See you next year at
​Appalachian Trail Days Festival!

May 17-19, 2024
The Appalachian Trail Days Festival is the biggest event of the year in Damascus and the world's largest celebration of the Appalachian Trail! Each year in May, the town swells to an estimated 20,000 people for a celebration of the Appalachian Trail and hiker culture. 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. Trail Days is free to attend, with a fee for overnight camping at Tent City.

Voted #3 Best Quirky Festival by readers of Blue Ridge Country Magazine in Summer 2023
Interested in coming to Trail Days 2024 as a vendor or performer? Get on the waitlist:
Thank you to our 2023 title sponsor, Hyperlite Mountain Gear! 
See all 2023 Trail Days sponsors and vendors here. 

Trail Days Festival Guide

The long-awaited, much anticipated, action-packed Trail Days 2023 Festival Guide is here!
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​The 2023 Festival Guide is your one-stop shop for all things Trail Days. Print copies are available at Town Hall and local businesses, as well as the Town Info Tent from Thursday to Sunday during the event.
Inside: event schedule, music lineup, sponsors, local info, and more!
Town Information Tent
Located by the stage in the Town Park

Stop by for the festival guide, local information, lost and found items, and official Trail Days merchandise (t-shirts, collectors coins, bandanas, neck gaiters, stickers, patches, and more). Official Trail Days t-shirts usually sell out by the end of the weekend, so stop by early!​
​First Aid Station
Located by the stage in the Town Park
Provided by Drumm Emergency Solutions

​Stop by for basic first aid needs and learn more about Drumm's wilderness medicine courses and other resources. If the First Aid Station has closed for the day, first aid supplies will be available at the Town Information Tent. In case of emergency, call 911.
The official Trail Days tees are here! 
Official Trail Days tees and other merch can be found at the Town Information Tent by the gazebo in the Town Park, from Thursday to Sunday during Trail Days, while supplies last.
Event Information
General​
  • If you are driving into town, allow additional time for travel on Rt 58 between Abingdon and Damascus due to road construction. 
  • Depending on your cell phone carrier, you may have limited service in and around Damascus. Verizon and Sprint tend to be the most reliable.
  • There are FREE concerts in the Town Park all weekend. Live music is located at the gazebo in the middle of the Town Park. Bring your own lawn/camping chair or picnic blanket.
  • Alcohol is prohibited in the Town Park, hiker parade, and all other public spaces. Attendees may drink responsibly in designated areas. 
  • The Water Street bridge has reopened! Use this as the most direct route between the Town Park and Rock School Auditorium.
  • ATM locations in town: Bank of Damascus, Cowboys, Country Corner, Dollar General, and Food City. 
  • Trail Days Ride Board: To request or offer a ride to or from Trail Days, post in the Trail Days Ride Board group on Facebook. In addition, the Place Hostel will have an in-person ride board from Friday to Sunday to post offers and requests. The Trail Days Ministry Team offers free shuttles north and south to Erwin, TN and Bland, VA on Sunday at 1:30pm; sign up in advance at One Way Ministries. The Town of Damascus and Appalachian Trail Days Festival assume no liability for transportation.
  • Residents and businesses may allow up to ten (10) tents on their property. Tents are permitted within town limits during Trail Days ONLY from Wednesday to Monday. Property owners must obtain a free land use permit from Town Hall in advance. ​Tents are also permitted on the following holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day.
  • Bloggers, vloggers, and influencers: Pick up your Trail Days media kit and talking points at the Town Info Tent!
  • ​Please share your Trail Days photos with us! On Facebook and Instagram, use hashtags #TrailDays and #VisitDamascus or tag the town pages.
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Parking
Learn more about general town parking here. ​NOTE: Parking in the Wilson Street lot between May 1 and the end of the annual Appalachian Trail Days event (usually around May 20) is not accessible and vehicles may be towed.
  • Paid parking is available by Tent City at 1011 S Shady Ave, Damascus VA 24236. Parking is $20 per car for the weekend, CASH ONLY.​
  • The town of Damascus is highly walk-able and bike-able. Once you find a place to park, we recommend that you travel by foot, bike, and/or shuttle as much as possible. If you are staying in town overnight, please try to leave your vehicle at your lodging.
  • Please be considerate of our residents. Do not park on private property unless you have permission from the landowner.
  • The Trail Days shuttle is back this year! Look for shuttle stops throughout town on Friday and Saturday.

Camping in Tent City
  • Tent City is located at 1011 S Shady Ave, Damascus VA 24236.
  • Tent City is a large walk-in camping area provided by the Town of Damascus during Trail Days. There are no advance reservations and camping is first come, first served. There are restrooms and portajohns nearby. Firewood is provided.
  • An entrance fee is required to enter Tent City, whether you are camping or not. Tent City wristbands are good for the entire weekend and cost $15 per person on Thursday, $10 on Friday, and $5 on Saturday.
  • Tent City is CASH ONLY. New in 2023: There will also be an option to pay by Square via QR code. A processing fee of $1 per wristband will apply. This option is only available if you have cellphone service and can show proof of receipt at the gate.
  • Tent City opens for camping and parking at 9am on Thursday and closes at 12pm on Monday. If you try to arrive early or stay late, you will be asked to leave the premises. 
  • Weekend parking on-site is $20 per car, CASH ONLY. No vehicles may be taken into the camping area. There is a $200 fine for vehicles driven onto the utility field.
  • Tent city is pet-friendly. Please keep pets on a leash and clean up any waste.
  • Quiet hours begin at midnight on Friday and 1am on Saturday. No exceptions. 

Manufacturer Representatives Area
  • Manufacturer Reps are set up in the Tent City parking area from Thursday to Saturday to assist hikers with equipment repairs, gear advice, and specialized services. These reps are here to help you, the hiker, with any issue you may be having with your gear. They generously donate their time and skills to provide FREE services to the AT community.
  • The following gear manufacturers are represented in 2023: Asolo, Backpacker, Big Agnes, Crazy Creek, Etowah Outfitters, Gregory Mountain Products, Leki Poles & Oboz Footwear, and Osprey Packs. 
  • Be sure to stop in and thank these folks for volunteering their time and expertise!

Saturday Hiker Parade 
  • The parade is at 2pm. Parade line-up is at 1:30pm in front of Sundog Outfitter. The parade ends at Town Park.
  • Water balloons are not allowed but super soakers are very much encouraged! The Town expects participants to use caution and common sense.
  • Do not spray water on anyone preceding the hikers, to include those in uniform such as the Honor Guard and Police. Do not spray water on other parade participants such as trail maintenance clubs, beauty pageant queens, scout troops, etc...unless they have a water gun too!
  • Alcohol is prohibited in the Town Park, hiker parade, and other public spaces. Attendees may drink responsibly in designated areas. 
  • Following the Hiker Parade is the Trail Days Auction at 3pm, and then the Hiker Talent Show at 4pm! Both are located at the Gazebo in the Town Park.
By attending the Appalachian Trail Days Festival, you consent to the use of any photos, videos, recordings, or any other record of this event with you in it for any legitimate purpose, including by the Town of Damascus, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and other organization partners.

​The Trail Days Planning Committee is staffed by at least one Town Council member, one town employee, and volunteers. The Chair of the Trail Days Committee is Councilwoman Susan Coleman. Contact the committee chair or Town Hall to get involved.