RuralFest 2026 was a week-long celebration of rural culture, education, and community held from March 23-27. The festival featured two premier annual events, the Rural Education Summit and the Rural Film Festival, alongside a diverse lineup of interactive experiences. From Appalachian “Porch Pickin’” and local culinary tastings to webinars for teachers and youth storytelling, RuralFest offered a vibrant space to connect with the heart of rural life and explore its future. Below is the schedule of events from each day. Monday, March 23 🎶 Porch Pickin’ with Appalachian Caucus12:00-1:00 PM, Solitude House, Virginia Tech 🌐 Front Porch Conversation: Who Teaches Rural Social Studies? Research Webinar with Amy Allen, David Hicks, and Tom Williams from the School of Education.1:00 PM, onlineRegister here for “Front Porch Conversation: Who Teaches Rural Social Studies?” Tuesday, March 24 🤖 AI Symposium – Part 29:00 AM-Noon, Abingdon, Virginia 🌍 From the Middle of Somewhere: Rural Youth Stories of What Comes NextAn interactive story-sharing event where participants explore the lived experiences of rural and small-town youth navigating pathways to postsecondary education, training, and work. Facilitated by doctoral candidate Annie Shaba. 3:00-4:00 PM, Torgersen 3310, Virginia TechRegister here to attend “From the Middle of Somewhere: Rural Youth Stories of What Comes Next.” 📚 Who’s Hollerin’ Lecture: Appalachia & the American Revolution with Dr. Dan Thorp4:00-5:00 PM, Goodall Room in Newman Library or ZoomRegister here to attend “Who’s Hollerin’ Lecture: Appalachia & the American Revolution with Dr. Dan Thorp,” via Zoom. 🎬 Film Screening: Multiple ChoiceTuesday, March 24, Blacksburg High School will host a district-wide screening of the documentary Multiple Choice. This film explores a powerful shift in education: moving away from a “college-only” mandate toward an “opportunity-for-all” reality.6:00-8:15 PM, Blacksburg High School6:00 PM, Arrival & Welcome Remarks6:15-6:45 PM, Open House & Program Tours6:45-8:15 PM, Community Panel & Multiple Choice Screening Wednesday, March 25 🏫 Rural Education SummitAll day, the Inn at Virginia TechRegistration full! 🎥 Rural Film Festival7:00-9:00 PM, Lyric Theatre in BlacksburgFree admission! Thursday, March 26 🏔 Appalachian Caucus Meeting12:00-1:00 PM, Solitude House, Virginia Tech 🌍 The Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies: Working at the intersection of gender and educationA panel discussion with CRE’s Deirdre Hand, CRMDS’s Brett Shadle, and Elimisha Kakuma student, Awel Paruar. 1:30-2:30 PM, ZoomFind more information about the CRMDS discussion here.Link to register for the online panel “The Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies: Working at the intersection of gender and education.” 🍲 A Taste of Appalachia Dinner at Maroon Door6:00 PM, Maroon Door, BlacksburgSold out! Friday, March 27 🤝 Primeros Pasos Career FairGalax high school students will visit their Virginia Tech mentors on campus for their annual career fair.10:00 AM-1:00 PMRead more about Primeros Pasos here. 📖 20th Anniversary of the department’s Undergraduate English Excellence ConferenceKeynote presentation, “Leveraging Your Undergraduate Research Experience,” by CRE scholars, Dr. Clint Whitten and doctoral candidate Josh Thompson.12:00-1:00 PM, Shanks Hall 🍎 Rural Teacher Happy Hour at Feather and Bone ProvisionsJoin us for a special thank you and celebration social for our local rural educators! Light appetizers provided by the Center for Rural Education at Virginia Tech.4:00-6:00 PM, Feather and Bones Provisions, BlacksburgAll are welcome to attend this celebration of current and future educators! RuralFest 2026 Schedule Flyer Individual Event Flyers Rural SS Webinar FlyerShaping Skills & Opportunities with AI & Work Based Learning Save the DateFrom the middle of somewhereWho’s Hollerin’ – ThorpRural Education Summit2026 Rural Film FestivalPanel Discussion FlyerTeacher happy hour
