Here's what we have lined up for the 2025 fest:
Friday, June 6
5:30–7 p.m. Old Stone School West Room
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Art Show Opening Reception. The Great Outdoors serves as muse for these four talented artists—Rhianna Wurman, Laura Partain, Jess Sauder and Mike Wurman—who paint, sketch, print and photograph their love of nature. Meet the artists at our show opening in the West Room. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
6–8:30 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Eat Drink & Be Literary, a conversation with hiker/historian/author/podcaster Mills Kelly. Kelly's most recent book is Virginia's Lost Appalachian Trail, and he is the host of The Green Tunnel podcast. Mill's current project, A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail, is a comprehensive chronicle of the A.T. told through the experiences of individual hikers. Held in the Old Stone School auditorium, the evening kicks off with light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by Mills' presentation at 7 p.m. This is a ticketed event, presented by the Hillsboro Preservation Foundation.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Art Show Opening Reception. The Great Outdoors serves as muse for these four talented artists—Rhianna Wurman, Laura Partain, Jess Sauder and Mike Wurman—who paint, sketch, print and photograph their love of nature. Meet the artists at our show opening in the West Room. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
6–8:30 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Eat Drink & Be Literary, a conversation with hiker/historian/author/podcaster Mills Kelly. Kelly's most recent book is Virginia's Lost Appalachian Trail, and he is the host of The Green Tunnel podcast. Mill's current project, A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail, is a comprehensive chronicle of the A.T. told through the experiences of individual hikers. Held in the Old Stone School auditorium, the evening kicks off with light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by Mills' presentation at 7 p.m. This is a ticketed event, presented by the Hillsboro Preservation Foundation.
SaturDAY, JUNE 7
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Festival grounds
Spend the day with us. Enjoy bites and brews, tunes and trail talks. Learn more about local hiking and environmental groups—and win a prize in our scavenger hunt. Try your hand at a nature craft; make it to the top of the climbing wall. Shop for camping gear, pottery, hiking socks, native plants, art and more. A used gear sale and auction support the festival.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School West Room
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: An Invitational Art Show. The Great Outdoors and its forests, streams and critters inspire the four amazing artists invited to share their work—paintings, prints, sketches, photographs, postcards and more. Meet and talk with the artists throughout the day. Art on display will be offered for sale.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Silent auction/merchandise tent
Online auction and merchandise sales. Support the festival by buying a T-shirt. Bid on merchandise and experiences generously donated to the festival, and you might go home with hiking gear, amusement park passes, wine tastings, dining gift cards or a "Beat the Bomb" adventure—and much more! (Bidding for the silent auction closes at 3 p.m.)
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
Children's activities. Kids of all ages can try their hand at nature crafts and make it to the top of the climbing wall. More activities TBA!
11 a.m.–12 p.m. Hillsboro Charter Academy gazebo
Yoga. Kristen Golden's yoga sessions combine "flow, biomechanics, and playfulness." She teaches at YogaTime Studio in Purcellville and the Loudoun County Public Library system. Kristen loves hiking and camping with her family.
11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. The Gap Stage
Festival opening. Representatives from Loudoun's A.T. Communities—the towns of Hillsboro and Round Hill and the Village of Bluemont—are joined by Appalachian Trail Conservancy President Sandi Marra to say a few words about why we're all here. Welcome!
12–1:15 p.m. The Gap Stage
Furnace Mountain Trio. Playing traditional Appalachian music, as well as original compositions, Furnace Mountain creates music that is at times lively and raucous and other times poignant and poetic—all with sublime vocal harmonies.
12:30-1:30 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Going the Distance: Tales from the Trail. A.T. section- and thru-hikers share their stories in this panel discussion led by Charlie "Popeye" Billingsley.
1:30–2:30 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Walk Ride Paddle, Sen. Tim Kaine. In 2019, Tim Kaine—Virginia Senator and former Democratic vice presidential candidate—undertook a three-part journey across the Virginia landscape as he hiked, cycled and canoed across the state. His chronicle of the journey became an organic reflection of the extraordinary events occurring across America during that time, including impeachment trials, a global pandemic, growing racial protests, the January 6th attack on the Capitol, and more. Sen. Kaine joins us to talk about his book and sign copies.
1:45–3 p.m. The Gap Stage
Melissa and the Moth Men. Featuring twangy vocals, fiddle, pedal steel and electric guitar, Melissa and the Moth Men specialize in classic country, honky tonk and western swing.
2:45-3:45 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Favorite Day Hikes. Michele Condon of LoCo Happy Trails moderates a panel of day hikers sharing their favorite local trails.
3 p.m. Auction/merchandise tent
Auction closes. Winning bids will be posted, and items available for pickup until the close of the festival.
3:30–4;45 p.m. The Gap Stage
Lillian Hackett. This emerging singer-songwriter from Lovettsville, VA, showcases her love of Americana music in a soulful mix of originals and covers.
4:30–5 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
A.T. Shadow Puppet Cranky. Phillip McKnight has been studying and sharing "cranky" shadow puppetry for seven years. His first cranky was created and performed while through hiking the Appalachian trail in 2019. He'll share this show with us. (A cranky, or scrolling panorama, is a story told on a back-lit paper scroll rolled across a screen—often accompanied by music.)
5:30–7:30 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
After party. Stay after our official festival hours for more music, food and drinks and community camaraderie. Featuring Karma Creak on The Gap Stage.
Spend the day with us. Enjoy bites and brews, tunes and trail talks. Learn more about local hiking and environmental groups—and win a prize in our scavenger hunt. Try your hand at a nature craft; make it to the top of the climbing wall. Shop for camping gear, pottery, hiking socks, native plants, art and more. A used gear sale and auction support the festival.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School West Room
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: An Invitational Art Show. The Great Outdoors and its forests, streams and critters inspire the four amazing artists invited to share their work—paintings, prints, sketches, photographs, postcards and more. Meet and talk with the artists throughout the day. Art on display will be offered for sale.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Silent auction/merchandise tent
Online auction and merchandise sales. Support the festival by buying a T-shirt. Bid on merchandise and experiences generously donated to the festival, and you might go home with hiking gear, amusement park passes, wine tastings, dining gift cards or a "Beat the Bomb" adventure—and much more! (Bidding for the silent auction closes at 3 p.m.)
11 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
Children's activities. Kids of all ages can try their hand at nature crafts and make it to the top of the climbing wall. More activities TBA!
11 a.m.–12 p.m. Hillsboro Charter Academy gazebo
Yoga. Kristen Golden's yoga sessions combine "flow, biomechanics, and playfulness." She teaches at YogaTime Studio in Purcellville and the Loudoun County Public Library system. Kristen loves hiking and camping with her family.
11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. The Gap Stage
Festival opening. Representatives from Loudoun's A.T. Communities—the towns of Hillsboro and Round Hill and the Village of Bluemont—are joined by Appalachian Trail Conservancy President Sandi Marra to say a few words about why we're all here. Welcome!
12–1:15 p.m. The Gap Stage
Furnace Mountain Trio. Playing traditional Appalachian music, as well as original compositions, Furnace Mountain creates music that is at times lively and raucous and other times poignant and poetic—all with sublime vocal harmonies.
12:30-1:30 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Going the Distance: Tales from the Trail. A.T. section- and thru-hikers share their stories in this panel discussion led by Charlie "Popeye" Billingsley.
1:30–2:30 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Walk Ride Paddle, Sen. Tim Kaine. In 2019, Tim Kaine—Virginia Senator and former Democratic vice presidential candidate—undertook a three-part journey across the Virginia landscape as he hiked, cycled and canoed across the state. His chronicle of the journey became an organic reflection of the extraordinary events occurring across America during that time, including impeachment trials, a global pandemic, growing racial protests, the January 6th attack on the Capitol, and more. Sen. Kaine joins us to talk about his book and sign copies.
1:45–3 p.m. The Gap Stage
Melissa and the Moth Men. Featuring twangy vocals, fiddle, pedal steel and electric guitar, Melissa and the Moth Men specialize in classic country, honky tonk and western swing.
2:45-3:45 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Favorite Day Hikes. Michele Condon of LoCo Happy Trails moderates a panel of day hikers sharing their favorite local trails.
3 p.m. Auction/merchandise tent
Auction closes. Winning bids will be posted, and items available for pickup until the close of the festival.
3:30–4;45 p.m. The Gap Stage
Lillian Hackett. This emerging singer-songwriter from Lovettsville, VA, showcases her love of Americana music in a soulful mix of originals and covers.
4:30–5 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
A.T. Shadow Puppet Cranky. Phillip McKnight has been studying and sharing "cranky" shadow puppetry for seven years. His first cranky was created and performed while through hiking the Appalachian trail in 2019. He'll share this show with us. (A cranky, or scrolling panorama, is a story told on a back-lit paper scroll rolled across a screen—often accompanied by music.)
5:30–7:30 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
After party. Stay after our official festival hours for more music, food and drinks and community camaraderie. Featuring Karma Creak on The Gap Stage.
This page features a print by Jill Jensen, one of the artists invited to show work at the festival's 2023 "Wild Beauty" art show.