Springtime in Appalachia means one thing: it’s ramp season. These wild, pungent onions—beloved and notorious for their strong flavor—are popping up across the mountains, and with them come the annual festivals that honor the tradition, flavor, and folklore of this Appalachian delicacy.
Whether you’re a lifelong ramp eater or curious to try your first bite, the last weekend in April offers three standout events in the region that promise music, crafts, mountain culture, and of course, ramps cooked every which way.
67th Annual Polk County Ramp Tramp Festival – Reliance, Tennessee
Dates: April 25–26, 2025
Location: Camp McCroy 4-H Camp, Reliance, TN
The Polk County Ramp Tramp Festival, now in its 67th year, is a deep-rooted community tradition that draws families and friends from across the region. The festivities begin Friday evening with a Bluegrass and Beans meal, where folks gather around bowls of beans, slices of cornbread, and a healthy helping of ramps while enjoying live bluegrass music.
Saturday kicks off with a hike through the woods to harvest fresh ramps—a tradition that gave the event its “Tramp” name. Afterward, visitors can enjoy the outdoor crafts festival featuring local artisans, and the highly anticipated traditional ramp meal, served up hot with potatoes, eggs, and bacon.
Ballplay-Tellico Ruritan Club Ramp Festival – Tellico Plains, Tennessee
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Tellico Plains Community Center
Down in Tellico Plains, the Ballplay-Tellico Ruritan Club hosts its own annual Ramp Festival—a day filled with community pride, mountain music, and heaping plates of food. This family-friendly event features live entertainment, local crafts, and vendors, with all proceeds going toward community projects.
The ramp meal is the heart of the day, where you’ll find ramps paired with staples like potatoes, cornbread, and fatback—served with stories, laughter, and the occasional warning: don’t eat them before a first date.
Elkins Ramps & Rails Festival – Elkins, West Virginia
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Train Departure Times: 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
Train Type: Diesel
Duration: 1 Hour
Tickets: $29 (Ages 4+), Free for ages 3 and under (ticket required)
If you want ramps with a side of scenic rail travel, head north to West Virginia for the Elkins Ramps & Rails Festival. This one-of-a-kind experience combines the Appalachian love of ramps with a heritage train ride through the mountains.
Held at the Elkins Depot, the festival features vendors, live entertainment, and plenty of ramp-inspired foods available for purchase (lunch is not included with your train ticket). It’s a great way to soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of spring in the mountains.
A Note on Ramps
For the uninitiated, ramps are wild leeks with a garlicky-onion flavor that grow in the rich forest soil of the Appalachian Mountains. Traditionally foraged and cooked with simple ingredients like eggs and potatoes, they’ve also found their way into everything from pesto to pickles. But be warned: their flavor lingers long after the meal is over.
Whether you’re looking to tramp through the woods, hop on a scenic train, or just enjoy a plate of Appalachian soul food, these festivals are a springtime celebration of heritage, hard work, and homegrown flavor. Bring your appetite—and maybe a breath mint.
-Tim Carmichael
Echoes of Appalachia 
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