FreedomWalk Festival®
Oct 16-18, 2026 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 rem
ember! The event is co-hosted by:
AVA America's Walking Club,
IML Walking Association,
WalkArlington,
BikeArlington
AllArlINgton
Arlington County, Virginia USA
Our Twenty Fifth Celebration of the US FreedomWalk Festival will take place over the weekend of 16-18 October 2025. 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: Virginia Square, Arlington County, Virginia. American Legion post 139, 3445 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 222021
Ballston/Virginia Square is a fascinating community of Arlington County, Ballston/Virginia Square is a thriving neighborhood with all of the hustle and bustle of a busy downtown. Located at the western end of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, Ballston is a major transportation hub and offers many amenities including office and residential buildings, hotels, shops, restaurants, and attractive open spaces. Each day features a different walk available only on that day. Choose between the 5 km (+/-) or 10 Km (+/-) route. . 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 Walking Club 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 Arlington County, Virginiaand 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
