Don’t Miss Out! 2019 Overland Expo East Looks to Be Best Yet

The number of overlanding enthusiasts continues to grow at breakneck speed, and so does the culture that surrounds it. No longer are they just a tiny nomadic group of offbeat thrill seekers on the margins of the automotive world. Overlanding is now front and center, a market unto itself. And anyone who would like to see just how massive this lifestyle has become, should make plans to get to Infinity Downs in Arrington, Virginia, from October 11-13, for the 2019 Overland Expo East.

Experience firsthand the largest event of its kind to be found anywhere, as well as what is so captivating to so many people around the globe. But book your spot now. Space is limited… just ask the folks who tried to get into Arizona this spring—it isn’t gonna last.

What is Overland Expo?

Overland Expo, touted as “the premier overland & adventure travel event in the world”, is the most comprehensive gathering of its kind for the overlanding community. Offering classes taught by renowned experts in the field, as well as a world-class trade show and thousands of overlanding rigs on display, no other event comes close to the array of information and resources that Overland Expo offers.

From guest speakers and authors, to accomplished instructors and a world-class test track, no overlanding stone remains unturned. And with a new home base in 2019, what is sure to be record attendance, and over 150 vendors expected, hopes are high that the 2019 Overland Expo East will be the most successful overlanding gathering that the East Coast has ever seen.

Overland Expo West, the wildly popular left coast version of the event, saw record numbers this spring in Flagstaff, Arizona. Over 22,000 overlanders attended this year to celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary, resulting in a 20% increase in day pass attendees and a 30% increase in the number of event exhibitors.

Simply put, the event is flourishing by any metric. And with the 2019 Overlanding Expo East under new management, plus a new-and-improved venue better equipped to accommodate enthusiasts en masse, aaand the knowledge that this year’s weather forecast simply has to be better than last year’s, sellout crowds and robust attendance are expected to be on par with the west coast version of the event.

Who’s In Charge, Here??

Heading things up for the 2019 Overland Expo East is the team from Lodestone Events, “an event production company with core competencies in event planning and logistics, marketing & communications and sponsorship & exhibitor sales.”

But fear not, Overland Expo enthusiasts of years’ past! The event’s founders—overlanding hobbyists, journalists, and conservationists Roseann and Jonathan Hanson of ConsurVentures LLC—will stay on with the event as consultants to the new owners, helping to keep a feeling of continuity and reverence for their 2009 roots, while always striving to grow their audience.

“Roseann and Jonathan created Overland Expo out of their passion for inspiring others to explore the world,” Lodestone Events leader Lindsay Hubley says. “Ten years later, they’ve developed Overland Expo into a top-notch event, beloved by overlanding enthusiasts world-wide, that is leading the overlanding movement in the automotive aftermarket and outdoor industry.”

What Can I Expect?

So, once you’ve gotten all your gear together, mapped out your route to Arrington, Virginia, and, most importantly, bought your 2019 Overland Expo East passes ahead of time, what can you expect from this three-day extravaganza? Short answer: virtually everything of value that the overlanding community has to offer.

All in one place. Instruction. Experience. Literature. Lessons. The Expo is like Overlanding’s version of Woodstock. Except way more people are probably gonna be in good enough shape to drive home when these festivities wrap up.

The 2019 Overland Expo East offers attendees over 200 classes, slide shows, demonstrations, and activities, translating to more than 325 session-hours to learn everything there is to know from the biggest names in overlanding.

Hands-On Training from Real-World Experts

There are classes in topics such as winching, rope work and lashing, specialty substrates, and spotting, just to name a few. The Camel Trophy Expedition Skills Area focuses on recovery, driving, maintenance and repair, and static skills. And the Motorcycle Expedition Skills Area (MESA, for short) allows two-wheeled overlanders the chance to perfect their craft on a custom built training course.

Hands-on training pavilions at the 2019 Overland Expo East will get attendees out of the classroom setting and directly into the field to hone their skills. A rotating array of technical classes that teach necessary overlanding skills, like electronics knowledge or roadside repairs, help prepare every overlander for every inevitability. And traditional classroom settings teach skills like photography, videography, and medical preparedness, among dozens of other topics.

Invaluable Tips, Tricks, & Geographical Instruction

The Overland Theater at the 2019 Overland Expo East will screen a collection of slide shows from accomplished overlanders’ trips all across the globe, as well as nightly viewings of overlanding shorts and feature films. Round table panel discussions at the pavilion offer expo-goers a chance to gain specific regional knowledge about places they’re prepping to visit—whether it’s across the country or clear on the other side of the globe. Learn the dos and don’ts from those who have already been there, and avoid a few rookie mistakes with your preparation.

The 2019 Overland Expo East has plenty to teach attendees about the geography they intend to traverse. A map room featuring some of the most-traveled overlanding routes on each continent helps overlanders plot out the trip of a lifetime, mile by mile, using the experience of those that have gone before them.

Cool Gear & Even Cooler Rigs

Demo areas help familiarize drivers with specifics about the ever-growing selection of gear that is useful, even necessary, along the way. Plus, with product demonstrations at dozens of exhibitor booths, you can actually see a piece of equipment in use before deciding whether or not you have to have it.

What else? The showcase vehicle area is a great way to see how other overlanders at the 2019 Overland Expo East have modified their rigs, and maybe borrow (read: steal) a few good ideas. And if you intend to camp out with the whole family at Infinity Downs this October, a Kids’ Adventure area makes sure that even the youngest members of your overlanding tribe stay entertained, as well as informed.

For a full list of absolutely everything that the 2019 Overlanding Expo East has to offer, be sure to check out their very comprehensive website. Or don’t, if you want to surprise yourself with the vastness of all that the weekend has to offer.

But whatever you decide to do beforehand, trust our judgement on this one point: buy your passes NOW. TODAY. GO. Because sooner or later, they will sell out. And then, you’ll be left on the outside looking in, following the event on social media and cursing your tendency toward procrastination. You don’t want to wait ‘til the 2020 Expo.