LITTLE ROCK—Powerball’s launch in Arkansas may feel more like New Year’s Eve than Halloween with a party in Little Rock marking the start of ticket sales Saturday night.

The party in the city’s River Market district will feature a countdown and a giant ball dropping at 10:15 p.m., when the state begins ticket sales for Wednesday night’s draw.

Arkansas Lottery Director Ernie Passailaigue said he doesn’t know whether the holiday will affect turnout. When the state launched its lottery with the start of scratch-off ticket sales on Sept. 28, customers lined up at stores around the state to buy tickets at midnight.