I was cutting a big sheet of brownies on Friday night when someone said the word “brownies” a little too loudly. I looked up and saw a horde of glowing children charging at me across the field.
That’s The Great Stokesville Campout in one moment: a little chaos, a lot of joy, and a community that shows up for each other.
If you’re new here: the Great Stokesville Campout started in 1999 as the Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival. Every October it fills Stokesville Campground, on the edge of the George Washington National Forest, with a weekend of riding, camping, food, and bonfires. It has always been volunteer-powered, and it raises money for the Coalition’s work to care for and grow the trails we all love.
View the Photos
Friday: Pasta, bonfires, and a glowstick army
Friday night at the Great Stokesville Campout, we went through 85 pounds of pasta and 600+ slices of Texas toast. We got the bonfire going early, and before long the kids were covered in glowsticks: bracelets, necklaces, crowns, and some creations I can’t really name. The night ride lit up the woods, and the fire stayed busy late into the night.
Saturday: Trails, bubbles, and the bounce house
The Great Stokesville Campout’s annual Lookout Mountain trail ride drew record numbers this year. Riders of every level headed out together and rolled back into camp with plenty of stories. Back at camp, the family ride took over the field: striders, trailers, and kids on mountain bikes rolling through giant bubbles. The bounce house ran nonstop, and Saturday night’s burrito dinner brought everyone back under the pavilion.
Ben Mahaffey from Massanutten’s bike shop brought four bikes he custom-painted for our Bikes for Neighbors program. He showed them off all weekend and got a lot of people talking about how a bike can change someone’s daily life.
Sunday: A proper Stokesville send-off
Sunday brought more than an inch of rain. Call it a proper Stokesville send-off. We packed up wet, happy, and already talking about next year’s Great Stokesville Campout.
The Great Stokesville Campout by the numbers
- 450+ people registered
- A record turnout for the Lookout Mountain trail ride
- 85 lbs of pasta on Friday night
- 600+ slices of Texas toast
- 118+ volunteer slots filled
- 1+ inch of rain on Sunday
Thank you
None of it happens without the volunteers who cooked, washed dishes, led rides, hauled trailers, and set up music. Thank you to our food partners: Hank’s Grille and Catering, Brothers Craft Brewing, Cuban Burger, Friendly City Food Co-op, Local Chop & Grille House, and Radical Roots Farm. And thank you to everyone who came and brought your friends, your kids, and your good energy.
What campers are saying
The trails are why the Great Stokesville Campout exists, and they’re why the Coalition works all year to care for them. If this weekend meant something to you, become a TrailKeeper and help keep those trails open for the next 450 campers.
The full photo gallery is here!
Brooke Imber, a Harrisonburg photographer, captured the whole weekend — nearly 350 photos, from Friday night’s bonfire to Saturday’s rides. Here are a few favorites. Browse all three parts with the buttons below.
A few favorites. Tap any photo to open its gallery.
A note from Brooke about the photos:
Thank you for spending the weekend with us, and please don’t be a stranger!
Kyle Lawrence
[email protected]
(571) 277-8121
