Town & Trail Festival
A family-friendly event celebrating the community of Hot Springs & the Appalachian Trail! All proceeds from this festival will go to Rebuild Hot Springs Area.
DATES
May 1 & 2, 2026
Friday & Saturday
LOCATION
Hot Springs, NC
Throughout Downtown
ADMISSION
FREE
No Ticket Required
AT MILE MARKER
273.1
First Town North Bound
Fun for the whole family
- Live music
- Games and activities for all ages
- Hands-on workshops and demonstrations
- Delicious food
WHAT’S HAPPENING
EVENT SCHEDULE
We’re putting the finishing touches on an exciting weekend. Check back soon for updates and more Town & Trail Festival details.
Friday, May 01, 2026
Join us on the trail and give back to the land that makes Hot Springs so special. We’re organizing a cleanup to help preserve and restore the Appalachian Trail corridor — more details on timing and meeting location are coming soon.
9am-2pm
Trail Clean Up Day
Carolina Mountain Club will host a trail clean up initiative, the official launch of our joint Silvermine Stewardship program with Rebuild Hot Springs Area, The United States Forest Service, Carolina Mountain Club, MountainTrue, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Nantahala Outdoor Center, and more.
5pm
Walnut Mountain Shelter Exhibit Dedication
@ The Welcome Center
6pm-9pm
Fenris Wolf
Live Music @ Big Pillow Brewing
Saturday, May 02, 2026
The main event will take place on the grounds of the Hot Springs Resort & Spa from 10am-4pm (unless otherwise noted).
10am
Vendor Market Opens
Shopping & Education
11am
Contra Dancing w/ Charley Harvey
Community Folk Dancing with live music
12pm
Roy Hurley & The Big Pillow Open Mic All Stars
Live Music
1pm
Honkey Katz
Live Music
1pm
Cornhole Tournament Begins
$30 per team with cash prizes!
2pm
Paint Rock
Live Music
3pm
Fenris Wolf
Live Music
3pm
Trail Poetry Writing Workshop by Tiffany Narron
@ The Welcome Center’s Walnut Mountain Shelter Exhibit
5pm
Duck Race on the Spring Creek
Enter to Win
6pm-9pm
Big Creek Bluegrass
Live Music @ Big Pillow Brewing
8pm-11pm
Quick Chester
Live Music @ The Spring Creek Tavern
Would you like to sponsor
Town & Trail Festival?
100% of proceeds go to supporting Rebuild Hot Springs Area’s Emergency Services Fund.
The Duck Race
Do you think your rubber ducky has what it takes to take the plunge and win the race?
Join the fun in this crowd-favorite duck race! “Adopt” a numbered rubber duck, then watch as the ducks are released into Spring Creek and float their way toward glory. The first duck to cross the finish line wins a 50/50 prize, making this a little splash of fun with a chance to take home bragging rights—and cash. Get your own lucky duck at the Rebuild Hot Springs Area booth!
Sign up to volunteer and you could be a duck wrangler too!
PRESENTED BY
Rebuild Hot Springs Area
100% of proceeds from Town & Trail Festival go to Rebuild Hot Springs Area (RHSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the community of Hot Springs, North Carolina.
RHSA stewards recovery resources while supporting sustainable rebuilding, future preparedness, and new opportunities for the town. Its work focuses on strengthening local infrastructure, supporting residents and businesses, and ensuring that recovery efforts lead to a more resilient, adaptable, and connected community.
Through projects, partnerships, and community-driven initiatives, RHSA is helping shape a future for Hot Springs that honors its character while preparing for the challenges ahead.