A Townwide Splash Down

Damascus, VA is the hiker friendliest little town on the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail runs right through downtown and at any given time, there are as many hikers in town as there are actual residents.  It's just a small town but it is bursting at the seams with beauty, nature, fun and genuinely nice people.  

Every year, Damascus hosts the Appalachian Trail Days Festival and it is one of  the most entertaining events of the year.  Hikers from all across the country come together here to celebrate the trail, hikers, those who embrace hikers, nature and simplicity of life.  To see a full list of events, see here.  

It all culminates in a hiker parade.  You are likely to see it ALL here and it's one of those things you will just have to experience first hand! Hikers dress in all sorts of costumes, they gear up (as does the entire town of onlookers) with water balloons and water guns and they march from one end of town to the other, while everyone literally pelts each other with water.  It's fun for everyone...  My pictures don't come close to the full experience, so next year I hope to see you there!