A spooky, healthy time was had by an older crowd last week at a health fair created to connect people with healthcare options in Vicksburg.

Nursing homes, hospices, physical therapists, dental offices, chiropractors and other health and human service providers had 43 Halloween-themed booths set up along the halls of Medical Associates of Vicksburg for the second annual Welloween — a health fair designed for residents 55 and older.

“They’re going to be able to take information home with them (like) watch your salt intake and here is some information to help you do that, (or) mine is information to help guide you when the time comes for hospice that you have a choice in who you use,” said Tami Milazzo care consultant at Compassus Hospice. “There’s so many different people here, and it shows them their different options when it comes to healthcare that there are a lot of different places out there.”

The health fair gave adults the chance to trick or treat as they made their rounds through the halls gathering information on healthcare and picking up a few sweet treats and prizes along the way. Even a couple services were being offered.

“Blood pressure is being taken in two different locations and finger sticks — blood sugar checks,” Milazzo said.

Welloween had a great turnout with hundreds of people showing up to educate themselves on their health.

“We’ve had a lot of people come through. I know it’s probably been over 200 people so far coming though. It’s great. People are very interested,” Kim Kittrell of St. Joseph Hospice said halfway through the event.

She was working the St. Joseph booth and giving out information about the company.

“A lot of people are mistaken about what hospice is or what all of these agencies do. They really don’t know all that’s available to them in the community,” she said adding the health fair is the perfect place to learn.

Over a hundred door prizes were up for grabs through a combination of donations and items brought by the vendors during the four-hour event. Elvis Presley even made an appearance entertaining the crowd with a few songs and a little dancing with a few lucky ladies.

Sherry Thompson said she enjoys getting out and going to health fairs because she learns a lot and has fun. She said it is important to have events like Welloween to keep the public educated.

“I love to come to these health fairs. I pick up the papers, and I take them home and read them,” Thompson said.

Kenny Pugh attended Welloween with his mother Dorothy to see the options they had for care. He thought it was great a large variety of providers came together in one place for people to learn about without having to visit each office separately.

“I wanted to see what Warren County had to offer for mother and myself. Mother is a senior citizen and I am too,” Kenny said. “I’ve gotten all kinds of brochures about dentistry, health and retirement centers. I think it’s a real great thing that is being put on here.”