The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce is kicking of this year’s Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Fantasy in Lights Parade with a bang — the WVU Marching Band. The parade is Friday, Nov. 18 starting on Market Street in Center Wheeling.

The 400-plus member marching band will perform at 6:30 p.m., leading what Chamber President Erikka Storch believes will be the best parade yet.

“Each year, the Chamber and the parade committee members strive to make the parade bigger and better. You can’t get much more exciting than the talented and powerful WVU Marching Band,” said Storch.

The WVU Marching Band’s parade appearance is made possible by several generous sponsors, including Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, The People of Ohio County, Monteverde Group, Paul Exley, Ben Exley, the Wheeling Convention & Visitors Bureau, Project Best, The Intelligencer, Main Street Bank, Gary Dietz Insurance, and Tom Paree Insurance.

The Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Fantasy in Lights Parade’s title sponsor, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, is shining a light on everyone’s favorite snowman on its float this year. Perkins’ owner Frank Carolla is proud to be the title sponsor of the parade for more than a decade.

“Perkins Restaurant & Bakery is a family gathering place in Wheeling, so it only makes sense that our family restaurant supports such a wonderful, family-centered event. We are happy to support the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce and this perfect start to the holiday season,” said Carolla.

Howard Monroe and Toni Zeakes will be honored as grand marshals for this year’s parade. Monroe, a local broadcaster, was recently inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Zeakes is retiring this year from a 60-year successful career as a dance instructor and studio owner. She is a longtime supporter and collaborator for the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Fantasy in Lights Parade.

Parade spectators will be entertained by a battle between the Dark Side and the Jedi as Star Wars returns to the streets of Wheeling this year. Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration is sponsoring Star Wars and the parade performance.

The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce and McDonald’s will honor the Teachers of the Year — Stephanie O’Donnell, Sandra Wiseman and April Branstetter — for this year during the parade. McDonald’s also will feature a crowd favorite, Ronald McDonald.

Other features of this year’s parade include the Historic Fort Steuben with its uniquely, life-sized nutcrackers, the Zooperstars, the Talking Christmas Tree sponsored by Coleman’s Fish Market, and Alice in Wonderland brought to life by Scott’s College of Cosmetology.

The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce wants you to have a front row seat for all of the excitement. Bleacher seating is available on Market Street between 14th and 12th streets. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased now by calling 304-233-2575. Bleacher seats are made possible by Ohio County Schools and the Wheeling Park Commission.

The Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Fantasy in Lights Parade will be broadcast live on WTOV 9 and rebroadcast later that evening at 11 p.m.

Parade sponsors include Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, the People of Ohio County, First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union, Ohio Valley Medical Center/East Ohio Regional Hospital, West Virginia Northern Community College, Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, and the Robinson Automotive Group.

To learn more about the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, go to wheeling chamber.com.