If you're an Appalachian Trail (AT) Hiker or just a fan of the culture that surrounds "America's Footpath." Then the place you want to be in May is at Appalachian Trail Days. Held yearly in the town of Damacaus, VA, known as the "Friendliest Town on the Trail and Trail Town USA," the 2023 festival was the 36th edition. This wasn't my first time at Trail Days, but this would be my third. I first came in 2016 and then again the following year. There were reasons for six years away from the Trail Days festivities, but the top of the list was COVID-19. First, there was no event in 2020 as it was those early, scary days of the coronavirus pandemic. Then in 2021 and 2022, even though Pete wanted to go, I still wasn't comfortable in big crowds (to be honest I still don't know if I am), So, this was really my first time attending an event with this many people, but I could not think of a better place to start than Trail Days.
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| Trail Days 2016 |
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| Trail Days 2017 |
It has grown since my last visit in 2017. I mean, Damascus itself has grown in those six years. If you follow this blog, you know that I had been to Damascus many times in those years between visits to Trail Days. The most recent was in October last year. In those six years, the new Appalachian Trail Conservancy's (ATC), Damacaus Trail Center, was built, and a new park, just to name a few. This park is where I parked back in 16-17 for free. Well, you could still park near the new park, but it was $10. However, the new park, Laurel Creek, is hosted at the Damacaus Framers Market, which was open when I arrived. There was a lot of cool stuff, including a person selling really tasty cookies. Unlike in years past when all vendor booths were in Town Park now some were at the Damascus Trail Center, including some fellow Trail maintainers. While at the Trail Center, I re-upped my ATC Membership.
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| One big change MRO is now a Distillery |
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| Laurel Creek Park |
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| Damascus Trail Center |
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| Booths outside of the Center |
Pete was itching to get to the main vendor area at Town Park. Amazingly, I ran into some thru-hikers I met at Jerry Cabin Shelter in April, talked with fellow Carolina Mountain Club maintainer and author Sarah Decker Jones, and did some networking on a project of my own. While passing the Carpenter Woodworks Booth, two cool signs, Max Patch and Blood Mountain Wilderness, caught my eye. I could only get one, and it was tough, but Max Patch won out. There are just so many cool booths with plenty of great gear and live music on the stage.
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| Town Park during Trail Days |
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| Music & Watermelon Crushing |
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| The Damascus Bridge |
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| There were plenty of dogs at Trail Days |
If you haven't been to Trail Days, the main event of the festival is the traditional Hiker Parade. It's just a fun event, and I finished my day at Trail Days. It was great to be back, and Pete was happy, so a win-win...
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| The Hiker Parade begins... |
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| (T)...now the true stars (B) The Class of '23 |
