LANSING, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Thousands of visitors will gather at the New River Gorge Bridge next month as Bridge Day returns for its 47th annual event on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.
Organized by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce with support from local organizations, Bridge Day is West Virginia’s largest one-day festival and features BASE jumping, rappelling, highlining, vendors, a 5K race, whitewater rafting and other activities.
The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is the only day of the year when pedestrians are permitted to walk across the New River Gorge Bridge, with the highway transformed into festival grounds for the day.
BASE jumpers from around the world will take an 876-foot leap from the bridge toward the New River below, while rappellers will descend and climb portions of the bridge. Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the activities while taking in fall foliage and visiting food and merchandise vendors.
Additional activities will be offered throughout Bridge Day weekend, including the Highline through Bridge Walk on Friday and Saturday. Visitors can also book rafting trips on the New and Gauley rivers through area outfitters.
Bridge Day began as a celebration of the completion of the New River Gorge Bridge and has grown into one of West Virginia’s best-known annual traditions.
Drivers should prepare for major traffic changes on the day of the event. U.S. Route 19 across the New River Gorge Bridge will be closed to regular vehicle traffic from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Oct. 17. Travel across the bridge during the closure will be limited to event, emergency and security personnel.
Officials are advising drivers who are not attending Bridge Day to avoid the area when possible and expect heavier vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Drivers traveling south on U.S. 19 can detour onto U.S. 60 West through Ansted before taking West Virginia Route 16 South back to U.S. 19 south of the bridge.
Northbound drivers can leave U.S. 19 onto West Virginia Route 16 North in Fayetteville and continue to U.S. 60 East through Ansted before reconnecting with U.S. 19 north of the bridge.
Bridge Day is held annually on the third Saturday of October.
