Here's what we lined up for the 2023 fest:
Saturday, June 10th
10:45-11:30 a.m. The Gap Stage
Hillsboro A.T. Community designation and opening remarks. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy officially names the Town of Hillsboro an A.T. Community. Then, our two hosts, the towns of Hillsboro and Round Hill say a few words about why we're all here. Welcome!
11:00 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. Shop for camping gear, pottery, hiking socks, native plants and more.
11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Wild Beauty: An A.T.-inspired invitational art show. The Blue Ridge Mountains and its forests, critters and vistas inspire the seven amazing artists invited to share their work—paintings, prints, ceramics and fiber arts. Meet and talk with the artists throughout the day. All art on display will be offered for sale.
11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Raffle tent
Raffle and merchandise sales. Support the festival by buying a T-shirt. Buy raffle tickets and you might go home with a tent or trampoline park passes, hiking shoes or or a day at Great Country Farms. (And much more!)
11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
Children's activities. Kids of all ages can try their hand at nature crafts or make it to the top of the climbing wall. Ride a pony or take a ride down a giant slide.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Gap Stage
Mink's Miracle Medicine. Formed in 2013 by songwriters Melissa Wright and Daniel Zezeski, Mink's Miracle Medicine was named after a drawing of a snake oil salesman's wagon. After a decade in existence, Mink’s has expanded from a "poem-proselytizing duo" to an Americana collective caravan.
11:45 a.m.—12:15 p.m. Old Stone School plaza (under the big pine tree!)
Yoga for Hikers. A yoga practice can help keep you healthy, prevent injuries and support and improve your outdoor adventures. Carol Lenhart of Birch Hollow Yoga will share yoga poses and sequences designed to address the specific stresses that hiking can enact on the body.
12:30–1:30 p.m. Speakers' gazebo
Going the Distance: A Section- and Thru-Hiker Panel. Moderator and thru-hiker Charlie "Popeye" Billingsley shares his "tales from the trail" along with section hiker Jeff Ryan and a panel of A.T. thru-hikers, past and present. Come to the talk and you could go home with a backpacking tent, sleeping bag and pad, courtesy of REI Co-op!
1-2 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Nature Printing. "Wild Beauty" artist Jill Jensen demonstrates printing from nature—no printing press required!
1:45-2:45 p.m. The Gap Stage
Justin Trawick & the Common Good. Justin Trawick has been performing in the DC area and along the East Coast for 17 years. This January, Trawick released the single “These Days”, the first of a series of singles being released every six weeks throughout 2023 leading up to a full album at the end of the year.
2–2:30 p.m. Speakers' gazebo
Beyond Ramen. Hitting the trail doesn't mean starving—or starving your tastebuds. Hiker/author/adventurer Jeff Ryan is here to help you go a little gourmet with your camp stove cooking.
2:45-3:45 p.m. Speakers' gazebo
Adventures Close to Home: A Day-Hike Panel Discussion. Looking for a new place to trek on a nice day? We've invited experienced hikers to share their favorite local trails. Come to the talk, and you could go home with a great daypack courtesy of Patagonia—or other hiking gear!
3:45–4 p.m. Raffle tent
Big prize drawings. If you put tickets in the jars for our biggest prizes (camping gear, tickets, $100 gift certificates and more), come to the raffle tent at 3:45 to see if you're one of our big winners.
4-5 p.m. The Gap Stage
Short Hill Mountain Boys. What began as a two-person fiddle and guitar duo evolved into the four-person Short Hill Mountain Boys, a Loudoun favorite. The Short Hill Mountain Boys play a lively blend of bluegrass, old-time, cajun, classic country and folk music.
4:15 a.m.—4:45 p.m. Old Stone School plaza (under the big pine tree!)
Yoga for Hikers. A yoga practice can help keep you healthy, prevent injuries and support and improve your outdoor adventures. Carol Lenhart of Birch Hollow Yoga will share yoga poses and sequences designed to address the specific stresses that hiking can enact on the body.
5–8 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
After Party. Stay after our official festival hours for more music, more food and drinks and more community camaraderie.
5:30-8 p.m. The Gap Stage
Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive. Featuring hard-driving instrumentals and heartfelt vocals, the band's musical renditions highlight traditional and progressive sounds alike.
Hillsboro A.T. Community designation and opening remarks. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy officially names the Town of Hillsboro an A.T. Community. Then, our two hosts, the towns of Hillsboro and Round Hill say a few words about why we're all here. Welcome!
11:00 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. Shop for camping gear, pottery, hiking socks, native plants and more.
11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Wild Beauty: An A.T.-inspired invitational art show. The Blue Ridge Mountains and its forests, critters and vistas inspire the seven amazing artists invited to share their work—paintings, prints, ceramics and fiber arts. Meet and talk with the artists throughout the day. All art on display will be offered for sale.
11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Raffle tent
Raffle and merchandise sales. Support the festival by buying a T-shirt. Buy raffle tickets and you might go home with a tent or trampoline park passes, hiking shoes or or a day at Great Country Farms. (And much more!)
11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
Children's activities. Kids of all ages can try their hand at nature crafts or make it to the top of the climbing wall. Ride a pony or take a ride down a giant slide.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Gap Stage
Mink's Miracle Medicine. Formed in 2013 by songwriters Melissa Wright and Daniel Zezeski, Mink's Miracle Medicine was named after a drawing of a snake oil salesman's wagon. After a decade in existence, Mink’s has expanded from a "poem-proselytizing duo" to an Americana collective caravan.
11:45 a.m.—12:15 p.m. Old Stone School plaza (under the big pine tree!)
Yoga for Hikers. A yoga practice can help keep you healthy, prevent injuries and support and improve your outdoor adventures. Carol Lenhart of Birch Hollow Yoga will share yoga poses and sequences designed to address the specific stresses that hiking can enact on the body.
12:30–1:30 p.m. Speakers' gazebo
Going the Distance: A Section- and Thru-Hiker Panel. Moderator and thru-hiker Charlie "Popeye" Billingsley shares his "tales from the trail" along with section hiker Jeff Ryan and a panel of A.T. thru-hikers, past and present. Come to the talk and you could go home with a backpacking tent, sleeping bag and pad, courtesy of REI Co-op!
1-2 p.m. Old Stone School auditorium
Nature Printing. "Wild Beauty" artist Jill Jensen demonstrates printing from nature—no printing press required!
1:45-2:45 p.m. The Gap Stage
Justin Trawick & the Common Good. Justin Trawick has been performing in the DC area and along the East Coast for 17 years. This January, Trawick released the single “These Days”, the first of a series of singles being released every six weeks throughout 2023 leading up to a full album at the end of the year.
2–2:30 p.m. Speakers' gazebo
Beyond Ramen. Hitting the trail doesn't mean starving—or starving your tastebuds. Hiker/author/adventurer Jeff Ryan is here to help you go a little gourmet with your camp stove cooking.
2:45-3:45 p.m. Speakers' gazebo
Adventures Close to Home: A Day-Hike Panel Discussion. Looking for a new place to trek on a nice day? We've invited experienced hikers to share their favorite local trails. Come to the talk, and you could go home with a great daypack courtesy of Patagonia—or other hiking gear!
3:45–4 p.m. Raffle tent
Big prize drawings. If you put tickets in the jars for our biggest prizes (camping gear, tickets, $100 gift certificates and more), come to the raffle tent at 3:45 to see if you're one of our big winners.
4-5 p.m. The Gap Stage
Short Hill Mountain Boys. What began as a two-person fiddle and guitar duo evolved into the four-person Short Hill Mountain Boys, a Loudoun favorite. The Short Hill Mountain Boys play a lively blend of bluegrass, old-time, cajun, classic country and folk music.
4:15 a.m.—4:45 p.m. Old Stone School plaza (under the big pine tree!)
Yoga for Hikers. A yoga practice can help keep you healthy, prevent injuries and support and improve your outdoor adventures. Carol Lenhart of Birch Hollow Yoga will share yoga poses and sequences designed to address the specific stresses that hiking can enact on the body.
5–8 p.m. Old Stone School grounds
After Party. Stay after our official festival hours for more music, more food and drinks and more community camaraderie.
5:30-8 p.m. The Gap Stage
Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive. Featuring hard-driving instrumentals and heartfelt vocals, the band's musical renditions highlight traditional and progressive sounds alike.
This page features art by Kathleen Howsare, prizewinner in Round Hill's 2020 Appalachian Trail Art Festival.