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Posts Tagged ‘Festivals’

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Earth Day Events in the New River Gorge

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Have you peered over the New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day to see the stunning wilderness below? This Earth Day, in the spirit of keeping that breathtaking sight as pristine and unbridled as it is today for years to come, we’re bringing together nature lovers for a weekend of appreciating, preserving and enjoying the New River Gorge.

New River Gorge

Landscape from the New River Gorge Bridge

Join in the fun and make it a weekend with the 10th Annual New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend and the New River Earth Day Celebration!

APPRECIATE

Fall in love with the bold colors of spring as you learn more about each bright bloom. Hike through Grandview, Little Beaver State Park, Pipestem State Park, Babcock State Park, and Hawk’s Nest State Park with guided tours for Wildflower Weekend. You can also stroll around the iconic Grist Mill for a birding excursion.

After you’ve taken in the scenery of the Gorge, enjoy artistic interpretations at Tamarack. Local student work will be showcased, and performers will sing and perform the praises of springtime in the New River Gorge. You can even create your own art in the garden.

Show your love for local businesses by buying foods and crafts from the vendors at the Earth Day festival. Take home growing potted plants, handcrafted jewelry, natural beauty products and more from the market.

PRESERVE

Give back to the Gorge for the visual treats it cultivates for us. Rid the wildflowers of pesky weeds that keep them from thriving at the garlic mustard pull Friday morning. Park staff will help you find the invasive plants and tug them up.

Learn more about taking green practices home with you year-round at the Earth Day celebration booths. Kids can collect stamps for each informational activity they complete, which can enter them into a raffle for great prizes. Adults can win great raffle prizes, too, including outdoor adventures and free meals from local restaurants.

You can also bring used items to the festival for reuse: bring your spring cleaning items in for the swap shop, your unused pantry items for local food banks, and old batteries, cell phones, paper, plastics and metals for the recycling drop-offs. Ask friends and family to contribute, too.

ENJOY

More than pretty, the Gorge is a playground for BASE jumpers, rafters, climbers and adventurers of all sorts. Get the bird’s eye from above as you sweep from tree to tree on a zipline, or trace the underbelly of the bridge with a BridgeWalk tour. Get out and try a fun new outdoor activity with your family, or just take time to try different spots to gaze out over the Gorge.

There will also be all sorts of games and contests for everyone to enjoy at the Earth Day festival. Entertainment will liven up the streets, races and games will draw in crowds to play, and the kids will have their own fun zone to jump around in.

How are you celebrating Earth Day?

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Best of the Fest: Don’t Miss These Unique West Virginia Festivals

Thursday, January 31st, 2013

Bridge Day draws adventure-seekers from across the globe to southern West Virginia, but it’s not the only unique event you’ll find there.

We rounded up a list of the state’s most intriguing festivals. Here are some reasons you’ll want to try each of them at least once in your life:

Feast of the Ramson

This interesting celebration focuses on ramps. Do you know what a ramp is? The easiest way to learn is to smell one. A stinky onion, the ramp has a bold flavor and a “foot-like” smell just as strong. The self-proclaimed ramp capitol of the world and home of the National Ramp Association, Richwood’s Chamber of Commerce works for nearly a week to prepare a massive ramp feast and partyevery spring, complete with music, dancing, an Appalachian art show and recipe contest.

Feast on ramps in Richwood

Hometown Mountain Heritage Festival

Appalachian culture developed around its unique landscape, creating a little pocket of mountain-locked folks who used their resources to build a lifestyle all its own. Ansted’s Hometown Mountain Heritage Festival is a great showcase of the wonderful spirit that is so central to West Virginia culture.

With a community-minded focus, you can rub elbows with your neighbors at the table of large group meals of beans and cornbread or spaghetti, then check out the demonstrations of traditional mountain crafting. Challenge your friends to horseshoes, extending a friendly wager — winner ‘buys’  the ice cream (it’s actually free for everyone, even for the horseshoe-challenged).

New River Gorge Challenge Weekend

It’s a triathlon for the challenger who finds triathlons too boring. Fight through nearly 30 miles of wilderness, mountain biking, whitewater paddling and running. Not just for seasoned athletes, the event includes a more family-friendly second day of racing that focuses on beginners’ trails that are easy for the kids to try out.

Grape Stompin’ Festival

If you want a really unique experience while you’re in West Virginia, kick off your shoes and squeeze some grapes through those piggies. You can actually step into a vat of wine grapes at this annual Kirkwood Winery festival. If you’d rather keep your toes clean, you can also sample the more than 40 wines and spirits and check out traditional West Virginia crafts and music.

Gauley Fest

Traditionally a kayaking festival on the third weekend of September, you’ll see boats chained to the fence as you enter the gates of Gauley Fest. They’re all for sale, and you can find great deals on not only boats, but all of the accessories you need to take up this exciting hobby. There are giveaways all weekend, and kayaking pros from across the globe. The event is a fundraiser for the American Whitewater Association, and includes a race on the World-famous Upper Gauley, some of the most thrilling whitewater anywhere.

What’s your favorite WV festival (besides Bridge Day, of course)?

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Bridge Day 2012 By The Numbers

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

450 BASE jumpers took part in Bridge Day 2012

Bridge Day 2012 is in the books now, and we have some pretty amazing numbers to share with you.

  • 272 rappellers made 752 rappels.
  • 5 of those were tandem rappels.
  • 31 of those rappelers actually ascended the ropes.
  • There were 450 BASE jumpers from 41 states and 10 countries.
  • 10% of BASE jumpers were women.
  • 3 BASE jumpers were West Virginia natives.
  • 17% of those jumping at Bridge Day 2012 were making their first BASE jump, ever.
  • A record number of jumps were made this year: 1,036
  • 83: That’s the age of Bridge Day 2012′s oldest jumper, Donald Cripps.
  • 24 BASE jumpers braved the catapult and were flung into the Gorge.
  • The ‘pick up guys‘ helped 131 BASE jumpers out of the water and onto shore.
  • 102 people took to the Bridge Walk catwalk during Bridge Day.

Were you there to see all of this history being made?

Oh, and one final number to remember: 19. As in, join us next year for Bridge Day on October 19, 2013.

How was your Bridge Day? Share with us in the comments.

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Posted in BASE Jumping, Bridge Day Events, Rappelling, Visitor Information, West Virginia Adventure | 3 Comments »

Bridge Day 2012 is Almost Here: What You Need To Know

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

With less than a week to go, Bridge Day 2012 is in the homestretch. Close to a year of planning has gone into making this the best Bridge Day ever. And since we want to make sure you don’t miss a minute of this great event, here’s what you need to know.

Getting There

The Bridge will open promptly at 9 am. Shuttles will begin running from the designated parking areas at 8:30 am. This is a great way to access the Bridge, with minimal walking and easy parking. Shuttles will let you off right at the entrance/exit points for the Bridge. Remember, large bags and backpacks are prohibited, and bags and strollers will be searched.

BASE Jumping on Bridge Day

The Weather

Bridge Day 2012 should have classic WV fall weather. Right now the prognosticators are calling for it to be cool in the morning, then mostly sunny with a high of around 60 degrees. That means you early birds will want to dress in layers. Don’t forget your sunscreen.

Down Under Tours and Into the Gorge Shuttles

For those of you who have reserved the Down Under Tours, they leave at either 8:30 am or 12:30 pm. If you’ve reserved a space on the Into the Gorge Shuttles, they will begin running at 9 am, and will be available every 15 minutes or so until 3 pm.

Bridge Day Wedding

The winner of the 2012 Tandem BASE jump contest is Erika Terranova of Lockport, New York. Before she straps herself to a professional BASE jumper for her leap, she will tie the knot with her skydiving fiance. If you’d like to see the wedding, make your way to the center of the Bridge early to mid-morning.

Bridge Day Catapult

The center of the Bridge will also be the site of what will surely be another fan favorite of Bridge Day: the catapult. Every 30-40 minutes some lucky BASE jumper will get launched off the Bridge from the new BASE catapult.

And best of all, it’s looking like the fall foliage will be peaking just in time for the event!

Can’t wait to see you on the Bridge!

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Where Should I Stay on Bridge Day?

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

It’s a question we’re often asked. And the answer is, “It depends.”

Yep, there’s no one simple answer. But the good news is you have lots of choices. Read on.

Pitch a Tent

Do you like sitting around a campfire? Gazing at the stars?

Then think about camping. There are plenty of camping opportunities to be had around the Bridge. In fact, there are quite a few campgrounds within walking distance of the Bridge. These sites are typically at a premium and fill up quickly. Not having to drive to get to the Bridge is a huge convenience, for some.

The Historic Morris Harvey House B&B

Book A Room

There are a great many hotels available in Fayetteville, Beckley, and Summersville. These towns are within 20 minutes of the Bridge (or closer). But for an event of this size,  folks also stay further out in Charleston, Lewisburg and Princeton.

Glade Springs Resort is just 30 minutes away and offers lots of lodging options: rooms at the Inn, executive suites, villas, lodges, and rental houses. With restaurants, golf and a spa on property, this can be a wonderful place to have a Bridge Day weekend. Bonus: Glad Springs will also offer shuttles to Bridge Day. Give them a call at 1-866-562-8054.

Finding a hotel close to the Bridge can be challenging if you don’t book early. So if a hotel is your style, hop to it and make those reservations!

Go With A Bed and Breakfast 

Fayetteville and the surrounding area has quite a few B&Bs. Sound like your cup of tea? Well, you’re in luck, because many of them are in close vicinity to the Bridge. We suggest booking now if you haven’t already; chances are these rooms will be some of the first to go.

Home Away From Home

The area around the Bridge has really expanded its lodging opportunities over the past few years. There are more cabins here now than ever.

Many people prefer this type of lodging for the solitude alone. Another perk is that cabins can range in size so much; they can accommodate everyone from couples to large groups.And cabins in the New River Gorge are diverse. They can be small rustic models with few amenities or luxurious abodes that make you feel like you’re still at home.

Rafting Outfitters and Resorts

Rafting outfitters in the area are a good place to look for lodging for Bridge Day. Some of the outfitters offer both camping and cabins on their property. Many even offer package deals for the weekend that include lodging and rafting.

If you want to fill your Bridge Day weekend up with fun activities (besides the festival), this would be a great option.

Just remember, Bridge Day is a huge event, so booking as early as possible is the key to finding your ideal place to stay. It’s only a few weeks away, so get busy. We’ll see you when you get here!

Where do you like to stay during Bridge Day? Tell us in the comments.

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Bridge Day 101: Everything You Need to Know

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Every October, for one Saturday, the New River Gorge Bridge is transformed into the site of West Virginia’s largest single day festival. For those of you Bridge Day first-timers, here’s the skinny on this wonderful fall event.

What is Bridge Day?

Bridge Day celebrates the New River Gorge Bridge, the area, and the fall season. Its humble beginnings were actually just a dedication ceremony for the Bridge on October 22, 1977. The public was allowed to walk on and view this magnificent structure and its beautiful surroundings. The turnout for the opening ceremony was much greater than anticipated. So a couple of years later, the first Bridge Day was born.

That year, 1980, 5,500 certificates were given to folks walking all the way across the Bridge. An estimated crowd of close to 40,000 people let the organizers know that this event could grow into something great. The rest, they say, is history.

A BASE jumper soars from the Bridge in 2011

When is Bridge Day?

Bridge Day happens every year on the third Saturday in October. The date was chosen to take advantage of the beauty of autumn in southern WV. The Bridge is constructed from Cor-Ten steel; it is designed to form a layer of rust as a protective barrier. This rust gives the Bridge a dark reddish-orange color that blends in wonderfully with the colors of the fall foliage.

What Is There To Do on Bridge Day?

Bridge Day celebrates its 33rd birthday this year, and it’s been evolving since the very beginning. There are plenty of things to see and do during Bridge Day. The only hard part may be deciding how you want to spend yours.

Bridge Day 2012 Happenings:

  • WOAY Taste of Bridge Day - This event takes place at Adventures On The Gorge the Friday before Bridge Day. It showcases cuisine from WV restaurants. Diners receive tickets that are good for ‘sampling’ plates from the many restaurants dishing up their specialties. The event is put on by local Rotary clubs and the proceeds benefit local charities.
  • BASE Jumping – Some 400+ BASE jumpers make the annual trip to the Bridge to take advantage of the only day of the year it’s legal to parachute there. In the past, the public has only been able to watch these jumpers. But now you can actually BE one of the jumpers. Tandem jumps are available to a few qualified individuals willing to pay for the experience.
  • High Line – A 700-foot slide down a rope from the Bridge to the side of the Gorge. Sound like fun? Trust us, it is. If you’re the adventurous type that wants to be one of the daredevils of Bridge Day, consider the High Line.
  • Rappelling – Another Bridge Day activity that is a crowd pleaser. Teams of 12-16 people can register to rappel the Bridge on Bridge Day. Registration records show that 1/3 of participants are first time rappellers. What a way to start your rappelling career!
  • And don’t forget about vendors on the Bridge selling food, crafts, and other items. We recommend the funnel cake.

For a different perspective, consider going down into the Gorge and watching the action from under the Bridge. There are two ways to get there: on foot or by shuttle.

The Town of Fayetteville also gets into the act, hosting a car show, street music, cornhole competition, Chili Cook-Off and other activities. Fayetteville is just a short distance from the Bridge.

Is Bridge Day 2012 going to be your first?

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Hungry? Our Five-Course, Bridge Day Inspired Meal

Friday, July 20th, 2012

The cuisine that “The Taste of Bridge Day” serves up the evening before Bridge Day is a wonderful contribution from area restaurants. It’s a nice addition to the World Famous Bridge Day festival for sure.

But there is just something about festival food that can’t be denied.You know, that sugary, sticky, and possibly greasy treat that isn’t good for you but tastes amazing? Whether it’s the atmosphere that makes those funnel cakes so delicious or the fact that you may only get to eat them once a year, it’s hard to say.

Beware: These are not the five food groups

No matter what the reason, there’s definitely something intensely desirable about festival food. We thought we would create our own 5-course Bridge Day feast to get you thinking about what you’ll eat when you’re on the Bridge this year.

For Starters

Right out of the gate, a big pretzel makes a great first food. Easy to handle and share, it is definitely a good appetizer for one (or more). This perfect doughy, salty treat can be made even better with dips. We’re talking butter garlic or nacho cheese.  And you can’t go wrong with the classic mustard.

Moving On

As a second course (and palette cleanser), we suggest a caramel apple. Oh yes. The tart, juicy apple and sweet caramel will contrast very well with the salty tang of the first course pretzel. Plus, it won’t hurt to have the 4-5 grams of fiber the apple offers to help balance out this meal. Can caramel apples be classified as a health food?

Getting Into It

Onto the third course, where this Bridge Day feast gets serious. This is the course where we suggest a hearty bite to help you power through the other courses. The BBQ sandwich has a real WV feel and great smoked barbeque should be experienced by everyone.

A big sandwich, piled high with delectable smoked pork, smothered in a tangy sauce and heaped with cole slaw makes for great Bridge Day fare.

Just For Kicks

As a fourth course and “after dinner” snack, we cannot resist that perennial festival favorite: funnel cake. This fried delight is a must have for any festival or fair. The deep fried batter treat has its origins with our neighbors to the north, the Pennsylvania Dutch. We will take ours in the traditional style; with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. But feel free to jazz yours up anyway you see fit.

For Dessert

After a meal that includes a caramel apple and a funnel cake, it may not seem like dessert is necessary. Au contraire; this isn’t a normal meal. This is a feast fit for one of the world’s largest and highest bridges, and hey, it’s a festival.

So, with that in mind, we figure that a deep fried Twinkie is the way to end our Bridge Day meal. Yes, a cream filled sponge cake is good, but we know it can be better. How? Yep, batter-dip it and drop it in some hot oil. Delicious!

So there’s our Bridge Day feast. Yes, it may not be a balanced meal including the five food groups, but that wasn’t the goal. Sometimes you’ve just got to splurge. Right?

What does your ultimate Bridge Day Feast include? 

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What You Didn’t Know About The History of Bridge Day

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

Bridge Day is a wonderful fall festival. It’s the largest single day event in WV, with crowds often estimated at close to 100,000 visitors.  But there’s plenty you might not know about Bridge Day. Read on…

In the beginning, Bridge Day was not planned as a yearly event. The first public event on the Bridge was the 1977 dedication ceremony organized by then-Governor Jay Rockefeller.  This dedication gave the public a chance to walk out onto the historic super structure. The estimated crowd of about 30,000 people was far more than had been anticipated. This large crowd is probably one of the reasons that Bridge Day exists today.

Another little known fact: the first BASE jump off of the Bridge was done in August 1979, after dark. By a local West Virginian. Yes, Burton Ervin, a mine foreman from Cowen, WV made his historic leap at 10:15 pm before an impromptu crowd of about 200 people. He did it so late in the day because winds and threat of rain kept him from jumping any earlier. So now you know; the first BASE jump from the Bridge wasn’t even associated with Bridge Day.

The Bridge Dedication

The Festival

There is lots of other interesting Bridge Day history that you may have never heard. For example:

  •  5,500 people were given certificates proclaiming them the first to walk across this mega-structure.
  • There were quite a few BASE jumps made before it ever became “legal” to do so on Bridge Day.
  • The first rappelling from the Bridge happened in 1981.
  • There was a Bridge Day wedding in 1990. Tom and Vivian Taylor tied the knot and then hoped their parachutes didn’t get knotted up as they plunged off the Bridge.
  • The first bungee from the Bridge included an inflatable pink elephant.
  • There was a World Record set on Bridge Day. Chris Allum set the record for the longest bungee from a fixed structure in 1992.
  • Bridge Day has only been canceled once. In 2001, after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, Bridge Day was cancelled for safety reasons.

It’s no surprise that this 32-year old event has some interesting history. Bridge Day is now an annual WV tradition with folks coming from all over the world to be part of the event.

If you’ve never experienced Bridge Day, mark your calendar for October 20, 2012, and plan to join us. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be there when the next bit of Bridge Day history is made.

Do you know anyone who has attended every Bridge Day? Tell us about them in the comments.

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Bridge Day Behind The Scenes: The Rotary Club

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Two groups that have an important behind-the-scenes role with Bridge Day are the Oak Hill and Fayetteville Rotary Clubs. The Oak Hill Rotary Club originally worked with Bridge Day beginning in 2001, and in 2005 the Fayetteville Club came on board as well.

The Oak Hill and Fayetteville Clubs each have about 12 members, and they work tirelessly to help the club meet its goals.  Rotary International service projects include helping disaster victims, clean water efforts, education projects and their largest project, eradicating polio worldwide.

Rotary at Taste of Bridge Day

What Does Rotary Do At Bridge Day?

Rotary is responsible for the transportation shuttles from the parking areas to the Bridge. They “man” each of the parking pick-up points, managing the flow of visitors.  They inform riders of the shuttle system, collect shuttle fees, and review Bridge Day guidelines. Rotary has been performing this service since 2004.

Taste of Bridge Day

The Rotary Club is responsible for one of everyone’s favorite events during Bridge Day weekend – the Taste of Bridge Day.  Staged at Smokey’s on the Gorge on Friday, the Taste incorporates food offerings from many local and state eateries.

Taste of Bridge Day showcases amazing area restaurants and kicks off Bridge Day weekend with a bang. The Rotary passes out awards at the end of the event, including Best Appetizer, Best Entree, and People’s Choice. This gives the winners bragging rights for a year and fosters some friendly competition for the next Taste.

Restaurants must register and pay a participation fee, and they share a portion of their event earnings with the Rotary. Taste of Bridge Day was first held in 2001 as a collaboration between Oak Hill Rotary and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. The Rotary Club became the sole host of Taste in 2006 and has been joined every year since then by WOAY, the lead sponsor.

The work that Rotary does with Bridge Day allows them to fund other community programs.   Just another reason why Bridge Day is such an important event!

 

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Bridge Day – Why Yes, There’s an App for That

Monday, October 10th, 2011

This year’s Bridge Day Festival is indeed a special one. This year, we are debuting the Official Bridge Day 2011 mobile app for iPhone and Android.

Bridge Day at Your Fingertips

The purpose of the app is to help you find your way around Bridge Day and share the experience with your friends and family. The application has vendor and event information, a map, a barcode scanner, and the iPhone version can even make digital postcards to help you share your experience.

Also built into the app is a “Check-In” screen, that will let you post to Facebook, Twitter, Gowalla and Foursquare right from the app. You’ll also have access to the Bridge Day blog, which will be updated during Bridge Day on all the festival happenings.

The app is free, so get to downloading!

See you on the Bridge!

 

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Bridge Day - Its all about you

Everything you need to know about the festival is here

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OFFICAL BRIDGE DAY FESTIVAL

310 Oyler Ave Oak Hill WV 25901
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