Liberation and Freedom Days Reparations Run/Walk

Lace up for a truly impactful experience at the Liberation and Freedom Days Reparations Run/Walk, taking place on February 28, 2026, in historic Charlottesville, VA. This annual event offers a choice of a near 8.11-mile run or a 3.78-mile walk, inviting participants to connect fitness with a profound sense of history and community. The courses wind through Charlottesville, guiding runners and walkers past significant African American historical sites and local Black-owned businesses, offering a scenic and reflective journey through the city's rich cultural landscape.

Co-hosted by the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center and Prolyfyck Run Crew, this race is more than just a physical challenge; it's a powerful statement of support, commemorating Liberation and Freedom Day, which honors the liberation of over 14,000 enslaved people in Charlottesville in 1865. Funds raised directly benefit Black-led organizations dedicated to empowering the community. Participants can pick up their bibs and swag bags at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center the day before, or on race morning outside the JSAAHC Museum shop and Cafe. Typical race day conditions in late February offer cool temperatures, with highs around 52°F and lows around 32°F, and only an 11% chance of precipitation, providing ideal weather for a memorable run or walk.