W&OD Trail 50th Anniversary

APRIL 27: CELBRATE TRAILS DAY View photos
The first-ever 45-mile trail cleanup took place on Rails to Trails' Celebrate Trails Day. On April 27, 2024, more than 40 volunteer groups collected over 100 bags of trash in one day and 300 Northern Virginia residents visited 3 booths to learn about the history and future of the W&OD Trail.

MAY 17: BIKE TO WORK DAY View photos
On May 17, 2024, NOVA Parks and the Friends of the W&OD Trail shared information about the W&OD Trail's 50th Anniversary with visitors at stops along the trail in Herndon, Falls Church, and Arlington.

MAY 27: CITY OF FALLS CHURCH MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
NOVA Parks debuted its W&OD Trail 50th Anniversary-themed float at the City of Falls Church's 42nd Annual Memorial Day Parade. 

JUNE 1: NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
NOVA Parks and the Friends of the W&OD Trail celebrated National Trails Day with a cleanup and W&OD Trail 50th Anniversary giveaways. Sustainability Matters and Arlington County Department of Environmental Services led an educational walk about invasive species, what we can do about them, and online apps to learn to identify plants. National Trails Day is a day of service for hometown trails and the people who love them, presented by the American Hiking Society. 

JUNE 28: ON THE GO & IN THE KNOW TRAIL SAFETY CHAT
Bike Falls Church, WABA, NOVA Parks, and more gathered along the W&OD Trail at Great Falls St. in Falls Church to talk about safety and courtesy on the W&OD Trail. How can we make the W&OD a more welcoming place for new and cautious riders? What can be safer? What does it mean to be On the Go & In the Know? Residents celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the W&OD Trail with commemorative stickers, sunglasses and t-shirts.

JULY 4: CITY OF FAIRFAX INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
NOVA Parks' W&OD Trail 50th Anniversary-themed float was the star of the show at the City of Fairfax's Independence Day Parade! 

AUGUST 24: W&OD - NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S RAILROAD AT PURCELVILLE LIBRARY
At 2pm, NOVA Parks Historian Paul McCray told the illustrious history of the railroad, which had a major affect on how Northern Virginia developed. McCray is a recipient of the 2011 Thomas Balch Library’s Loudoun History Award.

AUGUST 30: STORY WALK LAUNCH PARTY
The W&OD Trail and Sustainability Matters celebrated the installation of a new StoryWalk along the W&OD Trail in Loudoun County, between Trailside Park and Beth Miller Park. The first featured book is “The Garden Next Door” by Collin Pine. A great introduction to wild gardens, pollinators, and nature conservation, young readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and see how simple and beautiful changes to their environment can have a profound impact on the animals and insects that share our world. Thanks to the Friends of the W&OD Trail for donating the StoryWalk.

SEPTEMBER 7: 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 'FIRST RIDE' ON THE W&OD TRAIL IN FALLS CHURCH
The Falls Church Mayor and Council, esteemed partners and NOVA Parks Board members unveiled a new sign along the W&OD Trail at the location of the documented "First Ride" in Falls Church. 

SEPTEMBER 14: CELEBRATE THE W&OD AT PURCELVILLE LIBRARY 
The Purcelville Library celebrated the W&OD's 50th Birthday with the Friends of the W&OD. The Friends will bring presents and answer questions about the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park.

SEPTEMBER 25: LECTURE ON THE HISTORY OF THE W&OD TRAIL  
As part of Loudoun County Public Library's Spoke'n Word bike event series, at 7pm, NOVA Parks Historian Paul McCray will present the story of the transition from the railroad to the current W&OD Trail and Regional Park at Purcelville Library. McCray, a recipient of the 2011 Thomas Balch Library's Loudoun History Award, will share highlights and pictures of the trail’s five decades.

OCTOBER 5: SPOKE'N WORD BIKE TRAIL EVENT ON THE W&OD TRAIL
Between 10am-2pm, explore the W&OD Trail with Loudoun County Public Library, Friends of the W&OD Trail and Bike Loudoun. Stop for water, chat with staff or enter to win prizes at four stops along the 22 miles between Purcellville and Sterling. Fairfax and Arlington County Public Libraries will also be participating, so you can enjoy all 45 miles if you wish.

OCTOBER 7: FAIRFAX CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE W&OD TRAIL
Join Fairfax County Supervisors Walter Alcorn, James Bierman, and Dalia Palchik, who all represent areas of the W&OD Trail, as they present a resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the trail. Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert and representatives from the NOVA Parks Board and Fairfax Library will acknowledge the donation of historic W&OD artifacts to the Virginia Room, and the history of the trail. 

The event will take place near the Train Depot, at 231 Dominion Rd NE in Vienna, VA. Limited parking is available along Dominion Rd and at the train station parking lot off of Ayr Ave NE.

OCTOBER: WIEHLE BRIDGE DEDICATION & W&OD TRAIL 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Join NOVA Parks Board and Fairfax County Supervisor Alcorn for a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the W&OD Pedestrian Bridge over Wiehle Avenue. Supervisor Alcorn will acknowledge the 50th Anniversary of the W&OD Trail and the many improvements over that time to make the trail more user-friendly for the more than 2 million people who use the trail each year.
 

Visit this page often for updates about new events and activities being added!

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