DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL) — The Appalachian Trail Days Festival, the most significant event celebrating the Appalachian Trail and its vibrant hiking community, has returned and will continue through Sunday.
This annual festival attracts nearly 25,000 visitors who come to explore offerings from over 100 vendors showcasing handcrafted items and outdoor gear.
News Channel 11 caught up with four hikers at the festival, all of whom expressed their enthusiasm for being in Damascus this weekend.
“You encounter people from diverse backgrounds, and I’ve always enjoyed making those connections,” said Sydney Musgrave from North Carolina. “I’ve never felt such a sense of freedom. I’m here again to reconnect with those people and to soak in that unique atmosphere once more.”
Khamrin Lowrance, hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that friendships play a significant role in the Trail Days experience.
“Everyone’s out there just to escape from reality somewhat,” Lowrance said. “And just like everyone has something in common, just they just want to be out there. Just be free. And it’s just nice just having something in common.”
Tim Coyle, who is from Massachusetts but hiked to Damascus from Georgia, said he enjoys coming into town to stop for a bite to eat or to walk the Creeper Trail.
Austin Quesenberry, from Georgia, said this year’s festival was his first Trail Days experience and encouraged hikers to come experience it.
“It’ll open your eyes for sure,” he said. “The through-hiker community is just that. It is a wonderful community. Everybody, it’s not every man for himself. Everybody comes together, and they’re working towards a similar goal, and we’re all here for each other. So, this coming to Trail Days is a really good opportunity to get a taste of that and experience what life on the trail would be like.”
To learn more about Trail Days, visit the Appalachian Trail Days Festival website.
For those interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail, visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website for information or an interactive map.