Charleston WV Sternwheel Regatta: Kanawha Blvd and other July 4 closures
The City of Charleston has posted its traffic and parking plan for the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The biggest impact for drivers is an all-day closure of Kanawha Blvd from Clendenin St to Hale St, with additional time-window limits tied to the Firecracker 5K, a funeral parade, and fireworks/sweep-and-reopen operations.
All-day closures: Kanawha Blvd and the Summers Street garage area
Kanawha Blvd (Clendenin St to Hale St) — closed all day. The City says destinations on Kanawha Blvd between Pennsylvania Ave and Clendenin St will remain accessible via Pennsylvania Ave or Virginia St, but access via Clendenin St will not be available.
Summers St (Summers St Parking Garage to Lee St) — closed all day. The City notes the Summers St Parking Garage is accessible from Quarrier St. It also says on-street parking is not permitted along this closed segment.
Morning commute impact: Firecracker 5K restrictions (7 AM through end of race)
The City’s traffic notice lists a staged Kanawha Blvd limit for the Firecracker 5K:
- 7 AM through the end of the Firecracker 5K: Kanawha Blvd (Pennsylvania Ave to Patrick St) is restricted.
- Residents/Businesses on the Blvd can access homes/businesses with assistance of CPD.
- Vehicles parked on Kanawha Blvd can exit with assistance of CPD.
- Firecracker 5K starts: 8 AM.
The posted race route is: Kanawha Blvd at Magic Island >> Hills Plaza (Big Lots Parking Lot) to turn around >> return via Kanawha Blvd.
The City also lists another Kanawha Blvd restriction labeled “End of Firecracker 5K – Approx. 30 Minutes After Fireworks Display” for Pennsylvania Ave to Delaware Ave. Plan on delays as the City clears the area and resumes street operations.
Afternoon closure for the funeral parade
For the funeral parade period, the City lists:
- 8 AM through the end of the funeral parade: Capitol St and Washington St to Quarrier St are restricted.
- Parade starts: 1:30 PM.
- Parade route: Capitol St & Washington St >> Quarrier St >> Summers St >> City Center at Slack Plaza.
Fireworks, sweep-and-reopen timing, and later road limits
The City’s traffic plan says fireworks are expected to start at approximately 9:45 PM. It also warns that roadways reopen once public safety personnel have cleared the area and street sweeping operations have been completed—a process expected to take about 30 minutes after the fireworks conclude.
The Regatta FAQ lists a different fireworks reference: it says fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:30 pm on Thursday, July 4th. The practical takeaway for drivers is to avoid assuming Kanawha Blvd and nearby streets will be fully back to normal immediately after the show.
Later staged closures listed on the City traffic plan include:
- 7:30 PM (approx. 30 minutes after fireworks): MacCorkle Ave (Porter Rd to Corridor G/119)
- 8 PM (approx. 30 minutes after fireworks): Kanawha Blvd closure extends east to Brooks St, plus Kanawha Blvd (Greenbrier St to Elizabeth St)
- 9 PM (approx. 30 minutes after fireworks): Bridge Rd (Grosscup Rd to South Side Bridge), Loudon Heights Rd (Grosscup Rd to South Side Bridge), and South Side Bridge
Local-traffic-only streets and parking rules
The City designates these “Local Traffic Only” unit blocks (Kanawha Blvd to Virginia St) as Truslow St, Goshorn St, Court St, Laidley St, and Summers St. It also states that on-street parking will not be permitted on Court St, Laidley St, or Summers St.
For the rest of the area covered by the parking plan, the City says on-street parking remains available unless a meter is bagged/marked no parking.
For parking, the traffic notice lists city-owned garages/lots, including:
- Shanklin Parking Garage (501 Virginia Street E): Event Parking / $5 cash only
- Summers Street Garage (166 Summers Street): Event Parking / $5 cash only
- Cinema Parking Garage (612 Washington Street)
- City Service Center Garage (915 Quarrier Street)
- Municipal Auditorium Lot (244 Virginia Street E)
The City says accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. It also lists towing/parking questions contacts: CPD Records Division (304-348-6400) for towed vehicles, and Parking Operations (304-348-8158) for city-owned parking garages/lots/metered spaces.
For accessible viewing, the Regatta FAQ says accessible seating is located in front of the Steptoe & Johnson Plaza, accessible via Summers Street. It instructs people to use the sidewalk ramp from Kanawha Blvd to access the ramp to the elevated accessible seating area.
Boaters: Kanawha River safety zone notice
The U.S. Coast Guard NAVCEN broadcast notice states a temporary safety zone for the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta on the Kanawha River between MM 58 to MM 59. The notice lists two time windows: 10:45 am to 3:30 pm, pausing, then 9:15 pm and ending at 10:00 pm local time on July 5th, 2026.
The notice also says entry into the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP Sector OHV, and it notes communications/on-scene standing-by by local and federal responders.
Bottom line
If you’re driving through the downtown riverfront area on July 4, plan on long disruptions—especially around Kanawha Blvd between Clendenin St and Hale St and during the staged 5K, parade, and post-fireworks windows. For the most accurate route-by-route choices, use the City’s traffic plan as your source of record for that day’s access limits.
Sources
- City of Charleston — 2026.07.04 Traffic Info: Charleston Sternwheel Regatta (road closures, parking, and access notes)
- U.S. Coast Guard (NAVCEN) — District 8 Broadcast Notice to Mariners (Kanawha River safety zone for Sternwheel Regatta)
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