Bridge Day

View on map
Sports & AdventureFayetteville
Dates17 October 2026Confirmed listing
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceBridge Day is built around a rare exception
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

Bridge Day in Fayetteville

Bridge Day is an annual one-day festival held on the third Saturday of every October in Fayetteville, West Virginia, commemorating the 1977 completion of the New River Gorge Bridge. All four lanes close to cars and open to pedestrians, and it is the only day of the year BASE jumpers are permitted to leap from the bridge into the gorge below.

The New River Gorge Bridge, completed in 1977, spans 876 feet above the New River in Fayette County, West Virginia, and Bridge Day was created to commemorate that engineering achievement.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Bridge Day is built around a rare exception to federal rules: BASE jumping is banned within the U

02

The mystery stays covered

National Park System, but organizers have secured a one-day exemption allowing roughly 400 jumpers to leap 876 feet from the New River Gorge Bridge into the river below, alongside rappellers descending from the span

03

The city starts moving

First held in 1980 and drawing about 40,000 people that year, the event has grown to draw an estimated 100,000 attendees, making it one of the country's largest extreme-sports spectator events

04

The water draws everyone in

Bungee jumping was part of the festival in the 1980s and 1990s, including a 1992 world-record 251-meter jump and a 1993 six-person group jump, before it was discontinued in 1994 because reeling jumpers back up took too long and interfered with the BASE jumping schedule

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's central tradition is the annual one-day suspension of the federal BASE-jumping ban on the New River Gorge Bridge

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a practice that traces back to Burton Ervin's 1979 jump from the span and has continued as the event's signature activity every year since

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

17 October 2026

Getting around

For route-based days, arrive early and expect normal streets around Fayetteville to work differently.

What to wear

Warm layered clothing suits mid-October mountain weather in West Virginia, with sturdy walking shoes for standing on the closed bridge deck and navigating gorge-rim viewing areas for...

Safety

For Bridge Day, choose safe viewing points, watch weather and leave extra time around starts, finishes or releases.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Bridge Day runs late.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map38.07 N, 81.08 WOpen in Google Maps

Fayetteville, WV

Nearest airportBKW — Raleigh County Memorial
TransportFor route-based days, arrive early and expect normal streets around Fayetteville to work differently.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Bridge Day runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Fayetteville via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Fayetteville, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for October.Compare faresFestival gearWarm layered clothing suits mid-October mountain weather in West Virginia, with sturdy walking shoes for standing on the closed bridge deck and navigating gorge-rim viewing areas for extended periods.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Bridge Day?

Bridge Day is listed for 17 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Bridge Day take place?

The festival is listed in Fayetteville, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Fayetteville, WV

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLofficialbridgeday.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates17 October 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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