CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau will be hosting the 8th Annual SportsFEST at Magic Island from Friday to Sunday.
“It’s a great spectator event, but it’s also something that we open up to the community, so we can have community participating” said CVB Vice President of Operations Jama Jarrett.
Events will include the Professional Watercross National Championship, an EVP Volleyball Tournament and, new this year, a 5K Glow Run.
“We decided to add something else that we could offer to the community and so we are hosting, for the first time, a night race,” Jarrett said. “We have a few hundred registered so far.”
Check in will be at Kanawha Blvd. and Court St. prior to the race starting at 9 p.m. Parking will be available on Virginia St. and the Kanawha Blvd. near the race site. Pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt.
Other sporting events will include pro disc golf, 3-on-3 basketball, cheerleading, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, tennis, the Charlie West Skateboard Fest and a crossfit challenge.
Jarrett said they will most likely see a few thousand people over the next few days for the event.
“The economic impact for this event is estimated about $650,000 – the athletes coming in, spending the night in hotels, people eating at the restaurants that kind of triple effect that comes from having something like this in town,” she said.
The community is invited to take part in events by registering for a variety of competitions or to spectate events. Competitors will be given the opportunity to win cash prizes and the chance to compete against professional athletes.
Some events may require a registration fee, but admission is free for spectators. For more information visit www.charlestonwv.com.
The SportsFEST schedule of events is listed below:
Friday, Aug. 14:
Inaugural Kanawha Valley PDGA Regional
Saturday, Aug. 15:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Ohio Valley Cup
EVP Volleyball Tournament
Professional Watercross
Slalom Skateboarding
Inaugural Kanawha Valley PDGA Regional
WV Crossfit Challenge
Glow Run 5K
3 on 3 Basketball
Cheerleading
Arden Cogar Timber sports Exhibition
Sunday – Aug. 16
Ohio Valley Cup
EVP Volleyball Tournament
Professional Watercross
Slalom Skateboarding
Inaugural Kanawha Valley PDGA Regional