Damascus is a small town in Washington County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Damascus had a population of 788. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area (commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region). The town suffered flooding and devastation as a result of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Festivals
Damascus is the home of the annual Trail Days festival and is known as Trail Town USA due to the convergence of five scenic trails in the town, including the Appalachian Trail, U.S. Bicycle Route 76, The Iron Mountain Trail, Virginia Creeper Trail and the MABDR motorcycle trail. Damascus also is on the route of the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail and the Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail. The Trail Days festival is held around the middle of May each year and draws in excess of 20,000 tourists, making it the largest single gathering of Appalachian Trail Hikers anywhere. During the festival's Hikers Parade on May 18, 2013, up to 60 people were injured when a car hit a crowd of people. Some victims were transported to area hospitals by ambulance or helicopters with some critically injured.
thumb|left|250px|An Appalachian Trail Day in May
Demographics
As of the census
History
On January 27, 2025, Vice President JD Vance and Governor Glenn Youngkin visited Damascus to meet with survivors of Hurricane Helene and review the recovery progress.