Since its inception in 2009, Overland Expo has grown exponentially, having expanded to five events across the United States, some featuring hundreds of vendors, over 100 presenters, trainers, and VIPs, and more than 500 session hours of education. With so much to choose from, this can be both exhilarating and a bit overwhelming for the first-time attendee to an Overland Expo. This year, SoCal is our newest edition to Overland Expo and it’s a great introduction for newcomers — a bit smaller, meaning more time to take everything in, learn a lot, check out awesome new products, and make some friends.
Here’s a brief introduction to what we have going on, along with some tips to get you going, whether you’re an Overland Expo veteran or experiencing all the excitement for the first time.
Things to Do Before You Arrive
First things first. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, head over here and do that. We are working on an app right now to make navigating the event, our vendors, classes and more a breeze, so keep a lookout for that by the end of February. This app will give you access to the event map, event schedule, and an easy way to find the vendors or classes you are looking for. Stay tuned for more information on this fantastic tool in the works for navigating SoCal and all our Overland Expo events.
Once you arrive, the overland world is your oyster. On Saturday morning, Overland Expo’s own Chris Bradley will give a helpful tutorial in the Oasis Bar and Food Court sponsored by Nokian Tyres on how to get the most out of Overland Expo — a great start for first-time attendees and for anyone looking to get the inside scoop on Overland Expo SoCal. But that’s just the start of the fun:
Educational Opportunities
A huge part of Overland Expo revolves around education. Classes are open to everyone and run all day long in our education pavilion, the DIY area, and in some cases, in the vendor area itself. There are a ton of classes ranging from border crossings to navigating through water and finding the best dispersed campsites, so be sure to keep your eyes on the schedule to not miss out on the moments that will best suit your overlanding needs..
For people building a van, dreaming of building a van, or wondering how to enjoy life on the road, come hang out at the Bivvy sponsored by Hankook Tire. Experts and enthusiasts will be sharing shade and knowledge on everything from how to set up solar power (and how much power is enough) to what do with waste and how to get internet to work on the road.
For attendees looking to become the Top Chef of their rig, the Backcountry and Culinary Pavilion sponsored by Milestar Tires is the place to sharpen your skills and cut your chops with the full menu of talented outdoor chefs.
If you want to sink in with a good story, learn to tell your own, or meet fellow travelers, The Oasis Bar and Food Court sponsored by Nokian Tyres will be showing films, hosting Q&As with filmmakers and storytellers, and offering a place for Women Who Wander to meet up, network, and plan some future adventures. This is also where you’ll find food trucks serving delicious fare where you can grab some lunch and a seat. Meanwhile the Overland Essentials Area sponsored by Torque Wheels is the perfect place to learn about storytelling and photography by some of today’s greatest in the business.
And of course, the Showcase and DIY Vehicle Area gives you a chance to Ooh and Ahh and pick up some inspiration with a collection of sweet builds and presentations by their owners.
If you have kids with you, be sure to check out the Kids Adventure Area for a scavenger hunt and a driving course — just be sure to stick with your kids, these events will be going on all morning and afternoon respectively so there’s plenty of time for the adults to wander and teach the next generation of wanderers how to overland responsibly.
Vendors
No doubt, the vendor area is one of the most popular parts of Overland Expo. Just about anything overland-related you can imagine can be found for sale, but the most enjoyable thing may be just wandering around and discovering new and interesting kit. You’ll find some in-booth classes, giveaways, and demonstrations going on in the vendor area – a further reward for wandering about a bit. The complete list of vendors can be found here.
You’ll find exclusive deals aplenty throughout the area, with some vendors offering their best prices of the year. If there is something particular you are looking for, check out the Sponsor & Exhibitor List where you can filter by product type, see what each vendor has going on, and see what deals they’re offering.
Relax at the Bivvys
When you’re ready to take a seat, recharge your phone, and plan your next move, but sure to stop by one of the Bivvys placed throughout the event, sponsored by Hankook Tires. You’ll find charging stations for your devices, water refill stations, and camp chairs so you can kick back and relax before exploring further.
Happy Hour
After a fun-filled day of classes, food trucks, vendor visits, and socializing with like-minded overlanders, it’s time for a change of pace. Evening activities kick off with Happy Hour sponsored by Toyo Tires at the Oasis Bar and Food Court sponsored by Nokian Tyres, which runs from 5-7 p.m. Saturday evening. Enjoy bevy of food options, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink choices, live music, and a great place to sit, relax, and talk with your newfound Overland Expo friends.
End the evening with a charity raffle hosted by Overland Expo Foundation. This is your chance to score tons of prizes while also supporting the Overland Expo Foundation. It’s an Overland Expo tradition and a big hit year after year, so don’t miss out! You can purchase raffle tickets when you get your tickets for Overland Expo online or on-site at the Overland Expo Foundation Booth.
