Appalachian Trail Days Festival

Trail Days is the biggest event of the year in Damascus and the world’s largest celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture! Each year in May, the town swells to an estimated 25,000 people for the festival. You can expect a grand reunion of thru-hikers past and present, over a hundred vendors of handmade goods and some of the best outdoor gear in the industry, a packed schedule of live music and events, and a large crowd of trail supporters and hiking enthusiasts. Trail Days is always the weekend after Mother’s Day. The Town-wide Yard Sale is always the weekend before Trail Days.

Schedule of Events:

8-10:15am at the Rock School Auditorium: How to Successfully Complete the Entire AT. Dreaming of doing the AT either as a thru-hike or a section hike? There doesn’t have to be a decades-old 70-75% failure rate and all that waste of people’s time and money. Come and get some time-tested, field-proven wisdom by an elder who has ‘walked the walk’ and has earned the right to ‘talk the walk.’

10am-4:30pm at the REI Path Ahead Ventures booth in the Town Park: allmansright Gear Clinic is offering basic repairs, modifications or alterations to your gear for FREE! as well as sharing the know-hows and tips to keep your gear going strong. Limited spots available; secure yours at the booth on Friday and Saturday.

10:30am-12:30pm at the Rock School Auditorium: Walking Home film screening featuring a father/son duo who hiked the AT in 2016. Winner of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival Award in 2018.

10:30am-noon at One Way Ministries: Praise & Worship Service under the big tent with the Ministry Team.

10:45am at the Damascus Trail Center: ATC gear raffle! Stop by to toss your name in the raffle. Must be present to win.

11am on the Virginia Creeper Trail by the Damascus Town Park: Osprey Packs Trail Days 5K & Run Happy Kids’ 1K - The course is a certified out-and-back 5K on the Virginia Creeper Trail with electronic B-tag timing by We Run Events. Awards for 5K overall winners and by age group. All Kids 1K participants will receive a medal and t-shirt. 11am start for the 5K with the Kids 1K to follow.

11am at the Damascus Trail Center: Book Discussion & Signing for Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside by Tim Kaine - In his memoir, Senator Tim Kaine shares his epic 1,228-mile journey into the “faraway nearby.” Kaine hiked 559 miles on the Appalachian Trail, cycled 321 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and paddled 348 miles on the James River—creating the Virginia Nature Triathlon in the process. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will sell copies of the book on-site.

11:30-1:30pm at the Town Park Stage: Live Music by Noah Spencer! Noah started singing in church when he was 5 years old and picked up his first guitar at 11. This Southwest Virginia artist was a contestant on Season 24 of the NBC television show, “The Voice,” but is most comfortable strumming and picking tunes on an acoustic and singing songs that make people smile.

12pm at the Ripstop by the Roll booth in the Town Park: Cottage Gear Raffle. A daily raffle with prizes from Nashville Pack, Red Paw Packs, UGQ, FarPointe Outfitters, Walhalla Hammocks, and more! You can expect to see backpacks, quilts, accessories, and other one-of-a-kind items from the best names in cottage gear.

12 to 4pm at Wicked Chicken Winghouse & Tavern: Live music by Ed Main and RJ Smith.

1pm at the Damascus Trail Center: Book Discussion & Signing for Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside by Tim Kaine - In his memoir, Senator Tim Kaine shares his epic 1,228-mile journey into the “faraway nearby.” Kaine hiked 559 miles on the Appalachian Trail, cycled 321 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and paddled 348 miles on the James River—creating the Virginia Nature Triathlon in the process. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will sell copies of the book on-site.

1:30pm at One Way Ministries: Free Shuttles North and Southbound leave for Erwin and Bland - sign up at One Way Ministries to reserve your spot

2-4:30 at the Town Park Stage: Live Music by Phantom! Perennial favorite Phantom will fill the air with its energetic renderings of ’70s & ‘80s rock and roll. The band has maintained a “dance and party” playlist over their time on top and appeal to a garden salad of musical tastes and social circles.