Can I go to trail days as a non-thru hiker?

Can I (25 f) go to Appalachian Trail days if I'm not a current/past thru-hiker? Is that frowned upon or will I still be welcomed? I really want to attempt a thru hike next year (can't afford it or take six months off from work right now otherwise I would have done it this season.) But for this year I really want to backpack a couple days and end up at trail days for the weekend to experience some of the trail culture, talk to some thru hikers and get a real taste for it. Do people do that? Will I be an outcast? Can I camp in tent city or would that be taking a spot away from someone who is actually thru hiking? Will the trail leading to Damascus be super duper packed on the way there leading up to the weekend (shelter space?) I really want to meet and hangout with people but I'm worried I'll feel like an outcast just doing a weekend trip..