What You Need to Know About Appalachian Trail Days

Appalachian Trail Days, an annual festival celebrating all things A.T., is coming up May 15-17 in Damascus, Virginia. Curious about Trail Days or planning your trip? Here’s important info to help you make the most of your time at Appalachian Trail Days.

Appalachian Trail Days welcomes everyone to join in the festivities. Whether you’re a seasoned thru-hiker, a weekend warrior, or simply curious about the A.T., there’s something for everyone to enjoy. At the heart of the action lies the Damascus Trail Center, where the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will be hosting engaging events and activities. From educational workshops to gear raffles, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the Trail and its vibrant community.

Trail Days 2026 Schedule

Here’s a glimpse of what the ATC has in store for attendees. Click on the links below to RSVP.

Friday, May 15

Your Body is Linked Like a Chain at 10 a.m.:  Backpackers carry about 30 pounds on their back. Body parts like knees, hips, spine, and neck are connected like links in a chain. If a link is neglected or overworked, it impacts the whole system. This workshop will help you check in with your body so you can stay strong and healthy on the Trail.

Hiking Through Grief & Healing on the Appalachian Trail at 11 a.m.:  Author Stephen C. Wright shares stories from his new book The Weight I Carried: Hiking through Grief & Healing on the Appalachian Trail.

Appalachian Trail Painting Class at 11 a.m.:  Artist Heidi Nisbett of Sketching Summits will lead this 2 hour workshop, providing a step-by-step lesson on how to sketch out the Appalachian Trail landscape and paint it in with watercolor. The workshop fee of $40 includes the 2 hour lesson where participants includes art supplies and participants will take home their finished paintings.

Artist Talk – Bearing Witness at 2 p.m.: Join photographer, documentarian, and thru-hiker Laura “Half Pint” Partain and friends for an inspiring conversation centered at the intersection of long-distance hiking and art making. Three photographers share their experiences and unique ways of photographing the A.T., and why documenting the Trail is important to its survival and protection.

The Lost Appalachian Trail at 3:30 p.m.: Historian Mills Kelly shares the story of the Appalachian Trail’s original route from Damascus to McAfee Knob and its lasting memory.

Bats with Holston Master Naturalists: Join the Master Naturalists as we explore facts and fiction all about bats!

Outdoor Gear Raffles: Don’t miss your chance to win fantastic outdoor gear at multiple raffle sessions throughout the weekend.

Saturday, May 16

The Prophet of Happiness – Eiler Larsen’s A.T. 1930-1936 at 10 a.m.: Historian Mills Kelly tells the story of Eiler Larsen, who could be considered the original hiker trash hiker.

Artist in Residence Pop-Up Studio at 10 a.m.: Create a colorful, ultralight titanium spoon using the process of anodizing with ATC’s artist in residence, Mallory Weston.

Trail-Proven Tick Prevention – Preventing Tick-Borne Illness on the A.T. at 11:30 a.m. This presentation shares new findings on how long-distance hikers prevent tick-borne illnesses, along with a review of evidence-based strategies to reduce the risk of Lyme disease and other infections.

The Bear Basics at 3:30 p.m.: Join Grant Breidenbach from BearVault to talk about the best methods for protecting the bears and your food while on Trail.

Your Body is Linked Like a Chain at 4 p.m.: Backpackers carry about 30 pounds on their back. Body parts like knees, hips, spine, and neck are connected like links in a chain. If a link is neglected or overworked, it impacts the whole system. This workshop will help you check in with your body so you can stay strong and healthy on the Trail.

Sunday, May 17

I Like Birds! at 10:30 a.m.: An introduction to identifying the many birds around us. This workshop is geared towards kids, but all ages are welcome!

Rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail Meet & Greet at 12:30 p.m.: Meet and greet the team rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail, Kiewiet. Hear a brief project update, view images of progress to date, and celebrate the progress made. Light refreshments will be provided.

Stop by the ATC and Say Hello!

Throughout the weekend, visitors can find the Appalachian Trail Conservancy booth at the Damascus Trail Center, serving as a hub of information, engagement, and celebration. Don’t miss your chance to connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts and learn more about how you can support the ongoing and future efforts to protect the A.T. and its landscape.

New for this year, Trail Days attendees can join the ATC as we work to literally redefine “take a hike.” By signing the definition petition at Trail Days, you’ll get an exclusive button to show off your love for hiking to the world and participate in a movement to celebrate the benefits of time outdoors.

For more information and a detailed schedule of events, visit the 2026 Trail Days event page. Be sure to tag the ATC and use #ATCSpotlight on social media to share your photos from the weekend. Join us as we come together to honor the Appalachian Trail and the incredible community that surrounds it. See you there!