The Naughty Lobstah food truck will offer seafood dishes during the Wheeling Food Truck Festival on Saturday at Heritage Port. (Photo Provided)
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More than 20 food trucks will line Water Street at Heritage Port this Saturday during NAMI Greater Wheeling’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2025, featuring a 5K Run/Walk followed by the Wheeling Food Truck Festival.
The annual event serves as an observation of Mental Health Awareness Month in May and as a fundraiser for NAMI Greater Wheeling, which provides mental health education, advocacy and support in the valley.
The event will kick off at 9 a.m. with the Stairs for Strides 5K Run/Walk & Family Fun Mental Health Mile, presented by WVU Medicine. The race will start and end at Heritage Port, and awards will be given to the top three females and males in the running and walking events.
Day-of registration for the race is $40.
After the race, participants and other hungry residents can enjoy food trucks from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Heritage Port during the 3rd annual Wheeling Food Truck Festival, presented by The Health Plan.
NAMI Greater Wheeling Executive Director Julie Gomez said this year would feature the largest lineup of food trucks, with local favorites returning and newcomers to the festival from Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Food truck vendors include Dr Sweets, Walsh Rollies, Desperado Dogs, Truckin Triangles, Ig’s Pigs BBQ, The Naughty Lobstah, The Gringo Taco, The Jakery, Kirk’s Ice Cream, Insane Food Train, JP&J Makin Spice, Hoshi, Sweet P’s, Wheely Good Food Truck, Kathy’s Kettle Corn, Izzy’s Food Truck, Ideal Provisions, Taters Food Truck, Martins Ferry Nutrition and SoNuts4Donuts.
“I’m excited to try out all the new trucks and, of course, sample all the local food trucks too,” Gomez said. “I just look forward to trying something new and eating from as many food trucks as I can manage.”
As they eat their food, attendees can visit more than 20 mental health providers and agencies with tables set up along Heritage Port from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“I think because there is so much stigma around mental health, people often feel uncomfortable talking about their own personal struggles, so it can be difficult to have conversations or reach out to access resources,” Gomez said. “The intent behind the resource tables at the festival is to create a community atmosphere where people have the ability to connect with mental health resources in a non-threatening manner.”
A tent with tables and chairs will also be at Water Street for attendees to sit and eat. Live music sponsored by Waterfront Hall will take place at the festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Axe Hole truck will be parked at the festival so attendees can try axe throwing.
With the number of food trucks and resources available at the festival increasing yearly, Gomez believes the event is starting to become a staple in the community. She added it was exciting to see the event’s popularity increase, as this allows more community members to engage in local mental health resources in a “non-threatening manner.”
“We just want to raise awareness about mental health, start conversations and connect people with resources in a way that they might not have if they didn’t attend the event,” Gomez said. “Every year, I walk away from the festival super energized and excited about the work we’re doing in the state and how we can continue having conversations with our community.”
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