what is bridge day?

Bridge Day is West Virginia's largest single-day festival and one of the largest extreme sports events in the world. Held annually every third Saturday in October on the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayette County, West Virginia, this is the only day each year thousands of spectators can walk across the bridge and watch as serious BASE jumpers get their chance to fly 876 feet into the Gorge below and rappellers ascend and descend from the catwalk. Come and enjoy the view from the bridge, one of the best overlooks in the New River Gorge!

This is Bridge Day, and it's unlike anything you've ever experienced.

Bridge Day stats & Facts

Ever wondered what goes into West Virginia's most exhilarating festival? Check out these stats from 2023, and learn more about the history of Bridge Day below!  

• Number of BASE jumpers (2023): 341 jumpers from 35 states and 4 countries.

• Number of jumps made (2023): 713 and 16 tandem jumps

• Number of rappells (2023): 646 from 24 states and Canada

• The New River Gorge Bridge is the world's fifth-longest single arch bridge and was opened on October 22, 1977.

• The first Bridge Day was held on November 8, 1980 when two people parachuted from a plane onto the bridge. 5,500 people walked across the bridge, too.