Helene Recovery: McDowell County Travel and Safety Updates

Old Fort Trails & Trains Festival

June 1st, 2024, mark your calendar and join us as we celebrate North Carolina, The Great Trail State with a new downtown festival in Old Fort, North Carolina! The Old Fort Trails and Trains Festival celebrates this small Blue Ridge Mountain community by focusing on its pathways and connections including the town's railroad and Pisgah National Forest history.

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We continue to create schedules, coordinate vendors and activities. Bookmark this page! We will add schedules, registration links, and more as festival event confirmations are received.

Coinciding with the Trails & Trains Festival, this multi-day weekend event also lifts up the Grand Reopening of Catawba Falls on May 31st, 2024!

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The Town of Old Fort and our outdoor partners will be providing shuttle transportation from downtown Old Fort to the Falls Trailhead. during the Grand Opening (May 31st) and Trails & Trains Day (June 1st). Learn More about the Grand Reopening of Catawba Falls here: https://www.g5trailcollective.org/catawbafalls

On Saturday, we will host a vendor and exhibitor village in the Town of Old Fort. Come explore the latest in outdoor recreation brands, discover new outdoor recreation businesses, recreation guides, trail hikes, or visit the new Trail School opening up downtown!

Are you interested in becoming a vendor? Head over to this page to submit your information.

The McDowell Trails Association will host guided hikes, the G5 Trail Collective is hosting a youth mountain bike race on site at the new, Old Fort Gateway Trail System, the Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail is hosted a 5k run/walk with registration proceeds benefiting this non-profit and their work to create trail across three Western North Carolina counties.

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There will be live demonstrations designed to teach a new skill or how to operate your outdoor equipment. Food trucks, vendors and more will be located in the downtown area.

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All things train related will take place in and around the Old Fort Train Depot located at 25 W. Main Street.

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Are you interested in becoming a vendor? Head over to this page to submit your information.

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Join Us!