Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival Celebrates the Trail’s 100th Year

The sixth annual Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival toasts 100 years of the Appalachian Trail with a celebration of nature, the outdoors, community, and music in Hillsboro on Saturday, June 7.

HILLSBORO, VA — This June, the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail marks its 100th anniversary, and Loudoun’s three official A.T. communities — Round Hill, Hillsboro, and Bluemont — will mark the monumental milestone with the sixth annual Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival. The free, family-friendly event starts at 11 a.m. on June 7 at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School and will feature live music, outdoor activities, a nature-inspired art show, hiking talks, trail and information, a rock-climbing wall, food, local wines and beers, and more.

The Appalachian Trail, stretching across 14 states from Georgia to Maine, is the longest and oldest marked footpath in the country. Tens of thousands of thru-hikers and day-hikers trek the 35 miles of the A.T. that traverses Western Loudoun every year. “We are so lucky to have this iconic trail right in our own backyard,” festival founder Jody Brady said. “In celebration of the trail’s 100 years of connecting people to nature, we invite outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, families, and local residents to join us June 7 in honoring the A.T.’s legacy — and its continued importance to our communities and the nation.”

In 2024, some 2,000 visitors attended the festival, which included a rock-climbing wall and a nature-inspired art show. “This year,” Brady said, “we’re building on that energy and enthusiasm with even more activities. Visitors can learn about different day hikes, chat with hiking experts, and meet people who have hiked the entire A.T.” Throughout the day, musical performances from The Gap Stage will include the Furnace Mountain Trio, Melissa and The Moth Men, Lillian Hackett and Karma Creak.

Caroline Murray, executive director of the Loudoun Appalachian Trail Association and an A.T. thru-hiker, said, “We are proud to be part of the celebrations happening along the trail this year to mark its first century. This festival brings together the beauty of the trail, our local A.T. communities, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the region to learn about and celebrate what makes the A.T. so special.”

Among the dozens of vendors at the festival will be local environmental groups offering hands-on workshops, displays by organizations including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, and more. “This event is designed to be fun for all ages with activities and exhibits that highlight the many ways we can all connect with and protect our outdoor spaces, mountains, and trails,” Murray said.

For more information about the Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival, visit loudounat.org.

Posted on: April 18, 2025