WV News Report
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Bridge Day, West Virginia’s largest single-day festival, draws thousands of visitors each year to celebrate the breathtaking beauty of the New River Gorge and the engineering marvel of the New River Gorge Bridge.
Held annually on the third Saturday of October, the event commemorates the completion of the bridge, a structure that has become a symbol of innovation, adventure, and community spirit. As one of the top 100 festivals in the United States, Bridge Day offers a variety of activities, from BASE jumping and rappelling to scenic walks across the bridge, creating an unforgettable experience for locals and tourists alike.
The origins of Bridge Day date back to November 8, 1980, three years after the bridge was officially opened. The first event featured two parachutists landing on the bridge from an airplane, followed by five BASE jumpers leaping from the bridge into the gorge below. Visitors were also invited to walk the entire 3,000-foot span of the bridge, with over 5,500 participants receiving certificates to mark the occasion. Since that first celebration, Bridge Day has grown into a major annual tradition, now trademarked as Bridge Day™, attracting thrill-seekers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the nation.
The New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, was built to enhance travel across the challenging terrain of the gorge, replacing the long and winding Fayette Station Road with a modern marvel of engineering. Stretching 3,030 feet in length and standing 876 feet above the New River, the bridge is the second-highest in the United States and boasts the longest steel arch span in the Western Hemisphere at 1,700 feet. Constructed with ultra-high-strength Cor-Ten weathering steel, the bridge blends harmoniously into the surrounding landscape while reducing maintenance costs by eliminating the need for frequent painting.
Throughout the years, Bridge Day has hosted many unique moments that have become part of its legacy.
