, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” also will be placed around Heritage Port to provide photo opportunities.
Mercer noted that years ago he was given original clippings of the Peanuts comic strips as they ran in The Intelligencer from 1958-1973. He plans to have the Halloween-themed strips copied and enlarged to put on display at the event.
“The cartoon strips really are at the heart of it,” he said. “He (Schulz) was brilliant.”
Mercer said he also plans to bring his prized black 1979 Trans Am — purchased amid the popularity of the movie “Smokey and the Bandit” — to the celebration. It will bear the sign “Snoopy and the Bandit.”
He credited Schulz’s widow, Jean Schulz, with doing an excellent job of keeping her husband’s memory relevant.
“I see my job as trying to keep Charlie Schulz’s memory alive in this area,” Mercer said.
Those interested in attending should contact the museum at 304-242-8133 to report how many children will be coming and what size T-shirts they will need, he added.
Read more from The Intelligencer, here.
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