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Dates & Times
June 4
-
June 6,
2026
8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Location
38 Catawba Ave.
Old Fort, NC 28762
Cost
Free
Contact
Charles Aldridge
trailsandtrainsfest@gmail.com
(828) 460-3438
View Event Website
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Celebrate the spirit of the Great Trails State at the fourth annual Trails & Trains Festival in downtown Old Fort. This multi-day festival highlights the rich history of the Blue Ridge Mountains community, including its railroad heritage, Pisgah National Forest connections and growing outdoor recreation scene. Festival activities include guided hikes, outdoor exhibitors, fly-fishing demos, film screenings, food trucks, local vendors and family-friendly programming.
Saturday’s schedule features the Ridge to Rails 50K, half-marathon and 10K, the Fonta Flora 5K Fun Run, a G5 Trail Collective trail workday, a yoga walk, shuttles to Catawba Falls, the Vendor Village at Mountain Gateway Museum and activities at Old Fort Library, including the McDowell County Bookmobile and StoryWalk.
Railroad programming takes place Saturday at the Old Fort Train Depot, with exhibitors, speakers, model train displays, depot and caboose tours, and a live “Railroad Convict Story” presentation. The festival culminates Saturday evening with a free Rhythm & Rails Bluegrass concert on North Railroad Street, featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, The Haley King Trio, Zoe & Cloyd and Backline. Music begins at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule features the Ridge to Rails 50K, half-marathon and 10K, the Fonta Flora 5K Fun Run, a G5 Trail Collective trail workday, a yoga walk, shuttles to Catawba Falls, the Vendor Village at Mountain Gateway Museum and activities at Old Fort Library, including the McDowell County Bookmobile and StoryWalk.
Railroad programming takes place Saturday at the Old Fort Train Depot, with exhibitors, speakers, model train displays, depot and caboose tours, and a live “Railroad Convict Story” presentation. The festival culminates Saturday evening with a free Rhythm & Rails Bluegrass concert on North Railroad Street, featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, The Haley King Trio, Zoe & Cloyd and Backline. Music begins at 5:30 p.m.
