Trail Days returns to Damascus, Virginia

The Town of Damascus brought back Trail Days on Friday, with hikers, outfitters and Appalachian Trail supporters gathering for the three-day festival in southwest Virginia. The event runs May 15-17, according to Visit Damascus and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Local broadcaster WCYB reported Friday that the festival was underway again this week in the town long known as a social hub for Appalachian Trail hikers. Trail Days is the biggest annual event in Damascus and is billed by organizers as the world’s largest celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy said the weekend draws thru-hikers, weekend hikers and trail supporters, while the town says the festival can swell Damascus to an estimated 25,000 people. Damascus lists its resident population at about 700 on its events calendar page. (visitdamascus.org) ### When is Trail Days happening this year? May 15-17 is the 2026 festival window, according to Visit Damascus and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The town’s festival guide says visitors can pick up printed schedules from Thursday through Sunday at the information tent by the Town Park gazebo, with additional copies available at Town Hall and local businesses ahead of the weekend. (visitdamascus.org) Friday, May 15, marked the start of this year’s public programming. WCYB and WJHL both reported Friday that the festival had returned to Damascus and would continue through Sunday. ### Why does Damascus matter to Appalachian Trail hikers? Damascus, Virginia, sits on the Appalachian Trail and has long marketed itself as “Trail Town, USA.” The festival centers on that identity, bringing together current thru-hikers, former hikers, local residents and gear companies in one place each spring. (visitdamascus.org) Visit Damascus says the gathering is the town’s largest event of the year. (wcyb.com) The Appalachian Trail Conservancy said Trail Days welcomes “everyone,” from seasoned long-distance hikers to people who are simply curious about the trail. Its 2026 preview described the Damascus Trail Center as a focal point for workshops, raffles and other programming during the weekend. ### What is on the schedule besides hikers walking through town? (visitdamascus.org) The Appalachian Trail Conservancy listed a full slate of programs for May 15-17, including workshops, talks and raffles. Friday’s lineup included sessions on backpacking health, grief and healing on the trail, an Appalachian Trail painting class, an artist talk, a history presentation called “The Lost Appalachian Trail,” and a program with Holston Master Naturalists. (appalachiantrail.org) Saturday’s and Sunday’s listings added sessions on tick prevention, bear safety, birds and a meet-and-greet on rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail. Eventbrite listings posted by the conservancy also showed free registration for several programs, while some specialty events, such as the painting class, carried a fee. ### How big is the event for a town this size? (appalachiantrail.org) Damascus says Trail Days can bring an estimated 25,000 visitors to town, a large influx for a community of roughly 700 residents. The same town calendar page lists Independence Day as the only other local event in that range, at an estimated 10,000 visitors. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy repeated the 25,000 figure in its event listing and said the weekend typically includes more than 100 vendors, live music and a reunion atmosphere for past and present thru-hikers. (appalachiantrail.org) ### What happens next after the opening weekend crowds? Sunday, May 17, is the final day of the 2026 festival, according to organizers. RunSignUp listings for Damascus show the town scheduled the 5th Annual Trail Days 5K, a kids race and a new half marathon for Sunday morning at Damascus Town Park as part of the weekend. (damascus.org) The Appalachian Trail Conservancy also scheduled Sunday programs including “I Like Birds!” at 10:30 a.m. and a “Rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail Meet & Greet” at 12:30 p.m. at the Damascus Trail Center, according to its event listings. (appalachiantrail.org) (eventbrite.com) (runsignup.com)