By LANESSA MURPHY-SPAGNUOLO
News & Journal Staff Writer
A local entertainment business, Cartoon Headquarters, has been serving the folks of Harrison and surrounding counties for over 25 years. Specializing in parties, special events, picnics, festivals, and more, Cartoon Headquarters has a wide variety of activities that will keep children of all ages engaged.
Party throwers can choose from over 80 different costume characters like superheroes, Paw Patrol, and Clifford The Big Red Dog, among others, to attend their event. The company also has over 20 different inflatables, bounce houses, obstacle courses as well as a mechanical bull and inflatable carnival games on hand.
If you are in need of in or outdoor seating, Cartoon Headquarters has a tent, table and chair rental service.
But that isn’t all, they also have DJs available for dances and other related activities.
Owner James Vanscoy says his business has been great over the years.
“We are family owned and operated and we have a nice setup. We are kind of like an amusement park but we don’t have the grunginess like you would get at a carnival,”Vanscoy remarks.
Vanscoy started his business back in 1995 when he realized there was nothing in the area that specialized in family entertainment. His work began as a side job on weekends for fun. It flourished and he made the decision to quit his fulltime job and build his business further.
Vanscoy says he purchased his pieces as they became affordable, not biting off more than he could chew. And today, he has about ten employees helping make events exciting and fun.
The business became very popular in the area and business grew simply by word of mouth.
Cartoon Headquarters has been as far as Charleston, but typically services Shinnston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Morgantown, Weston, and Buckhannon.
According to Vanscoy, Cartoon Headquarters has been pretty busy lately. In fact, Shinnston residents might have interacted with them if they attended the Independence Day celebration at the Shinnston City Park on July 2. The company had family entertainment set up all evening.
“It was a great event. A lot of people came out. It was a fun day in the park. We had inflatables, costume characters, and concessions. It was a great day.”
Though the summer months are usually the busiest, Vanscoy says they don’t close during winter months. They are still available for private parties and Christmas events.
“We are your one-stop-shop for entertainment,” explains Vanscoy.“If you want something fun and exciting for your party or event where you yourself can sit back, relax, and enjoy the event and not plan all kinds of activities, we are the company for you. We are the people you want to call.”
Vanscoy not only takes on entertainment venues, but he also owns the Halloween Store, which is set up annually in a tent in the parking lot at the Meadowbrook Mall. The tent will be making its appearance next month.
Cartoon Headquarters does not have a home office but Vanscoy can be reached by phone. There are a variety of packages and monthly specials starting at $100 to choose from for your next event. The company is completely family owned and operated and is insured. For more information, call James at 304-623-9184.
