New River Gorge Area Events
Mix it up!
You can come to the New River Gorge for some adventure. And then you can come for some adventure and a big celebration. We have them all year long. The only question is this:
Which ones will you come to?
Seasonal Events
Since we have 4 distinct seasons here in the gorge, we feel the need to celebrate. A lot. Our events aren't always tied to a season, but the weather around here is so distinctly awesome, they might as well be.
Spring is renewal, getting outside, and doing what we love best: enjoying the gorge. Summer is an invitation for everyone to come up and enjoy (and we're within a day's drive of 50% of the population). Fall doesn't get much better than the New River Gorge. When the leaves turn, it's time to celebrate again. Maybe that's why we host West Virginia's biggest one day festival.
Bridge Day
Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event in the world. It's amazing. Trust us.
Bridge Day is held on the third Saturday in October every year in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Hundreds of BASE jumpers and nearly 100,000 spectators are expected to attend this year's Bridge Day. The New River Gorge Bridge is 876' tall and the world's second longest single arch bridge.
Who wouldn't want to see someone jump off it?
Upcoming Events
2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series
February 6, 2012The Beckley Center of Concord University and The Coal Heritage Highway Authority announce the 2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series.
All presentations are held in Room E10 of the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center on Airport Road and are free and open to the public
February 6 -- Under These Hills
A one-man performance of the life and work of a coal miner presented by Fred Powers. Fred Powers worked over 20 years as a coal miner in MacDowell County. This dramatic presentation tells of the work of an underground coal miner. There will be a short intermission and then Fred will do a shorter program about coal miners in the Civil War.
The Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series is a part of an academic class at the Beckley Center of Concord University entitled Coal Culture in West Virginia . The instructor is Karen Vuranch, Appalachian storyteller and historian. For more information about any of these lectures or the class, please contact Karen at karen@wventerprises.com or kvuranch@concord.edu
Valentine Day Special
February 14, 2012Tuesday, February 14 from 5:30pm-7:30 pm bring your valentine to Hawk Nest Restaurant and enjoy dinner and music with Duffy Boyd and friends!
For more information call 304-658-5212.
2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series
March 5, 2012
All presentations are held in Room E10 of the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center on Airport Road and are free and open to the public.
March 5 - Violence in the Coal Fields
This academic lecture is presented by Paul Rakes, a former coal miner and currently is on the faculty at WVU-WV Tech. He has recently completed research and published an article about the early coal camps and the violence that was a way of life for coal miners.
The Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series is a part of an academic class at the Beckley Center of Concord University entitled Coal Culture in West Virginia . The instructor is Karen Vuranch, Appalachian storyteller and historian. For more information about any of these lectures or the class, please contact Karen at karen@wventerprises.com or kvuranch@concord.edu
2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series
April 2, 2012The Beckley Center of Concord University and The Coal Heritage Highway Authority announce the 2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series.
All presentations are held in Room E10 of the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center on Airport Road and are free and open to the public.
April 2 - Coal Mine Health and Safety with Ken Hecher
The Hon. Ken Hechler will speak about his work as a former West Virginia Senator in US Congress and his work in passing the most far-reaching coal mine health and saftey legislation in American history. He will address issues concerning the recent UBB disaster as well as other issues in coal mine health and safety.
The Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series is a part of an academic class at the Beckley Center of Concord University entitled Coal Culture in West Virginia . The instructor is Karen Vuranch, Appalachian storyteller and historian. For more information about any of these lectures or the class, please contact Karen at karen@wventerprises.com or kvuranch@concord.edu
2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series
May 7, 2012The Beckley Center of Concord University and The Coal Heritage Highway Authority announce the 2012 Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series.
All presentations are held in Room E10 of the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center on Airport Road and are free and open to the public.
May 7 - Music of the Coal Fields
Music has always been important in the Appalachian mountains. Traditional musicians Tom and Michelle Warner will present a concert of Appalachian music of the coal fields.
The Coal Heritage Public Lecture Series is a part of an academic class at the Beckley Center of Concord University entitled Coal Culture in West Virginia . The instructor is Karen Vuranch, Appalachian storyteller and historian. For more information about any of these lectures or the class, please contact Karen at karen@wventerprises.com or kvuranch@concord.edu
Ansted Hometown Mountain Heritage Festival
June 15, 2012 - June 17, 2012Ansted Hometown Mountain Heritage Festival
Held in Ansted, West Virginia. Look for 2012 details to be posted soon.
June 15-17
Main Street Ansted/United Bank Parking Lot
New River Gorge Challenge Weekend
August 4, 2012 - August 5, 2012New River Gorge Challenge Weekend
Saturday, August 4 & Sunday, August 5
A weekend of outdoor competition. Lafayette’s Challenge, held in historic Fayetteville, on Saturday, August 4, is 28.5 miles of the most extreme whitewater, mountain biking, and running on the East Coast.
Sunday, August 5 brings family fun to the historic town of Thurmond with the Thurmond Triathlon, a family friendly, beginner triathlon.
For more information on Lafayette's Challenge (formerly Captain Thurmond's Triathlon) call 304-574-2337.
For more information on Thurmond's Triathlon go to www.thurmondwv.org.
Oak Leaf Festival
August 22, 2012 - September 2, 2012Oak Leaf Festival
Held in Oak Hill West Virginia. Watch for 2012 details to be posted soon.
OAK LEAF FESTIVAL DIRECTOR - Jack McClung 304-640-8804
All Vendors: Contact Diana Janney 304-573-5243
Bridge Day Festival
October 20, 2012
Bridge Day, always the third Saturday in October at the New River Gorge Bridge.
Every year on the third Saturday in October the New River Gorge Bridge closes to traffic and opens to attitude! BASE jumpers, rappellers, vendors and spectators share the excitement, the spectacle, and the experience of this day. Come be part of it! Big Bridge, Big Adventure, Bridge Day!
For more information go to officialbridgeday.com
