Table of Contents
The fifth annual ALX Dog Walk and Sustainability Festival returns this Saturday, April 18, bringing a two-mile stroll through historic Old Town together with a dog fashion show, sustainable vendors, adoptable animals and family-friendly activities — but participants must register before Friday at 9 p.m. to take part.
The event runs 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Oronoco Bay Park. A welcome program begins at 8 a.m., with the walk stepping off at 8:15 a.m. sharp. Walkers head down historic Union Street before looping back along the Waterfront Walk to the park, where the festival continues waterside. Organizers say more than 2,000 dog lovers and their pups are expected. The event is rain or shine.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins will serve as the honored speaker. The event is emceed for the fifth consecutive year by NBC4 StormTeam4 meteorologist Chuck Bell and Monte Durham of Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta and Salon Monte. Durham will host the 9:30 a.m. wedding chic dog fashion show competition, in which three winners will take home prizes for creative canine wedding attire.
Along the route, walkers can expect pop-up performances by The Alexandria Singers and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, with the Girl Scouts and Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats serving as special walk leaders.
The festival features DJ music, park games, a doggie face painter and portrait artist, a dog obstacle course, a kids' play stations, a puppy tattoo artist, a photobooth and adoptable dogs from the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. A Plastic Art Show Competition, organized in partnership with The Art League and The Alexandria Arts Alliance, will display works made primarily from plastic, with participating artists hosting tables on walk day. Local nonprofits will gather in a Spring2ACTion Nonprofit Village ahead of ACT for Alexandria's annual giving day on April 22.
Hypergoat Coffee Roasters will provide free ethically sourced coffee to the first 500 walkers who bring their own mug. The Board of Lady Managers of Inova Hospital will run a bake sale to benefit their mission.
Proceeds support the ALX Dog Walk's year-round sustainability education programming, the AWLA's work for Alexandria's animals and a special sponsorship donation to the nonprofit Upcycle Creative Reuse Center.
Individual registration is $35 — unchanged since 2022 — and includes a drawstring backpack goodie bag with a 100% cotton t-shirt, fair-trade dog bandana and eco-friendly treats. Several discounts are available: the first 150 active or retired military members to register receive free admission with the promo code MILITARY and a military ID at check-in; students pay $25 with the promo code STUDENT and a student ID; groups of six or more can email bestfriends@alxdogwalk.com for a group rate; and children 12 and under are free, though goodie bags are not included.
Walk-day check-in opens at 7 a.m., but registered participants can pick up their goodie bag early at Hypergoat Coffee Roasters, 215 N. Payne St., on Wednesday, April 15, from noon to 6 p.m.
New this year, organizers are encouraging participants to form fundraising teams benefiting the AWLA. The event's leaderboard posts the top three teams weekly on social media, and the three winning teams will receive a photo opportunity with Bell and Durham on walk day. As of Tuesday, the event had raised $17,285 toward a $40,000 goal. Those who cannot attend may support the cause through a donation to a participating team.
All dogs must be on a leash of six feet or less, must be social and dog- and human-friendly, and puppies under 12 weeks and female dogs in heat are prohibited.
Registration and additional information are available at alxdogwalk.com. Questions can be directed to bestfriends@ALXDogWalk.com.
