WHEELING — Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre kicks off its 2024-25 popular Dinner and a Movie Series Friday, Oct. 25, with a one-night-only showing of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Guests have the option to enjoy dinner in The Gallery at Towngate prior to the movie.

Towngate’s Dinner and a Movie Series is designed to encourage movie buffs to watch classic films on the big screen and celebrates the significance of small-town movie houses in bringing the community together.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a 1993 Oscar-nominated animated film that transports viewers to an extraordinary world filled with magic and wonder, where every holiday has its own special land. It is the heartfelt tale of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town and all things that go bump in the night. Bored with the same old tricks and treats, he yearns for something more, and soon stumbles upon the glorious magic of Christmas Town. When Jack decides to bring this joyful holiday back to Halloween Town, his dream to fill Santa’s shoes unravels, and it’s up to Sally, the rag doll who loves him, to stitch things together again.

It will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Cost of the film only is $8, and no reservations are required.

Moviegoers can have dinner at 6:30 p.m. in The Gallery at Towngate. Cost for the pre-movie dinner is $30 and includes movie ticket, all food, coffee, tea, water and a box of popcorn to enjoy during the film. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Dinner guests can also reserve their seat for the film prior to showtime.

The menu for the evening includes baked steak or pork loin (select one), scalloped potatoes, corn, tossed salad and Halloween dirt cake.

Reservations for the dinner must be made by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, and can be made at www.oionline.com or by calling 304-242-7700.