Walking Festivals

Looking for a great walking vacation or a weekend getaway?  Want to go to the biggest and best events the clubs of the American Volkssport Association can produce?  The events listed are traditionally annual ones with multiple events, and most of the time, opportunities for socializing with fellow walkers. Explore the possibilities below and catch the Spirit of Walking.  

In using this Directory recognize that event information sometimes changes. We therefore suggest a call to the event contact or Regional Director before firming up your schedule.

January

Event Name: SAVANNAH
When: January 17-21 (Held every other year in even years.)
Where: Savannah, Georgia
Event Website: http://www.happywanderersfl.org
Articles and Local Information: Savannah Visitors Bureau
Southeast for Visitors
Contact Persons: Marvin Stokes 386-788-4026 marvst717@cfl.rr.com
or Ken Hogwood 386-761-3466 kbh6452@aol.com
Hints: 13 events with 11 running continuously over the weekend and 1 event Saturday only and 1 event Monday only (9 walks, 1 bike, 3 swims) wonderful social and wonderful people.

February

Event Name: Floribama or Florabama
When: President's Day Weekend every other year (odd years when Savannah event is not held)
Where: Perdido Key, FL and Gulf Shores, AL
Event Website: Pensacola Club Georgia and Alabama Clubs
Past Event Website:
Articles and Local Information:
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Perdido Key State Park, Florida
Contact Person:
Hints: These events are very close to each other. Most enjoy doing the Florida AND the Alabama events, socializing and having a fantastic long weekend.

Event Name: Bald Eagle Festival
When: February Annually
Where: Concrete, WA
Event Website: NW Tulip Trekkers
Past Event Website:
Articles and Local Information: Bald Eagle Festival
Contact Person: John or Gail Bogs
Hints: Bald Eagle Festival Weekend. Come for a weekend of Fun, Fitness, Friendship & Food

March

Event Name: Daffodil Festival
When: Annually, a weekend in March during the Amity, OR Daffodil Festival
Where: Amity, OR
Event Website: http://www.mactrackers.org
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information:
Festival Website and VolksWalk Info
Contact Persons: Janet Chow walking@mactrackers.org
Hints: Stay afterward and enjoy the marvelous hot lunch served in the school cafeteria by local townspeople.

Event Name: Du Pont Washington Walk and Bike Extravaganza
When: Annually in March
Where: Du Pont, Washington
Event Website: http://www.theoverthehillgang.net/
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information:
City of DuPont
Contact Persons: Diane Wagner, dianeswagner@comcast.net
Hints: Bring your bike too! This event has walk and bike events. It is very well attended.

April

Event Name:  Tri-State
When: Annually, first weekend of April
Where: Laughlin, NV - Walks in AZ, NV and CA
Event Website: Las Vegas High Rollers and Strollers Website
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information:
Chamber of Commerce
Walking in Las Vegas
Contact Person: John Oszajca -  lvhrs1985@yahoo.com
(702)-292-3407
Hints: If you enjoy views of the Colorado River, gambling and inexpensive hotels and restaurants, consider attending the Tri-State events.

Event Name: Vancouver Discovery Walk Festival
When: Annually in April
Where: Vancouver, WA
Event Website: http://discoverywalk.org/
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information:
Discovery Walk Review and Photos
Contact Persons: mailto:info@discoverywalk.org
Hints: This is a major event. It is sanctioned by both the IVV and IML Walking Association. Consider attending all the festivities. Enjoy this city right across the Columbia River from Portland, OR.

May

Event Name: Memorial Day 5 Event Weekend
When: Friday, May 28 - Monday, May 31, 2010
Where: Caldwell, Southeast Ohio
Event Website: Find Walking Events for Ohio May 28 - 31, 2010
Past Event Website:
Articles and Local Information: Ohio Volkssport Journal and On-Line Flyer
Contact Persons: Contact Faith Gauger at faith@toast.net or Craig Gauger at gcgauger@hotmail.com
Hints: There will be a pay on your own group dinner on Saturday, May 29. Please RSVP if you are interested. All children under 13 years will get a FREE award. This event is FREE and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to participate. Pets welcome on a leash, not in buildings. For IVV Credit Stamp in IVV Books credit fee is $3 per event. Pre-register by May 14 for all 5 events and pay only $13.00. 

Event Name: Canadian Convention
When: Annually, in May
Where: The Canadian Volkssport Federation event is in a different province each time.
Event Website:
Past Event Website: http://www.walks.ca/
Articles and Local Information: None
Contact Persons: http://www.walks.ca/CVFcontacts.html
Hints: The Canadian Convention travels from province to province. Attendees have a great time. Open to all.

Event Name: CVA State Meeting
When: Annually, usually the first weekend in May
Where: As announced. California
Event Website: http://www.walkcalif.info/
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information: None
Contact Persons:
Hints: Always a nice time with nice people. See California on foot!

June

Event Name: Crazy Horse
When: Traditionally, annually on the first weekend of June.
Where: In the Black Hills of South Dakota on US Highway 16/385 just 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore.
Event Website: http://www.crazyhorse.org/
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information: Same
Contact Persons: Black Hills Volkssport Association or John Moranti - e-mail of jmoranti@rap.midco.net  phone number 605-342-6188
Hints: Climb Crazy Horse Mountain and see progress on the sculpture of Chief Crazy Horse. This has become a "cult" event with thousands attending!

Event Name: AVA Convention
When: Annually in June every other year on odd years.
Where: Varies. 2011 location is Des Moines, IA.
Event Website: http://www.ava.org/clubs/ava2011convention/index.asp
or http://ava.org/
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information:
Contact Persons:  
Hints: Be sure and watch registration deadlines. You will save money! This is a fantastic walking convention with many events, motivational speakers, vendor and exhibit fair, great socials and a wonderful group of avid walkers having fun together for a week. Open to all.

Event Name: Columbia River Gorge Biennial Classic
When: Traditionally, every other year on even years on Father's Day weekend.
Where: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon (1 hour outside of Portland, Oregon)
Event Website: http://walkingforfun.org/columbiagorge.htm
Past Event Website: None
Club Website: http://walkingforfun.org
Articles and Local Information: Columbia River Gorge
Contact Persons: Club Officers
Hints: For an awesome four days of hikes, walks (and a bike or two), and the most spectacular scenery you could imagine... and.... fantastic socials, consider attending this event. Dry camping is available and the club usually blocks out rooms at a local Best Western.

July

Event Name: Northwest Regional Conference
When: Traditionally, every other year on even years. States of the region rotate the honor.
Where: Varies
Event Website: http://www.walkoregon.org
Contact Persons: OTSVA President Sam Korff
74890 Palm Creek Road
Clatskanie, OR 97016
503-728-0400
OTSVA6@clatskanie.com
Hints: Always a great time in the beautiful Northwest.

August

Event Name: Northwest Hiking Weekend
When: Traditionally, first weekend in August
Where: Washington State
Event Website: Four Plus Foolhardy Folks Special Event
Past Event Website:
Articles and Local Information: Mount Baker
Contact Persons: Jane Holmes
Hints: This year they have 4 trails in the Mt. Baker area. This weekend is the first in August and will always be in a different part of the Northwest.

Event Name: OhMichIana
When: Traditionally, every other year on Labor Day Weekend
Where: Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana
Event Website:
Past Event Website: http://www.cityofbryan.net/3dognight/OhMichIana/
Articles and Local Information:
Contact Persons:
Hints:

September

Event Name: Mackinaw Bridge Walk
When: Labor Day
Where: Start: Mackinac Bridge - North end, St. Ignace, Distance 10km
Event Website:
Past Event Website: http://ava.org/gen3/data/events_results.asp?StShortName=MI
Click on Labor Day Bridge Walk.
Articles and Local Information: http://www.mackinacbridge.org/
Contact Persons: Jim Muma, 618.234.8706 michiganjim@sbcglobal.net
Write for more information to: 1706 Pine, Belleville, IL 62226-4256
Hints: There are Year Round events in Mackinaw City, St. Ignace and Mackinaw Island (which has been on the top 10 YRE list for at least the past 3 years) which could make it a multi-event weekend.

October

Event Name: Nittany Nomads Foliage Festival
When: October 15, 16, 17 2010
Where: State College, Pennsylvania
Event Website:
Articles and Local Information: Nittany Nomads Brochure
Contact Persons: Fred and Pat Welch and Vicky Droll
Hints: 'Happy Valley' State College, PA. "One of five Amazing places to live the
rest of your life." BOTTOM LINE PERSONAL, Periodical, November 2009. 
Hotel rate special $49 per night where all the Walk Events and Socials Start. 

Event Name: US FreedomWalk Festival
When: Next-to-last weekend in October
Where: Washington, DC/Arlington, VA
Event Website: http://www.usfreedomwalk.org/
Articles and Local Information: Washington D.C. for Visitors
Contact Persons: Tim and Celia Miner
Hints: With the Reserve Officer's Association and the Office of the Surgeon General as sponsors and Washington DC as a backdrop to this walking festival, what a patriotic event! Walk, sightsee and socialize. A major international walking event! Sanctioned by the IVV and IML Walking Association.

Event Name: Texas Hiking Weekend
When: Traditionally on Columbus Day Weekend
Where: West Texas
Event Website: http://www.ava.org/clubs/wttw/
Past Event Website: http://www.ava.org/clubs/wttw/
Articles and Local Information:
Contact Persons: http://www.ava.org/clubs/wttw/Officers.html
Hints: Arrive early for the Friday event and prepare for a marvelous hiking weekend complete with Saturday social.

November

December

Event Name: Christmastime in Williamsburg
When: Annually in December
Where: Williamsburg, VA
Event Website: Peninsula Pathfinders
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information: Williamsburg Virginia
Contact Persons:
Hints: Williamsburg is magical at Christmas!

Event Name: New Year's In Seattle
When: December 31st and January 1st Annually
Where: Seattle, WA
Event Website: Emerald City Wanderers
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information: About Seattle and Tacoma
Contact Persons: David Madsen - dmadsen@seattleu.edu  206-789-1960)
Hints: A fun way to ring in the New Year! Enjoy the club's warm hospitality and the shimmer of the "Emerald City."

Event Name: Annual New Year's Eve Day and New Year's Day Walks
When: December 31st and January 1st Annually
Where: Columbia, Maryland
Event Website: Freestate Happy Wanderers AVA -190 http://www.ava.org/clubs/freestate
Past Event Website: None
Articles and Local Information:
Contact Persons: Linda Hassell
Hints: A fun way to ring in the New Year! Three Trails, Two Events each day. Walkers will enjoy a safe, memorable event with the club providing homemade food, baked goods and a Kids Korner for the young walkers to enjoy . Children under the age of 12 walk for FREE with IVV Credit included. Walkers can visit with other walkers the enjoy Freestate's hospitality. Many YRE's are in the area for you.

American Volkssport Association
1001 Pat Booker Road, Suite 101
Universal City, TX 78148