FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. — The spirit and history of Bridge Day at the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayette County will be celebrated next month even though the 2020 Bridge Day, originally scheduled for Oct. 17, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Becky Sullivan, chair of the Bridge Day Commission and executive director of the New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau, said they’ve decided to have a virtual celebration via Facebook Live to keep Bridge Day “alive in everyone’s minds.”
Facebook Live broadcast hours were scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
Those are traditionally the hours when thousands of spectators crowd the New River Gorge Bridge to watch participating BASE jumpers, standing for building, antenna, span and earth.
Bridge Day is the only day of the year when BASE jumping is allowed off the New River Gorge Bridge.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, members of the Bridge Day Commission previously voted unanimously to cancel this year’s event.
During virtual Bridge Day, giveaways from local lodging, food and retail partners were planned every hour with a grand prize to be announced at the close of the virtual Bridge Day.
Sullivan said some people were still going to travel to Fayette County.
“They’re going to see the bridge in different ways, maybe participate in Bridge Walk or take in the overlooks at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and whitewater rafting,” Sullivan said.
“We’re still getting lots of calls for visitations and even people making plans for next year.”
A 2021 Bridge Day date was set for Oct. 16, 2021.
The first Bridge Day on the New River Gorge Bridge, which was dedicated in 1977, was held on Nov. 8, 1980.