Two Giant Events, One Epic Weekend: Charleston Sternwheel Regatta vs. America250 Capital Celebration

This July 4th weekend, Charleston, West Virginia becomes the epicenter of two massive celebrations running side-by-side, just blocks apart. From Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5, the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta and the America250 Capital City Celebration will light up downtown with concerts, fireworks, food, family fun, and a whole lot of West Virginia pride.

Whether you're here for the sternwheel boats, the live music, the artisan markets, or the birthday of a nation, here's everything you need to know to plan your weekend.

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Two Events, One Unforgettable Weekend

The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta transforms the Kanawha Boulevard riverfront with its iconic Moses Auto Group Stage, carnival, sternwheel boat races, and a legendary concert lineup. Just up the hill at the State Capitol Complex, the America250 Capital City Celebration honors the nation's 250th birthday with concerts, an artisan market, capitol tours, and the dazzling Liberty & Lights Show.

The best part? A free KRT shuttle connects both event zones, so you can hop between them all weekend long.

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Complete Weekend Schedule

Here's the full day-by-day schedule for both events, merged into one timeline. Every item is labeled so you can see exactly what's happening at the same time, just blocks apart:

REGATTA = Charleston Sternwheel Regatta (riverfront / Kanawha Blvd) AMERICA250 = America250 Capital City Celebration (State Capitol Complex)

Ongoing Daily (July 2–5)

• REGATTA WesBanco Family Fun Zone — City Center at Slack Plaza | Free | Noon–5:30 PM
• REGATTA Carnival — Kanawha Boulevard | Ticket Required | Noon–10:30 PM
• REGATTA Valley Gem Sternwheel Boat Rides — Haddad Riverfront Park | Ticket Required | 10 AM–9:30 PM
• REGATTA Navigating Nostalgia Exhibit — Four Points by Sheraton | Free | Noon–5 PM

Thursday, July 2

• 3:00 PM — REGATTA Carnival Opens (Kanawha Boulevard)
• 5:00 PM — AMERICA250 Midway Eats & Treats & Artisan Market open (Culture Center Lawn / Big Wheel Plaza) — to 10 PM
• 5:00 PM — AMERICA250 State Capitol Tours begin (Lower Rotunda) — to 8 PM, every half hour
• 5:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: The Local Honeys (Big Wheel Stage)
• 6:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Bob Thompson (Big Wheel Stage)
• 7:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Rylee Bapst (Big Wheel Stage)
• 7:30 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Melissa Etheridge (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 8:45 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Wynonna Judd (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 9:00 PM — AMERICA250 Liberty & Lights Show, every 15 min (Boulevard Stage) — to 10 PM

Friday, July 3

• 9:00 AM — AMERICA250 Sensory-Friendly Big Wheel Rides (Big Wheel Plaza)
• 10:00 AM — AMERICA250 Midway Eats & Treats & Artisan Market open (Culture Center Lawn / Big Wheel Plaza) — to 10 PM
• 10:00 AM — AMERICA250 State Capitol Tours begin (Lower Rotunda) — to 8 PM
• 12:00 PM — REGATTA Capitol Market Presents: All Fired Up BBQ Challenge (Capitol Market)
• 12:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Matthew Malinoski (Big Wheel Stage)
• 2:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Hot Jazz of Charleston (Big Wheel Stage)
• 4:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Mark Price (Big Wheel Stage)
• 6:30 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Philip Bowen (Boulevard Stage)
• 7:00 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Montell Jordan (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 7:30 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: ALABAMA (Boulevard Stage)
• 7:30 PM — AMERICA250 1776, The Musical (Culture Center Theater) — Ticket Required
• 7:50 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Bow Wow (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 8:45 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Bobby Brown (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 9:00 PM — AMERICA250 Liberty & Lights Show, every 15 min (Boulevard Stage) — to 10 PM
• 10:00 PM — AMERICA250 Fireworks Extravaganza (Boulevard Stage)

Saturday, July 4

• 8:00 AM — REGATTA Firecracker 5K (Magic Island)
• 10:00 AM — REGATTA Wiener Dog Races (Magic Island)
• 10:00 AM — AMERICA250 Midway Eats & Treats & Artisan Market open (Culture Center Lawn / Big Wheel Plaza) — to 10 PM
• 10:00 AM — AMERICA250 State Capitol Tours begin (Lower Rotunda) — to 8 PM
• 11:00 AM — REGATTA Tudor's Biscuit World Hot Dog Eating Contest (Schoenbaum Stage)
• 12:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Woodbine (Big Wheel Stage)
• 1:30 PM — REGATTA Mardi Gras Funeral Parade (Capitol Street)
• 2:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Two Roommates (Big Wheel Stage)
• 2:00 PM — AMERICA250 1776, The Musical (Culture Center Theater) — Ticket Required
• 4:00 PM — REGATTA Gino's Sternwheel Slamboree (Haddad Riverfront Park)
• 4:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Been Fishin' (Big Wheel Stage)
• 5:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: West Virginia 249th Army Band (Boulevard Stage)
• 6:00 PM — AMERICA250 America250 Ceremony (Boulevard Stage)
• 7:00 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Lita Ford (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 8:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (Boulevard Stage)
• 8:15 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Bret Michaels (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 9:00 PM — AMERICA250 Liberty & Lights Show, every 15 min (Boulevard Stage) — to 10 PM
• 9:30 PM — AMERICA250 Fireworks Extravaganza (Boulevard Stage)
• 9:45 PM — REGATTA Fireworks Spectacular (Magic Island – Haddad Riverfront Park – State Capitol)

Sunday, July 5

• 10:00 AM — REGATTA Regatta Car Show (Kanawha Boulevard)
• 10:00 AM — AMERICA250 Midway Eats & Treats & Artisan Market open (Culture Center Lawn / Big Wheel Plaza) — to 10 PM
• 10:00 AM — AMERICA250 State Capitol Tours begin (Lower Rotunda) — to 8 PM
• 11:00 AM — REGATTA Sensory Carnival (Kanawha Boulevard)
• 11:00 AM — REGATTA United Way Great Rubber Duck Race (Haddad Riverfront Park)
• 12:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Jim & Valerie Gabehart (Big Wheel Stage)
• 1:00 PM — REGATTA Sternwheel Boat Races (Haddad Riverfront Park)
• 2:00 PM — REGATTA Regatta Fire Parade (Virginia Street)
• 2:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Jordan Dyer Trio (Big Wheel Stage)
• 2:00 PM — AMERICA250 1776, The Musical (Culture Center Theater) — Ticket Required
• 4:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Bronco Junction (Big Wheel Stage)
• 5:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Sasha Colette (Big Wheel Stage)
• 6:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: Brett Mahon (Boulevard Stage)
• 6:45 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Vertical Horizon (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 7:00 PM — AMERICA250 CONCERT: The Marshall Tucker Band (Boulevard Stage)
• 8:05 PM — REGATTA CONCERT: Tonic (Moses Auto Group Stage)
• 9:00 PM — AMERICA250 Liberty & Lights Show, every 15 min (Boulevard Stage) — to 10 PM
• 9:30 PM — REGATTA WV Medicine Thomas Hospitals Drone Show (Haddad Riverfront Park)

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WesBanco Family Fun Zone (Friday, July 3) (SLACK PLAZA)

Located at City Center at Slack Plaza, the WesBanco Family Fun Zone offers free family activities on Friday, July 3.

All Day (Noon–5 PM / 5:30 PM):

• Alto Face Painting: Noon–5 PM
• Water Slides & Inflatables: Noon–5:30 PM
• Make & Take Art: Noon–5 PM
• Meet the Characters (Public Art Puppets, Amanita, Mothman): Noon–5 PM
• Appalachian Power Presents: Young Entrepreneur Market: Noon–5 PM

Scheduled Activities:

• Fluidity Performance Troupe: 12:15–1 PM, 2–2:45 PM, 3:30–5 PM
• Caricature Artist Rob Cleland: Noon–3 PM
• Foam Machine: 1–3 PM
• Professor Bubblemaker: 1–1:45 PM, 3–4:30 PM
• Magician Joey Stepp: 1–4 PM

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Venue Maps (click to enlarge)

The Regatta Boulevard Venue Map features 54 numbered vendor and event locations along Kanawha Boulevard. The Capital City Celebration map highlights the Adventure Zone (obstacle courses, inflatables, rock wall, gaming trailer), Big Wheel Stage, Boulevard Stage, Culture Center Plaza skating rink, History Hub, and artisan market around the Capitol Complex.

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Helpful Tips for the Weekend

As you plan your trip to the 2026 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta and America250 Capital City Celebration, here's everything you need to navigate downtown with ease.

🅿️ Parking

There is plenty of parking downtown, but it fills up fast. Free Parking is available at Hills Plaza — the large lot in front of Big Lots (118 Hills Plaza). For the Capital City Celebration, Laidley Field offers free parking with shuttles every 15 minutes, and the Regatta Bus Loop runs shuttles every 45 minutes. Metered on-street parking is also available, including ADA spaces.

🚌 Free KRT Shuttle

KRT is a free, easy way to get back and forth from the Boulevard and the Capitol Complex all week long. Shuttles run every 30 minutes with pick-up and drop-off on listed streets.

• Big Lots Shuttle Route (Orange): Serves Kanawha Blvd, Virginia St, and Quarrier St with a loop to Big Lots and Dollar Tree on the West Side.
• WV Culture Center Shuttle Route (Light Blue): Serves the downtown grid and extends to Laidley Field, the WV Culture Center, and the State Capitol.
• Board at the Culture Center Bus Loop for drop-off at City Center Station in Slack Plaza.

🗺️ Parking & Shuttle Maps (click to enlarge)

✅ More Tips

1. Both events are free to attend — some activities (Carnival, boat rides, 1776 the Musical) require tickets.
2. Two fireworks shows: The Regatta's Fireworks Spectacular is Saturday, July 4 at 9:45 PM; the America250 Fireworks Extravaganza is Friday, July 3 at 10 PM and Saturday, July 4 at 9:30 PM.
3. Bring the whole family — both events feature kid-friendly zones, food vendors, and free activities.
4. Stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes — there's a lot of ground to cover between the riverfront and the Capitol.

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Event Links

• Charleston Sternwheel Regatta: facebook.com/charlestonsternwheelregatta
• America250 Capital Celebration: facebook.com/westvirginia250 · wv250.com

See you downtown — and Happy 250th Birthday, America!