JOIN US THIS SATURDAY!
Weekly walks step off every Saturday at 8 AM from the Schiller statue in Schiller Park. Choose 3- or 5-mile routes through downtown neighborhoods and parks. No minimum fitness requirements - all walking paces are supported!
Welcome to Our
Walking Club
Since 2015, the German Village Walking Club has been open to all walkers everywhere. No matter where you live—or your pace, distance, or experience—you're always welcome to walk with us. You never need to be a formal member to join a walk. So come out and give us a try! We offer 3- and 5-mile routes through Columbus' downtown parks and urban neighborhoods so you can choose a distance that works for you, and walkers of all fitness levels are supported. We meet at the Schiller statue in Schiller Park every Saturday at 8 AM (weather permitting). Many of us stick around afterwards for coffee and conversation at Winans. (We don't walk when it's lightening, icy, or sub-zero wind chills. Instead, we head directly to Winans!) You’re welcome to walk with us anytime, whether or not you’re a formal member—though we’d love to have you join officially. Membership is just $35 for the first year ($25 thereafter) and comes with some great perks. Come as you are. Whenever you can. We’re glad you’re here.
What You Can Expect
When you walk with the German Village Walking Club, you can expect consistency, variety, and community. When you walk with us, you’ll meet people who start as walking companions and quickly become friends—real friends who enjoy lingering after walks for coffee and conversation and who support one another’s health and fitness goals.
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When you walk with us, you can count on us. We show up every Saturday—rain or shine—with rotating routes through urban parks and downtown neighborhoods. We offer 3- and 5-mile options, so you can choose a distance that fits your mood, your fitness, or your time.
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Beyond the weekly walks, the club offers opportunities for people to formally come together for activities such as group breakfasts, volunteering to support the South Side neighborhood, cheering each other on at races, and celebrating together at our members-only holiday party. Just as often, though, connections happen informally. Folks gather for happy hours, spontaneous meetups, and seasonal events (think: arts festival in the summer and holiday lights at Christmastime). Because community doesn’t only happen on Saturday mornings.
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If you sign up for the newsletter, you can expect to receive a weekly email with links to helpful information about health and fitness. That's also where we share occasional news about the accomplishments of club members.
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Most of all, you can expect real people, genuine connections, and friendships that extend well beyond walking. If you’re ready to walk, we’ll be there.
We meet at the Schiller statue in German Village's Schiller Park every Saturday at 8 AM. Plenty of on-street parking surrounds the park.
Choose the distance that's right for you -- 3 or 5 miles -- depending on you're mood, fitness level, or time.
It doesn't matter if you're an accomplished race walker or you're just starting out, you'll find someone to walk with who matches your pace
We'll be there -- ready to welcome you at our next walk. We can't wait to see you!
As long as it's safe, we're walking. What does "weather permitting" mean? We don't walk if there's lightening, ice, or sub-zero windchills.
The club will be there to support you and cheer for you ... even in the worst conditions -- like during the Columbus Marathon in 2025.
Weekly Routes
Our weekly routes rotate among five favorite 5-mile walks through parks and neighborhoods. The route for the upcoming Saturday will be marked with flashing >>. A 3-mile alternative is always available and will be explained at the Schiller statue before we start. Click on any route below to view a map.
Upcoming walk route is indicated below by:
What People Say
EVERY STORY IS DIFFERENT. THE COMMON THREAD IS COMMUNITY.
What's your reason?
KATIE R.
I wanted to find a group of people who are active, like being outdoors and giving to the community. I did a Google search and the GVWC popped up. During my first visit in October 2025, I was made to feel so welcome, everyone was so kind. The winter gloves/hats/scarves collection in December to benefit a local community organization is the type of activity that I enjoy participating in. This walking club is exactly the kind of social group I've been looking for.
LYNNE B.
I joined GVWC in 2017 when I moved to German Village and had recently separated from my husband. I was new to Columbus and lonely. I loved walking and wanted to make new friends. GVWC became an extended family. I have made great friends, learned more about Columbus, done some great volunteer work, survived an epidemic and a divorce, all with the support of GVWC. I find myself inviting people to join us regularly, hoping they will find what they are looking for as I have. I am thankful to Larry, our founder, for what he has built and nurtured.
DAVID & JANET R.
In 2017, Janet and I traded familiarity for excitement, packing up to Columbus to start a bold new chapter in our lives. But reality hit hard—new jobs drained our energy, networking events felt like sales pitches, and genuine friendships stayed just out of reach. That's when Otto Beatty, a good friend from business circles, kept nudging us to join the German Village Walking Club at Schiller Park. We begrudgingly showed up, and everything shifted. The group welcomed us as if we were old friends. We wandered through brick-lined streets, past storybook homes and blooming gardens, trading stories and forming lifelong friends! Though we moved out of state in 2025, we'll forever cherish the German Village Walking Club for transforming our daunting move to Columbus into an eight-year love affair we hated to leave. For anyone seeking new friends or a sense of belonging in unfamiliar surroundings, this is the club to join! Forever GVWC Members!
LISA M.
I will never forget running into you and other GVWC members on the bike path at Audubon Park in the summer of 2024. It was a time of great transition for me and my husband and we were just getting to know our new neighborhood. Your kindness and generosity and welcoming words really made a difference for me. I'll be forever grateful.
Contact Us
New here or just curious? We’re happy to answer questions—reach out anytime and sign up for our newsletter to stay connected.
614-314-7798
Funny Story!
The GVWC's
inauspicious
start.
The Full Story Here
GVWC Founder
LarryWalksFast
Become a Member
Good news! You don’t have to be a paid member to walk with us. Everyone is welcome to show up any Saturday for our 3- or 5-mile walks, and many folks stick around afterward to socialize at Winans. Anyone can sign up for our newsletter to stay connected, and if you decide to become a paid member, you’ll score a GVWC Club T-shirt, a $15 gift card to Columbus Running Company, and an invitation to our annual members-only party. Think of membership as a way to support the club and enjoy a few extra perks.
Send checks for registration ($35) and annual renewal ($25), made payable to "German Village Walking Club," to:
ATTN: German Village Walking Club
41 W. Frankfort St., Columbus, OH 43206