T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA The Ohio Valley Mall plans to be a one-stop shop for all ages and family-friendly Valentine’s Day events.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Ohio Valley Mall is getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit.

At 10 am. Friday, the mall will host its first-ever Heart Month Bingo event. The event is a collaborative effort with Trinity Health System and is free for anyone who attends.

Ohio Valley Mall Marketing Director Candi Noble-Greathouse said that other malls in the Cafaro Co. family have hosted events similar to this and have seen great success.

“We’re excited to do this bingo. They’ve done it at one of our other malls, and it’s been really catching on,” Noble-Greathouse said. “Obviously this kind of targets our senior demographic, but it’s for anybody.”

She added that she is hoping to get the word out about the event to the various senior living facilities around the Ohio Valley and has been running ads and posting flyers to bring attention to the event.

“It’s free, and we will have some informational booths about heart health and will have blood pressure screenings and stuff going on like that at the same time,” Noble-Greathouse said. “It’s free, but there are prizes from merchants and participating organizations for everybody.”

The event will host nine games of bingo with prizes being awarded to each winner. The prizes will be from various tenants in the mall such as Auntie Anne’s. Books A Million, Five Below and many others.

“Bring your lucky charms and good luck,” she said. “But it is an opportunity to promote heart health and do some screening as well.”

She added that in addition to doing blood pressure screenings and informing attendees about heart health, Trinity Health System has also invited community partners to promote what they provide to the residents of the Ohio Valley.

Noble-Greathouse said that as of now, the event will have 10 booths from area providers but she is expecting even more.

The following day, Feb. 8, the Ohio Valley Mall is hosting its annual Smooch a Pooch and Kiss a Kitten event, which is a collaboration with the Belmont County Animal Shelter. The event is from noon to 3 p.m. For the cost of a donation to the Belmont County Animal Shelter, attendees can kiss, hold and take a picture with a puppy or kitten.

“Smooch a Pooch and Kiss a Kitten in the kissing booth for a donation,” she said. “We did this last year, and it was fun. People came out and got their cuddles with the animals, which is always a hit.”

In addition to the Valentine’s Day events, the mall will also have a Valentine-themed selfie station from Feb. 1-16. Noble-Greathouse said shoppers can take a picture at the station and tag the Ohio Valley Mall on Facebook and then, after Feb. 16, the mall will pick a winner and award them a $50 Ohio Valley Mall gift card.