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The Bridgeport Insider
All the best events and activities in Bridgeport, WV
Aug 31 – Sep 6, 2026 · Issue #06Summer is officially clocking out. This is Labor Day week, which around here means one thing above all others: the Italian Heritage Festival takes over downtown Clarksburg for three days, and roughly a hundred thousand people come with it. Before that, the festival's warm-up events spill right into Bridgeport - the Golf Classic and Elimination Dinner at the Country Club on Wednesday, the Honorees Award Ceremony at the Conference Center on Thursday.
Monday also brings the first day of Pre-K for Harrison County's youngest students, which closes out the back-to-school stretch. And Friday night, Wayne Jamison Field hosts a game people have wanted for years: Bridgeport vs. Martinsburg. Pack the week accordingly.
Heads up: Downtown Clarksburg streets close for the Italian Heritage Festival from Friday through Sunday - West Main between 2nd and 5th, plus the Saturday parade route on Pike and 2nd. Plan extra time and park early. Crews are also working a section of Brushy Fork Road in Harrison County with delays expected for over a week. The Bridgeport Public Library is closed Sunday, Sept. 6. As always, confirm times and details with organizers before you head out, since schedules can shift.
★ This Week's Featured Event ★
47th Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival
Fri, Sep 4 – Sun, Sep 6 · Opens 11 AM Friday · Downtown Clarksburg, West Main St. between 2nd and 5th · Free admission
Three days of food, music, contests and general downtown chaos in the best possible way. The festival has been running since 1979 and still draws more than 100,000 people over the weekend, which makes it the single biggest thing happening in Harrison County all year.
How locals actually do it: get there before noon on Friday, when the food booths are fresh and the crowds have not thickened. The Fritti booth on 3rd Street near City Hall is non-negotiable - fried bread dough rolled in sugar, eaten standing up. Saturday belongs to the Grand Feature Parade at 10 AM; families stake out spots along Pike Street early, so bring chairs. The Galbani Cooking Stage at Main and 4th runs live demos from local chefs and home cooks all weekend, and it is the most underrated seat in the festival. The Gallery at James & Law Company (Fri and Sat noon to 9 PM, Sun noon to 5 PM) is where to go when you need air conditioning and a break from the crowd.
Bringing kids? There is a dedicated children's activity area running all three days, and the Saturday parade tends to be the part they remember. Other things worth timing: the Morra contest Friday at 5 PM on 3rd Street, Bingo at the Clarksburg VFW Saturday 1 to 5 PM, and the meatball eating contest in front of the Main Stage Sunday at 1:10 PM. Admission is free; bring cash for the food booths.
→ More infoHow locals actually do it: get there before noon on Friday, when the food booths are fresh and the crowds have not thickened. The Fritti booth on 3rd Street near City Hall is non-negotiable - fried bread dough rolled in sugar, eaten standing up. Saturday belongs to the Grand Feature Parade at 10 AM; families stake out spots along Pike Street early, so bring chairs. The Galbani Cooking Stage at Main and 4th runs live demos from local chefs and home cooks all weekend, and it is the most underrated seat in the festival. The Gallery at James & Law Company (Fri and Sat noon to 9 PM, Sun noon to 5 PM) is where to go when you need air conditioning and a break from the crowd.
Bringing kids? There is a dedicated children's activity area running all three days, and the Saturday parade tends to be the part they remember. Other things worth timing: the Morra contest Friday at 5 PM on 3rd Street, Bingo at the Clarksburg VFW Saturday 1 to 5 PM, and the meatball eating contest in front of the Main Stage Sunday at 1:10 PM. Admission is free; bring cash for the food booths.
🗓 Week at a Glance
Tue · Sep 1 · Free
Virtual Author Talk with David O. Stewart
2 – 3 PM · Online, hosted by Bridgeport Public Library · Registration required
A live online conversation with the historian and novelist, free to library patrons. Watch from your own couch, no drive required.
→ More infoTue · Sep 1
WVIHF Authors Forum
5:30 PM · Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library, 404 W Pike St, Clarksburg
The festival's literary kickoff, spotlighting Italian and Italian-American authors. A quiet, well-run evening that regulars swear by.
→ More infoWed · Sep 2
WVIHF Golf Classic
10 AM · Bridgeport Country Club
The festival's annual scramble, played right here in Bridgeport. Check with the festival office on availability if you want in.
→ More infoWed · Sep 2 · Free
Adults at the Library: Wednesday
Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. · Free · 2 programs
11 AM – 1 PM · Hooks & Needles: Picnic at the Bridge - the knit-and-crochet group takes its weekly session outdoors to The Bridge Pavilion for the season. Bring your project and a lunch.
5 – 6:30 PM · Craft Collective: Water Color Leaves (Teens 15+ and adults) - an early nod to fall, with all materials provided. No experience needed, but register ahead.
→ More info5 – 6:30 PM · Craft Collective: Water Color Leaves (Teens 15+ and adults) - an early nod to fall, with all materials provided. No experience needed, but register ahead.
Wed · Sep 2
WVIHF Elimination Dinner
5:30 PM · Bridgeport Country Club
A festival tradition and one of its main fundraisers, held in Bridgeport the night the golf tournament wraps.
→ More infoThu · Sep 3
WVIHF Honorees Award Ceremony
5:30 PM · Bridgeport Conference Center
The festival honors this year's recipients the night before the gates open downtown. RSVP was required in advance.
→ More infoFri · Sep 4 · ★ Featured
West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Opens
Opens 11 AM · Downtown Clarksburg · Free admission
Three days of food, music and contests get underway downtown. See the featured section above for the full rundown and where to start.
→ More infoFri · Sep 4
Bridgeport Indians vs. Martinsburg Football
7 PM · Wayne Jamison Field, Bridgeport High School · Tickets via GoFan
The regular-season matchup people around here have been asking about for years. Bridgeport opened with a dominant win over Buckhannon-Upshur; Martinsburg is a perennial state power. Expect a full house, and get there early.
→ More info👨👩👧 Family Corner
Mon · Aug 31 · Free
Kids & Teens at the Library: Monday
Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. · Free · 2 programs
11 AM – 12 PM · Juice Box Social (Ages 0-5 and caregivers) - unstructured play and snacks for the littlest crowd. An easy first stop on a Monday morning.
3 – 4 PM · Brain Power Hour (Ages 6-11) - an after-school hour of puzzles, challenges and hands-on problem solving. Registration required.
→ More info3 – 4 PM · Brain Power Hour (Ages 6-11) - an after-school hour of puzzles, challenges and hands-on problem solving. Registration required.
Tue · Sep 1 · Free
Kids & Teens at the Library: Tuesday
Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. · Free · 2 programs
3:30 – 5:30 PM · Study Hall (Ages 6-17) - quiet space, tables and library staff on hand for homework help now that school is fully underway.
5:30 – 6:30 PM · Off the Books: Don't Get Me Started on... (Ages 12-17) - a teens-only hangout built around friendly debate and whatever they are fired up about this month. Registration required.
→ More info5:30 – 6:30 PM · Off the Books: Don't Get Me Started on... (Ages 12-17) - a teens-only hangout built around friendly debate and whatever they are fired up about this month. Registration required.
Wed · Sep 2 · Free
Kids & Teens at the Library: Wednesday
Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. · Free · 2 programs
12 – 12:20 PM · Brilliant Beginnings (Ages 0-2 and caregivers) - a short, sweet lap-sit storytime built for the attention span of a toddler.
3 – 4 PM · 3D Doodles: Libraries (Ages 6-13) - kids use 3D pens to build their own miniature library. Spots are limited, so register ahead.
→ More info3 – 4 PM · 3D Doodles: Libraries (Ages 6-13) - kids use 3D pens to build their own miniature library. Spots are limited, so register ahead.
Wed · Sep 2 · Free
AWANA Clubs at Grace Baptist Church
6:45 – 8:10 PM · 861 Oral Lake Rd · Ages 3 through 6th grade · Free
Now in session for the year after the August kickoff. Bible lessons, games and verse work every Wednesday evening through May.
→ More infoThu · Sep 3 · Free
Kids & Teens at the Library: Thursday
Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. · Free · 2 programs
3:30 – 4:30 PM · Tabletop Adventures (Ages 10-17) - tabletop roleplaying for tweens and teens, with dice and rulebooks provided.
5 – 6 PM · Trading Card Game Adventures (All ages) - bring your deck and find a match. Pokemon, Magic and whatever else walks through the door. Registration required.
→ More info5 – 6 PM · Trading Card Game Adventures (All ages) - bring your deck and find a match. Pokemon, Magic and whatever else walks through the door. Registration required.
Fri · Sep 4 · Free
Kids & Teens at the Library: Friday
Bridgeport Public Library, 1200 Johnson Ave. · Free · 2 programs · Library closes at 5 PM
3 – 3:25 PM · Little Learners (Ages 3-6 and caregivers) - stories, songs and movement for preschoolers.
3:30 – 4:30 PM · Roots & Readers (All ages) - the community garden's fourth season continues, now with accessible grow bags and a mobile work table. Anything harvested goes home with whoever shows up.
→ More info3:30 – 4:30 PM · Roots & Readers (All ages) - the community garden's fourth season continues, now with accessible grow bags and a mobile work table. Anything harvested goes home with whoever shows up.
All Week · Ongoing
The Bridge Sports Complex
400 Forrester Blvd, Bridgeport · Member and day-pass options
Back to regular operation after the annual maintenance shutdown earlier in August. Pools, courts, the track and Clip 'n Climb are the reliable rainy-day answer. Check hours before Labor Day weekend.
→ More infoAll Week · Ongoing
Library Hours This Week
1200 Johnson Ave. · Mon–Thu 11 AM – 7 PM, Fri 10 AM – 5 PM, Sat 10 AM – 3 PM, closed Sun Sep 6
Beyond the daily programs listed above, the makerspace, study pods, notary and passport services are open all week, and reading challenges through Beanstack run year-round. Nearly everything is free with a library card.
→ More info🍻 Weekend Picks
Sat · Sep 5 · ★ Top Pick
WVIHF Grand Feature Parade
10 AM · Pike St. between 5th and 2nd, then 2nd St. to Main, Clarksburg · Free
Bands, floats and festival royalty, and the centerpiece of the whole weekend. Families claim curb space along Pike Street well before start time, so bring chairs and get there by 9.
→ More infoSat · Sep 5
WVIHF Bingo at the Clarksburg VFW
1 – 5 PM · 430 W. Pike St., Clarksburg
Four hours of festival bingo indoors, and a solid escape plan when the afternoon sun on Main Street gets to be too much. Bring small bills.
→ More infoFri · Sep 4 – Sun · Sep 6
Jackson's Mill Jubilee
All weekend · WVU Jackson's Mill, Weston · $5 per person, kids 3 and under and veterans with ID free
A gentler Labor Day option about 25 minutes down I-79: award-winning regional bluegrass and old-time players, Appalachian crafters, an antique tractor parade and hands-on heritage activities for kids, all on historic grounds with room to roam.
→ More infoSun · Sep 6 · Free
Bridgeport Farmers & Makers Market
10 AM – 1 PM · Charles Pointe, 100 Marketplace Ave.
Late-summer produce is at its peak right now - tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn - alongside the market's makers and bakers. The outdoor season runs through Oct. 11.
→ More infoSun · Sep 6
WVIHF Meatball Eating Contest
1:10 PM · In front of the Main Stage, downtown Clarksburg · Free to watch
The festival's closing-day spectacle. You do not have to compete to enjoy it, and frankly you probably should not.
→ More info📆 4-Week Look Ahead
Mon, Sep 7
Labor Day
Harrison County Schools and most city offices are closed. Check hours before you head anywhere.
→ More infoFri, Sep 11
Monthly Matinee: The Karate Kid
1 to 3 PM at the Bridgeport Public Library Event Space. Free for adults, registration required.
→ More infoFri, Sep 11
Bridgeport Football vs. East Fairmont
7 PM at Wayne Jamison Field. The Indians' second home game of the season.
→ More infoMon, Sep 14
Bridgeport City Council Meeting
7 PM at City Hall, 515 W. Main St. Agendas are posted ahead of time and meetings are open to the public.
→ More infoSun, Sep 20
60s Gold! with The Cowsills, Dennis Tufano and The Cyrkle
4 PM at the Robinson Grand in Clarksburg, a short drive away. Three acts, one afternoon of AM radio nostalgia.
→ Get ticketsThu, Sep 24
Little Texas
7:30 PM at the Robinson Grand in Clarksburg. The 90s country hitmakers on a rare stop in north central WV.
→ Get ticketsSat, Sep 26
6th Annual Carl Hopkins WV Youth Aviation Expo
Returns to The Bridge Sports Complex in Bridgeport. A free, hands-on aviation day aimed squarely at kids.
→ More info📌 Always Good to Know
- Bridgeport Farmers & Makers Market - Sundays 10 AM to 1 PM at Charles Pointe, 100 Marketplace Ave., through Oct. 11. Moves indoors to the Bridgeport Conference Center for the second Sunday of each month, November through April.
- Bridgeport Public Library - 1200 Johnson Ave. Free programs nearly every day, plus a makerspace, notary, passport services and study pods.
- The Bridge Sports Complex - 400 Forrester Blvd. Pools, courts, track, fitness classes and Clip 'n Climb, open year-round.
- Bridgeport City Council - meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 PM, City Hall, 515 W. Main St. Agendas and minutes are posted online.
- Connect-Bridgeport - the most consistently current source for city news, sports and the community events calendar.
- The Robinson Grand - 444 W. Pike St., Clarksburg. Touring music, comedy, theatre and family film matinees, about 15 minutes away.
- Clarksburg Amphitheater - the 2,000-seat outdoor venue at Veterans Memorial Park. Watch for fall show announcements.
- West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival - the full three-day schedule, map and vendor list live here.
- Clarksburg Farmers Market - Saturdays 9 AM to 1 PM in the Tractor Supply Co. parking lot.
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