Us Freedomwalk Festival

The Twenty First US FreedomWalk Festival will take place over the weekend of October 14-16 October 2022.

The event is co-hosted by American Volkssports Association, IML Walking Association, Arlington County, Virginia, BikeArlington & WalkArlington.

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.

Friday

Opening Ceremony 4 pm

Event Day only Registration 10:00 am till 3:00 pm

5 +/- & 10 +/- Start between 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm

Finish by 6:00 pm

​BIKE: IVV credit only $3.00. Hours: 12 noon - 4:00 pm

Saturday

12 +/- km start 8:00 am - 12:00 noon

21 +/- km start 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Finish by 5:00 pm

Bike: IVV credit only $3.00. Hours: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Social: Ballroom. Hours: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

International Dinner 6:30 pm - pre-registration is highly encouraged.

Sunday

21 +/- km start 8:00 am -10:00 am

12 +/- km start 8:00 am -12 noon

Finish by 4:00 pm

Bike: IVV credit only $3.00. Hours: 8:00 am- 2:00 pm

Awards Ceremony 3:00 pm

Trails

Each day features a different walk available only on that day.

For our Friday's Welcome Walk, the focus is on Arlington. Choose between the 7 km (+/-) or 11 Km (+/-) route.
The 7 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 11 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.

AVA Special Programs - Welcome Walk

Airports – Celebrating American Flight
Border Crossings (since Virginia does not own any part of the Potomac River, when you cross the bridge onto Columbia Island, you are technically entering Washington, DC)
Rockin’ Around the Clock
Walking with America’s Veterans (WWAV)
Walking the United States A-Z – Arlington
Walking the United States – Virginia, District of Columbia

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 12km (+/-) or 21 Km(+/-)route.

The 12 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.

AVA Special Programs:
Airports – Celebrating American Flight
Border Crossings
Carousels Across America (on Mall opposite Arts and Industries Building) (21K only)
Mayflower - 400th Anniversary Walk – Smithsonian Native American Museum
Rocking Around the Clock (21K only)
Walking with America’s Veterans (WWAV)
Walking the United States A-Z – Arlington, Washington
Walking the United States – Virginia, District of Columbia

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.

AVA Special Programs:
Airports – Celebrating American Flight
Little Free Libraries (LFL)
Mayflower – Potomac St., Powhatan St. (21K)
Rocking Around the Clock
Walking with America’s Veterans (WWAV)
Walking the United States A-Z – Arlington, Alexandria
Walking the United States – Virginia
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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).
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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
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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.