Rebuild Hot Springs presents The 2026 Town & Trail Festival
May 1 @ 8:00 am - May 2 @ 5:00 pm
A free, two-day celebration of the Appalachian Trail, the mountains, and the remarkable community of Hot Springs, North Carolina. Everyone is welcome.
Since 1998, Trailfest has been a cherished tradition in Hot Springs, NC. As the first town Appalachian Trail thru-hikers reach on their northbound journey, Hot Springs has always had a special relationship with the trail — and this festival has been its annual celebration. For nearly three decades, we’ve welcomed hikers, locals, and visitors alike with live music, delicious food, and the kind of warm mountain hospitality you can only find here.
Last year, we added something new to the name. “Town & Trail Fest” reflects what this event has always been at its heart — not just a celebration of the trail, but of the remarkable community that lives alongside it. Hot Springs is a town with a story worth telling, and we couldn’t think of a better way to tell it than by bringing everyone together for a weekend of music, laughter, and good company.
Hot Springs sits at mile 273 of the Appalachian Trail — and for hikers who’ve been on the trail for weeks, rolling into this little mountain town feels like coming home. The festival has always been a love letter to that experience: the trail, the town, and the deep connection between them.
For a second year, Town & Trail Fest is presented by Rebuild Hot Springs Area (RHSA), a local nonprofit born out of this community’s response to Hurricane Helene. What this town has accomplished in the face of that challenge is a testament to the spirit of the Appalachian community — and this festival is a celebration of exactly that. All proceeds go directly toward RHSA’s mission of building a stronger, more resilient Hot Springs.
Town & Trail Fest is more than a great weekend — it’s a fundraiser for the people and services that make Hot Springs what it is. Last year’s festival raised over $11,000 for RHSA’s Residential Fund, helping put families back in their homes and giving this community a foundation to rebuild on. This year, we’re turning our focus to the men and women who show up no matter what. All proceeds will support RHSA’s Emergency Services Fund, dedicated to the three volunteer fire departments — Hot Springs, Spring Creek, and Country VFD — whose sacrifice and service keep our mountain community safe every single day.
