Join Us on Thursday, January 1st for Our First Day of 2026 Walk in Downtown Fredericksburg, VA!
- WHEN: Thursday, January 1st, 2026
- START POINT & REGISTRATION: Meet in front of the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, 601 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
- DISTANCE: 5K (3 miles)
- TIME: Register between 9:00 a.m. and 9:20. Begin walking promptly at 9:30.
- FEES: This walk is part of our new Historic Fredericksburg Year-Round-Walk (YRE), sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association (AVA). Those walking for AVA credit will pay $4.00 (Stamp for your books will be available.) All others are FREE. (We would appreciate donations!)
- DETAILS: Start the New Year off right with a lovely 5K walk in historic downtown Fredericksburg. We will be on sidewalks – good walking shoes are recommended. This will be a great time to take a last look at the holiday decorations. Bring a friend, and remember – your fur children are also welcome! This is also great time to renew your membership for 2026!
From Our Saturday, September 20th, 2025, Walk on the Dahlgren Railraod Heritage Trail in King George, VA
Our club had a great walk on the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail in King George, VA, on Saturday, September 20th, 2025. The shady trail is well-kept and mostly level, with zero hills. Most of us walked 5K, but several folks walked further and did 9-10K. Afterwards, we had a delicious lunch at Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzaria in King George. A good time!
From Our Saturday, July 12th, 2025, Walk at Curtis Memorial Park in Stafford County, VA
The FWC enjoyed a 5K trail hike at Curtis Memorial Park in Stafford County, VA, on Saturday, July 12th, 2025. Over 20 people participated in the event. The trail mostly weaved through the woods with a couple of opportunities to get up close to Lake Curtis. After the walk several of us went the Paradise Diner for good food, conversation, and air conditioning.
From Our Sunday, June 29th, 2025, “Otter Walk” in Fredericksburg, VA
About 15 people braved the heat on Sunday, June 29th, 2025, and participated in FWC’s “Otter Walk” – one of the club’s Year-Round-Events. We walked on the sidewalks of downtown Fredericksburg past bronze otter statues, placed there to commemorate the return of otters to the Rappahannock River. Afterwards, we had a great lunch at Anita’s Cafe & Dessert Bar.
From Our Saturday, June 21st, 2025, Midlothian Mines Park Walk
On Saturday, June 21st, 2025, about 20 walkers participated in a 5K at the Midlothian Mines Park, in Chesterfield County, VA, hosted by the Central Virgina Walking Club. The 44-acre preserve has ruins of coal mines of one of the first major industrial sites in the U.S. and pays tribute to those who innovated and sacrificed in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. We walked along lovely, wooded trails, past a lake and mining ruins, and through a beautiful subdivision. Afterwards we had a delicious lunch at The Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe.
From Our Saturday, May 24th, 2025, Walk in Historic Warrenton, VA
The FWC enjoyed a wonderful walk in historic downtown Warrenton, VA, on Saturday, May 24th, 2025, with about 20 enthusiastic walkers. Our President, Don, who is also an interpreter with the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, led the walk and filled us in on some of the town’s history and buildings we were seeing. We stopped in the cemetery where the grave of Colonel John Singleton Mosby is. He was a Confederate Cavalry Commander during the Civil War – also known as the “Gray Ghost.” We also stopped in front of his house, currently known as the Brentmoor-Spillman House. The house was completed in 1861 for Fauquier County Judge Edward M. Spillman. We also learned about Govenor William “Extra Billy” Smith from Fauquier County, governor of VA from 1846-1949, and 1864-1865. Afterwards we had a delicious meal at the Cast Iron Craft House. Fun for all!
From Our Saturday, May 17th, 2025, Walk in Burke, VA
Ten hardy walkers braved the heat and hills on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, in Burke, VA. This beautiful, mostly shady walk was sponsored by the Northern Virgina Volksmarchers, celebrating their anniversary with a one-day Traditional Walk. We walked through multiple parks, past a farmer’s market, and around a lake in Burke Centre. Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch and conversation at the Villa Bella Italian Restaurant.
From Our Saturday, May 10th, 2025, Walk in the Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve in Stafford County
The FWC enjoyed perfect weather as over a dozen walkers hiked our club’s Seasonal 10K-Walk in Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve in Stafford County. Crow’s Nest is a large wilderness area located between Potomac Creek and Accokeek Creek. The preserve is named after a black sailing ship called The Crow that once docked in the Potomac Creek during the 1800’s. Crow’s Nest was also occupied by Union troops during the Civil War. It is home to nesting bald eagles and was a temporary home to Pocahontas. Everyone took lots of photos on or wonderful nature trek. Afterwards, we had great food and conversation at El Viejon Mexican Grill & Bar on Richmond Highway in Fredericksburg. It was a good time!
If you’d like to be on our mailing list or have questions about FWC membership, contact our Membership Coordinator, Kay Shoemaker at: fredericksburgwalkingclub@gmail.com.
The Fredericksburg Walking Club (FWC) is part of the Virginia Volkssport Association (VVA). Learn more about other Virginia walking events and clubs at: https://www.walkvirginia.org
*The FWC and the VVA are members of the American Volkssport Association (AVA). Volksmarching is a form of non-competitive fitness walking that developed in Europe. Participants typically walk 5k (3.1 miles) or 10k (6.2 miles) on an outdoor trail. Volksmarch clubs offer incentives for AVA members for their AVA sanctioned walks. Volkssport participants enjoy recording distances and events in international record books. Incentive awards, like pins and patches, are given for collecting a certain number of events. If you would like to become an FWC or AVA member, contact us by the email, or come to one of our walks and ask us about it. You do not have to be an AVA member to walk with us, although we encourage it. The FWC schedules non-AVA walks along with AVA walks. For more information about the AVA: https://ava.org
To see more FWC walks from 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022, click the buttons below:
WALK ANYTIME!
We sponsor the following Seasonal and Year-Round Events (YREs) below that can be done any time the Start Point is open OR by registering via the Online Start Box (OSB). For those walkers not familiar with the OSB, here’s a link to walk you through the steps:
SEASONAL WALK! Stafford, VA – Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve – AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Walk Thursday – Sunday only, March 15th – October 31st. Opens at 8:00 a.m. Closes at 8:00 p.m. (or dusk). Raven Road Access: 81 Raven Rd., Stafford, VA 22554. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127303.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield – AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127305. Walk starts at the Spotsylvania County Museum, 6159 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Ashland, VA – Center of the Universe. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127304. Visitor Center open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Culpeper, VA – Historic Streetscapes. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127306. Visitor Center is open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except on major holidays and for short lunch breaks. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Walking the Civil Rights Trail. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127658. Visitor Center open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Otters of Fredericksburg Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127657 . Visitor Center open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Rappahannock Rambles. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127307. Visitor Center open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Warrenton, VA – Brick Sidewalks. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127308. Visitor Center open Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Sundays. Online Start Box available and should be used on weekends.
Fredericksburg Walking Club 