One of Suriname’s most beloved annual community walking events, the 61st edition of the Avondvierdaagse (AVD), officially launched on Wednesday, bringing together thousands of participants in a vibrant celebration of movement, community and local culture.
The multi-day walking marathon opened with a festive, energetic atmosphere, where participants showcased elaborate, finely detailed costumes paired with creative, handcrafted accessories that turned the route into a moving display of local creativity. A standout feature of this year’s edition is the unprecedentedly large contingent of individual participants: more than 1,900 solo walkers have registered to take part in the four-day event.
The official opening ceremony was led by two top government officials: Nalini Gopal, Minister of Sport, and André Misiekaba, Minister of Public Health. Joined by Lakshmi Vishnudatt, chair of the BVSS — the organizing body behind the event — the trio took the official first steps to mark the start of the 61st AVD, kicking off four days of scheduled walking for participants across all age groups.
As of the opening day, event organizers have counted a total of 4,900 registered participants. The field breaks down into 9 junior groups, 38 senior groups, and the 1,900+ individual walkers. Cultural participating groups drew attention from onlookers kilometers away thanks to their bright, eye-catching costumes and group singing that brought a joyful soundtrack to the walking route.
Across all organized participating groups, the National Democratic Party (NDP) remains the largest contingent by a significant margin, a consistent trend in past editions of the event. On the opening day of the 2026 AVD, participants completed an 11.3-kilometer route, with organizers already releasing the route details for the second day of the multi-day walking event. The four-day event is expected to draw ongoing community attention as participants complete each day’s route ahead of the closing ceremony.