A Walk Around Old Town + 24th Annual Alexandria Art Festival

Let's go for an easy Sunday morning hike following the trace of Hooff's Run upstream as it flows underground through west Old Town, and then take a clockwise stroll around Old Town. For bonus points, the annual Art Festival will be going on in Carlyle Square, so we'll end our hike there and check it out!

❶ What we'll do:

• From the bike rack across Diagonal Road from King Street Station parking lot, we'll walk NW along Daingerfield, turn left, and go through the railroad tunnel, following Hooff's Run north through several small parks. At Oak Street, we'll turn east to cross back under the railroad through the tunnel at Braddock Street on our way to the waterfront. Arriving at the Potomac shoreline just north of Rivergate City Park, we'll walk south along the waterfront to the Torpedo Factory, where we'll take a short break, and then continue south to take Wilkes and Jamieson streets west to the Art Festival at John Carlyle Square. From there members can individually make their way a block north back to the starting point or to their individual transportation.
• The walk is about 5 miles and should take no more than 2 hours. The surface is paved throughout and fairly level.
• Google map: https://tinyurl.com/3drrdft3

❷ How to get there:

• Metro: King Street Station is on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Use the trip planner to find connections and review statue and alerts: https://www.wmata.com/
• Driving: From I-395, take VA-7 / King Street east about 2.8 miles. Take the first right after passing under the railroad (Daingerfield Street), and an immediate right onto Diagonal Road. From US-1 / Richmond Highway, follow King Street west 0.5 miles, take a sharp left onto Daingerfield, and the first right onto Diagonal Road. There's free Sunday parallel parking in the area, especially along streets a block north of King Street and beyond.

❸ What to bring: Water, comfy shoes, and your furry friend if desired (leashes, please).

❹ Weather: It's too early to see the forecast! Updates: https://tinyurl.com/mu9dkduu

❺ Advisory: As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. No one under 18 years of age is allowed at this event, either as members or as guests, to include babies in carriers and/or strollers.

❻ Administrative stuff: There are restrooms at the Torpedo Factory and at several commercial establishments near our meetup location and along our route.

❼ Notes:

• 24th Annual Alexandria Art Festival: https://tinyurl.com/4v5buwbk
• 2026 Fall Foliage Prediction Map: https://tinyurl.com/mr3hb64w

H/T to Abby for the event photo!