CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby hopes this weekend will be one that will create fond memories for everybody who attends the Capitol City Celebration of the America 250.
“When we started working on America’s 250th and started thinking about what we wanted to do, the goal was to create an event that would be memorable and something people will be talking about for years and years. I feel like we’ve done that, I feel like this is going to be great nights between the 3-D projections, the ferris wheel, and all of the music,” said Ruby.
The 230 foot ferris wheel, known as the “250 Wheel”, is set up and offering rides on the Capitol Complex. Lit up at night it’s provided a colorful sight rising above the Capitol grounds in Charleston. It’s the largest mobile ferris wheel in the world. Each of its gondolas features one of the nation’s 45 Presidents. It will be offering rides all weekend with spectacular views of the Capitol and the Kanawha Valley.
The projection video will also be unique. It’s an action video projected onto the front of the Capitol along with the golden dome. West Virginia’s story and the story of the United States will be played out in the video.
“We did the state’s 150th Birthday projection, so it’s similar to that, except that one was just on the columns. This goes all the way up to the tip top of the Gold Dome we’re projecting all the way up there. It’s a great story and goes through some West Virginia history, some U.S. history, just a lot of great stuff in it. I think folks are going to love it,” said Ruby.
The third leg of the weekend celebration is the music. There are two stages set up on the Capitol Complex. The daytime music is on the courtyard side of the Capitol where the 250 Wheel is located. Evening concerts are on the riverside steps of the Capitol. Legendary country band Alabama will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the opening act at 6:30 p.m. will be West Virginia native Phil Bowen. Saturday’s music will feature the West Virginia Symphony for the 4th of July celebration. They’ll begin at 8:00 p.m. Sunday’s entertainment will feature Brett Mahon open up at 6:00 p.m. for the Marshall Tucker band who will take the stage at 7:00 p.m.
Ruby said get there early and bring a chair.
“Folks coming to the evening concerts are strongly encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Folks can sit all over the lawn or out on the Boulevard which will be closed, but I do encourage people to get here early,” she said.
The concerts will be projected on screens all around the Capitol Complex for those who can’t find a seat in front of the steps. Parking will be free at Laidley Field and in the Capitol parking garage as well as metered spaces around the Capitol. KRT will provide shuttle service from the parking lots to the Capitol and up and down Virginia and Quarrier Streets to allow access to the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta happening a mile and half away on the riverfront in Charleston.
“KRT has a shuttle running all through Charleston that can get you between the two events,” said Ruby.
The Kanawha River will be a perfect place to take in the evening festivities and those on boats on the river will have good seats for the projection show and the evening concerts to celebrate America 250 in the Capital City.