Old Town will go to the dogs tomorrow (Saturday) as the ALX Dog Walk returns.
The event, first held in 2022, combines the causes of animal welfare and sustainability for a two-mile walk through Old Town and a celebration with activities at Oronoco Bay Park. The event runs from 7-11 a.m., with the walk starting at 8:15 a.m. An estimated 2,000 walkers and their dogs are expected to participate.
Drivers should expect temporary road closures beginning at 8 a.m. along the Union Street portion of the route. Walkers will head down N. Union Street and loop around the waterfront before ending at Oronoco Bay Park. Along the route, there will be pop-up performances by The Alexandria Singers and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. Girl Scouts, Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats and others will serve as walk leaders.
Registered walkers will get a drawstring backpack with a sustainably sourced T-shirt, a fair-trade dog bandana and other plastic-free items. The first 500 walkers who bring a mug will receive a free cup of Hypergoat Coffee Roasters’ ethically-sourced coffee.
Between the walk segments, Oronoco Bay Park will host a range of activities, including a dog show, a sustainability festival with vendors, a plastic art show competition, a Spring2ACTion nonprofit village, adoptable dogs, a dog obstacle course, a DJ, children’s play stations, park games, a puppy tattoo artist and a puppy portrait artist.
Proceeds from the event will support ALX Dog Walk’s year-round sustainability education and Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell and Salon Monte owner and TV personality Monte Durham will serve as emcees. Mayor Alyia Gaskins will also speak at the event.
Old Town will also see additional visitors Saturday for Historic Garden Week’s Old Town Alexandria Tour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
