Cookouts and music await Appalachian Trail travelers as they pass through Franklin in March and April as the A.T. Celebration begins in earnest.
The events are provided and organized independently by local businesses, clubs and conservation agencies, but the celebration itself is put together annually by the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council (FATCC) and runs each year from March 20 to April 22. According to Cory McCall, owner of Outdoor 76 and chair of the FATCC, the council was built in 2010 per stipulations set by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to have a council to provide guidance to hikers passing through the town. Franklin was designated the first Appalachian Trail Community in 2010.
The celebration started as more of a weekend event but was later extended to a full month to allow more chances for events considering the likelihood of rain cancellations in March and April, and to “incorporate more time to hopefully allow more folks to be able to experience what Franklin has to offer … and to show hospitality to them as they come into our town,” McCall said.
This year, shuttles to and from the trail into town will be free of charge thanks to sponsorships from local businesses. Hikers will also see discounts at select businesses. Macon County Transit Director Darlene Asher said 2025 saw 726 hikers transported to and from the trail, while 2026 saw 125 hikers in the first three weeks of hiker season. McCall estimates a couple thousand hikers come through each year in total, but through-hikers mostly come through in the spring due to the need to reach Mount Katahdin in Maine before it closes in October. He said more than 1,500 hikers came through Franklin in 2025.
Franklin First Baptist Church offers a free hiker breakfast each morning through April 4. Macon County Public Library will host the Walking with Spring Series, a collection of outdoor-related events including hikes, walks, crafts and talks with authors and hikers.
Tim Lindler of the Nantahala Hiking Club said club members will deliver snacks for hikers for Easter on the Trail on April 4.
For Outdoor 76’s annual trivia night on April 10, while the store usually draws from trail trivia for its questions, this year it will be shaking things up by adding national parks trivia to the mix for some variety.
A new addition this year is the FATCC’s cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers at the gazebo square downtown each Friday from 12 to 2 p.m. through April 17. The first event on March 20 drew approximately 10 hikers at the beginning of the cookout.
A hiker by the trail name of Listener was at the cookout and shared his appreciation for Franklin as one of the best towns for through-hikers.
“Being able to have a town roll out as much as this one does … the things towns are able to provide are unsurpassed,” he said. “Some people might not say ‘thank you,’ I would like to say thank you for them.”
“Life’s too precious to waste one moment,” he continued.
McCall said, “One of the things that I think that there’s always a disconnect or a misunderstanding about these folks that come through – it takes a considerable amount of money to be able to hike the trail. So these folks are here, they’re spending money in our community, which are those tax dollars that are going back into our community.”
He said each year Outdoor 76 gives hikers a survey when they come in. “I think we’re always surprised – and we shouldn’t be – to know how educated these folks are. I would say 60%-plus of them have a bachelor’s degree, 5-10% of have a doctorate. Lots of individuals that are hiking the trail … make a very good living. And this is an outlet for them to be able to just step away from society and stress and be able to rejuvenate themselves.”
“So as these people come into the community, it’s important for us to embrace them and just welcome them,” McCall said.
A.T. Celebration
March 28: 12th annual Hiker Chow Down hosted by Nantahala Hiking Club at Lazy Hiker from 12-2 p.m.
April 3: 32nd anniversary weekend at Three Eagles Outfitters, 3-5 p.m.
April 10: Trails & Ales Trivia Night, Outdoor 76, 6-9 p.m.
April 11: Hiker event at Currahee Brewing, 5-8 p.m.
April 12: Trail pop-up cookout at Deep Gap, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
April 18: Outdoor Music Jam at Lazy Hiker, 5-11 p.m.