The Sports Backers announced on Monday its new course through Downtown, The Capitol, Jackson Ward, and Oregon Hill for the annual Times-Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond walking event on May 4. This year’s 6.2-mile course will showcase some of Richmond’s greatest treasures, such as historic sites and landmarks, restaurants and boutiques. Participants can look forward to surprises around each turn, including antique cars, costumed interpreters, and live music.

Credit: Sports Backers

Online registration for Times-Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond is available at www.sportsbackers.org.  The entry fee is $20 for adults and $10 for youth 18 and under through March 15, when the fee will increase $5. For more information, visit www.sportsbackers.org.

This year The Times-Dispatch is dedicating the weekend of May 3-5 to discovering Richmond. In addition to stepping out on Saturday for the Go! Discover Richmond walk, on Friday, May 3 you can join The Times-Dispatch and the Flying Squirrels for fireworks at Discover Richmond night at The Diamond. And on Sunday, May 5, you can pick up Discover Richmond Magazine inside The Times-Dispatch.  The annual guide explores new places to dine, shop, and have fun in the Richmond region – all things participants will explore in the Times-Dispatch Go! Discover Richmond event, too.

The event starts and finishes at the Virginia War Memorial. The walk goes by a variety of featured attractions including:

Virginia War Memorial; Hollywood Cemetery; St. Andrew’s School; St. Andrew’s Church; Landmark Theater; Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; Cathedral of the Sacred Heart; Monroe Park; DoubleTree; The Jefferson; Virginia Repertory Theatre; Gallery 5; Abner Clay Park; Bojangles Statue; Black History Museum; Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site; Hippodrome Theater; Richmond Region Visitor’s Center; UNOS National Donor Memorial; Richmond Raiders at Richmond Coliseum; Miller & Rhoads/Hilton Garden Inn; Richmond Center Stage; State Capitol; Richmond Times-Dispatch

The un-timed fitness walk will take place on city sidewalks. Live music, sidewalk sales, costumed re-enactors and more will keep participants entertained throughout the course. Streets will remain open to traffic with pedestrian crossing support at significant intersections. Water stops and bathroom facilities will be located along the route. Strollers are permitted. The event concludes with the Finish Line Festival where participants will receive their commemorative event T-shirt and enjoy live music.