Editor’s Note: The scheduled Walktober kickoff event, set for Oct. 3 at Centennial Park at ACTIV, has been postponed due to inclement weather.
Arlington residents will have a new way to get moving, connect with neighbors and celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary this fall through the Arlington Parks, Recreation and Culture Department’s Walktober Challenge.
The two-month community walking challenge runs Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, 2026, encouraging participants to walk at least 40 days during the challenge. Residents can walk wherever they choose, including city trails, parks, recreation center tracks and neighborhood routes.
Registration is available at naturallyfun.org or at any City of Arlington recreation center. The cost is $5 for recreation center members and $10 for nonmembers.
Participants will track their progress using the Stridekick app, where they can manually enter steps or connect an existing fitness tracker. The Walktober Challenge will be available in the app when the challenge begins Oct. 1, and participants will receive a link to join.
Those who complete at least 40 days of walking will earn an official Walktober shirt. Additional prizes will be awarded to participants who log the greatest total distance.
Walktober is designed to encourage healthy habits, bring Arlington residents together and celebrate the community’s history as Arlington marks its 150th anniversary. The City Arlington Parks, Recreation and Culture Department plans to host three community walks during the challenge.
Update: A kickoff event with Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, originally scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Centennial Park, has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Live! by Loews has also partnered with the City of Arlington for this year’s Walktober challenge. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Saturday in October, join the hotel’s instructors for Loews Strolls through the scenic Richard Greene Linear Park in the Entertainment District. Participants will meet in the front drive at Live! by Loews, do a quick group warm-up and then begin their walk through the nearby public park, which is home to the Caelum Moore Sculpture Garden, while connecting with other hotel guests and locals during an hour of movement and conversation. The route on the flat concrete trail is approximately 1.63 miles. All ages and fitness levels are welcome. Comfortable walking shoes are encouraged. Complementary self-parking in the garage is included. Live! by Loews is located at 1600 E. Randol Mill Road.