Editors Note: Wheeling Scene is a new series featuring photos from select events held in Wheeling. Our goal through this series is to help capture and share moments that showcase the people, places, and events that make our city unique. If you have an event that you think we should capture, send an email to weelunk@weelunk.com for consideration.
On Saturday, May 6, dog lovers and owners from across the Ohio Valley gathered at the Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park in East Wheeling to celebrate man’s best friend at the inaugural FidoFest, hosted by Volunteer Wheeling. During a Wheeling City Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 6, Mayor Glenn Elliott read a proclamation declaring that May 6 be recognized as Wheeling Dog Day. This proclamation was yet another step towards Wheeling becoming a more pet-friendly city.
The event was centered around the reveal of a new public art installation coordinated by Volunteer Wheeling. The artwork was created by Wheeling residents who participated in a “Paint Your Pup Paint and Sip” hosted earlier in 2023. Each canvas was digitized and printed on large vinyl banners that will now remain on display at the dog park. In addition to the art reveal, the event included a dog-themed vendor market, pop-up dog adoptions, demonstrations, a dog costume contest, and food trucks.
FidoFest was made possible with generous support from Dirty Paws, the event’s Alpha Dog Sponsor. Additional sponsors included The Wheeling Visitors and Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Dog Park Community Fund, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, Bark Box, and Wheeling Volkswagen Subaru.
If you weren’t able to make it to FidoFest, check out our exclusive gallery of photos captured by the Wheeling Heritage Media Team!
• Wheeling Heritage Media creates a variety of multimedia experiences in order to tell Wheeling’s story, both past and present. Through videos, podcasts, photos, and more, they create content and provide digital access to help more people feel connected and engaged with this vibrant, growing community