Join Us on Our Next Walk on January 17th, 2026, at the First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield!
- WHEN: Saturday, January 17th, 2026
- WHERE TO MEET: Meet in the parking lot by the Spotsylvania County Museum, 6159 Plank Road (Rt. 3), Fredericksburg, VA 22407. The museum is open but there are no public restrooms. https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/2868/Museum
- TIME: Meet at 9:00 a.m.; begin walking at 9:15.
- DISTANCE: Approximately 4K (2.5 miles). The trails are mostly dirt and gravel so sturdy hiking boots and trekking poles are advised. There is some elevation on a gradual rise.
- FEE: This walk is FREE (donations to cover expenses are welcome). However, those seeking AVA credit ($4.00) can register using the Online Start Box on ava.org or at the start point.
- ABOUT THE FIRST DAY AT CHANCELLORSVILLE BATTLEFIELD: During the Civil War, fighting at Chancellorsville started in the morning of May 1, 1863, along the Orange Turnpike (Rt. 3) and Orange Plank Road. It was a major Civil War battle that lasted for several days, and the area where we are walking is considered “The First Day at Chancellorsville”. This property is owned by the American Battlefield Trust and is a 215-acre site that features a lovely trail with many interpretive panels and markers. We will walk by a picturesque, rustic old barn and stop to pay our respects at the McGee-Timberlake Family Cemetery.
- IF INTERESTED: Afterwards, join us for lunch at Basilico NY Deli, 7013 Harrison Road Crossing, Spotsylvania, VA 22407. https://basilicodeli.com/
- NOTE: Walk will be cancelled in the event of rain/snow. Please check back here or on the FWC Facebook page for updates.
From Our First Day of 2026 Walk in Downtown Fredericksburg, VA
The FWC started the year off right with a delightful 5K walk in historic downtown Fredericksburg, VA. Just over 30 walkers braved the cold, blustery wind to walk together and admire the interesting things you don’t usually see when you’re driving! We met some new people and made some new friends – and are looking forward to getting to know them better in 2026!
From Our Saturday, December 20th, 2025, Annual Holiday Night Walk in Downtown Fredericksburg, VA
Our club celebrated the beautiful holiday decorations and lights with a Traditional Walk in downtown Fredericksburg, VA, on Saturday, December 20th. We are so grateful for the wonderful support from the owner and staff at Anita’s Cafe, where our Start and Finish Point was. They always us make us feel so welcome! The weather cooperated and walkers enjoyed delicious cookies at the checkpoint by Hurkamp Park. It was also great to visit with walkers from other clubs, and we met some new friends as well!
From Our Saturday, October 25th, 2025, AVA Special Programs “Palooza” Traditional Walk in Fredericksburg, VA
The weather was perfect for FWC’s one-day Traditional Walk on October 25th, 2025, in downtown Fredericksburg, VA, called the “Palooza”. We gave it that title because walkers had the opportunity to walk through historic Fredericksburg past eight AVA Special Program sites (including Step to the Beat, Walking with America’s Veterans, Washington-Rochambeau Trail, Grain Elevators, Walking with the Wild Things, Town Hall/City Hall, and Rails to Trails). It was also a day for Trick or Treating downtown and we saw so many fun costumes and people having fun! Many thanks to the wonderful staff at Anita’s Cafe for letting us set up our start/finish table there.
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!
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. Click here for more info and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130079. Walk Thursday – Sunday only, April 4th – October 25th, 2026. Opens at 8:00 a.m. Closes at 8:00 p.m. (or dusk).
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=130081. Walk starts at the Spotsylvania County Museum, 6159 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Bridge to History. Temporarily closed due to construction. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130524. Start Box at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Historic Fredericksburg. Temporarily closed: Will open January 12, 2026. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130069. Start Box at the Fredericksburg 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. Start Box at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Ashland, VA – Center of the Universe. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127304. Start Box at the Ashland 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 District Streetscapes. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127306. Start Box at the Culpeper Visitor Center, 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 – King George, VA – Dahlgren Rails to Trails Walk. 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 and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=131639.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – King George County, VA – Caledon State Park. 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 and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=131640.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Spotsylvania County, VA – Ni River Trail. 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 and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=129538.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Stafford County, VA – Curtis Memorial Park. 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 and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130068.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Warrenton, VA – Brick Sidewalks. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127308. Warrenton 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 