The US FreedomWalk Festival® is a weekend, non-competitive, social walking challenge bringing participants of all ages and abilities together for fun, fitness, and international friendship. There are three themes to the annual event:
Fitness through walking. Learning about US history and freedoms
Making friends from all over the world
Truly a Volksmarch to remember! The event is co-hosted by:
AVA
America's Walking Club,
IML Walking Association,
WalkArlington,
BikeArlington
Arlington County, Virginia USA
Our Twenty Second Celebration of the US FreedomWalk Festival will take place over the weekend of 20-22 October 2023. The US FreedomWalk Festival® is a weekend long, non-competitive, social walking challenge bringing participants of all ages and abilities together for fun, fitness, and international friendship. We have a new start location: Crystal City, Arlington County, Virginia. Hilton Garden Inn Reagan National Airport, 2020 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202
Crystal City is a fascinating community of Arlington County, Virginia's southeast corner that gives it a more traditional, urban feel with restaurants, retail shops, high-rise apartment buildings and commercial offices and upscale hotels. Located right on the Potomac River five minutes from the center of Washington DC, the greater Crystal City area, which includes Pentagon City and Potomac Yard - Arlington, has emerged as Virginia’s largest walkable downtown. Each day features a different walk available only on that day. Choose between the 5 km (+/-) or 10 Km (+/-) route. The 5 Km route winds through the "Crystal City neighborhood" with visits to the U.S. Airforce Memorial and The Pentagon before returning to the Finish. The 10 Km route winds through the "Crystal City neighborhood" with visits to the U.S. Airforce Memorial, The Pentagon, Columbia Island Marina along the Pentagon Lagoon Basin & George Washington Parkway before returning to the Finish. Of the Special
For our Saturday Walk, there are lots of choices along the trail for food and water. (On Sunday, there are no food/drink choices until late in the routes.) Choose between the 11km (+/-) or 21 Km (+/-) route. The 11 Km route features gorgeous views from both the Virginia and District sides of the Potomac River. The route winds through the "Crystal City neighborhood" crossing the 14th Street Bridge entering Washington, DC walking along the DC side of the Potomac River, Tidal Basin and crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge entering back to Arlington passing Arlington National Cemetery, The Pentagon, Pentagon City to the Finish. The 21 Km route features gorgeous views from both the Virginia and District sides of the Potomac River. The route winds through the "Crystal City neighborhood" crossing the 14th Street Bridge entering Washington, DC walking along the DC side of the Potomac River, covering the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol building, crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge entering back to Arlington strolling along the other Arlington neighborhoods to the finish. For our Sunday Walk, Choose between the 11km (+/-) or 21 Km (+/-) route. The 11 Km route begins by winding through the "Crystal City neighborhood" onto other beautiful Arlington neighborhoods alone to the Four Mile Run Trail circling back to the Mount Vernon Trail to the finish. The 21 Km route by winding through the "Crystal City neighborhood" onto other beautiful Arlington neighborhoods to enter the City of Alexandria to the eclectic neighborhood of Delray with several eating stops, Making your way to Old Town Alexandria rich colonial history. Back along the Mt Vernon Trail to the finish. All trails are primarily on sidewalks with occasional natural surfaces. Some may be difficult for strollers and wheelchairs due to local differences in accessibility. Alternate routes are available on some trails. Trails are mostly flat, occasional exception (Rate 1 to 2+ on a 5 scale).
Today's routes may qualify for other Current (and Expired) Special Programs, check with the Finish Table to be sure you receive all the stamps earned on your route today. We will stamp any AVA Special Program book for which the walker feels the event qualifies The US FreedomWalk Festival is a member of two walking organizations: the American Volkssport Association and the International Marching League. The American Volkssport Association (AVA) is the American affiliate of the International Volkssport Federation (IVV). Member clubs of the AVA and IVV put on non-competitive athletic events, mostly walking, but also bike, swim and cross-country skiing events. The walking events are commonly referred to as volksmarches. All events are open to the public, and, as stated, non-competitive. Awards (certificates, hatpins, metals and patches) are given out upon completion of set numbers of events and/or distances. The International Marching League. Walking Association (IML). IML events are multiple days, usually two days, but sometimes three or four, and to earn the IML award, at least 20 km must be walked each of the primary walking days. The IML normally sanctions only one walk per country, although they will make an exception for events that are significant distances apart. The two largest walking events in the world, Nijmegen in the Netherlands and Higashi-Matsuyama in Japan, are IML sanctioned events. The event was created in 2000 to welcome walkers from all over the world to the nation's capital city in friendship. This walking event is hosted by the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States; Arlington County, Virginia; the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC; the Embassies; and AVA Club 901. The walk is a three-day civil and military, noncompetitive walk for everyone. It promotes friendship and education about the United States and other countries. This is not a charity walk. Start at your leisure each day during the start period and walk at your own pace. Everyone must register at the start location. With so much to see, start early. This is a family event for all ages. You choose your desired course based on your abilities and personal desires. The walk is for your health. Register at USFreedomWalk.org
