By Kendra Gilchrist
For Charleston Gazette-Mail
This Labor Day weekend, events across Charleston and Huntington are honoring West Virginia’s workers and celebrating a long weekend of community engagement and fun.
- The Dick Griffith Open, an annual Labor Day weekend tennis tournament, is being held Friday through Sunday at Ritter Park Tennis Courts in Huntington. The tournament brings tennis players of all skill levels from across the Tri-State area to benefit the Dick Griffith Scholarship Fund. The tournament is free for spectators.
- The Marmet Labor Day Festival is taking place Saturday through Monday. The festival will feature various activities and entertainment, including a petting zoo, live music, food vendors, wrestling and a hot dog eating contest. The Marmet City Labor Day Parade will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, and those who participate will meet at 9:15 a.m. at old Woody’s Goodies Store location. Many of the festivities will take place at Ben Morris Field, 8556 MacCorkle Ave. S.E. in Marmet, and other events will coincide nearby. For detailed information on events and times, visit the Marmet Labor Day Festival Facebook page.
- The cities of St. Albans and Nitro are working together to host a Labor Day fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The fireworks will be launched from Roadside Park in St. Albans to light up the sky over the Kanawha River. According to the City of St. Albans event post, the best spot to view the fireworks is from the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge. The bridge will be closed to vehicles from 8:30-10:30 p.m., to allow pedestrians to watch the firework show.
- The United Mine Workers of America will host their 88th annual Labor Day rally and picnic from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday. The event will take place at 125 John Slack Circle in Racine, Boone County.
Gazette-Mail File Photo | Bridget Womber, of the University of Charleston women’s basketball team, tosses cold water on a runner heading up Hansford Street to the finish at Laidley Field during the 51st Charleston Distance Run, on Aug. 31, 2024.
Some areas will be affected by road closures this weekend to accommodate the Charleston Distance Run, a 15-mile race along the Kanawha River and through South Hills, a 5K run and walk and a Children’s Fun Run.
Kanawha Boulevard, from Court Street to Capitol Street, will be closed starting at 10 a.m. Friday and remain in place overnight, according to the City of Charleston traffic information webpage.
The closure of Kanawha Boulevard East will extend to Chesapeake Avenue at 6 a.m. Saturday and remain closed until noon. Rolling closures will in place along the race routes for the distance run. All races will begin on the south side of the West Virginia State Capitol and finish at University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field.
Turn-by-turn routes and race maps are available to view on the City of Charleston website. Closure times are approximate and subject to change, and additional road closures may occur, according to the website.
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