Outdoor Brands are Big at the Roanoke GO Outside Festival

Connect with customers. Build real community. Be part of the biggest outdoor celebration in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

Join us October 16-18, 2026 in Roanoke, VA

The GO Outside Festival (GO Fest) brings together 40,000+ outdoor enthusiasts for three days of demos, races, pro athlete shows, live music, films, and hands-on experiences — all in Roanoke, VA.

People come to GO Fest to celebrate life in a top outdoor adventure destination (Outside’s Top 24 Mountain Towns). Join us so they can use your gear, talk with you about your brand, and connect with you for life.

Three ways outdoor brands can be part of GO Fest

1. Exhibit

Free for first-time brands in 2026. If you’ve never exhibited your brand at GO Fest before, your booth space is on us in 2026. No strings, just show up ready to connect.

Why exhibit:

  • Put your product directly into the hands of thousands of outdoor-curious attendees.
  • Connect with beginners, seasoned athletes, families, and industry insiders.
  • Build brand trust through real conversation and experiences.
  • Align with a community that celebrates access, inclusion, and stewardship.
  • Support local retailers and make sales!

Put us on your calendar and contact us to secure your free spot.

2. Get your gear into the wild

The Walkabout Wild Gear Chase is one of GO Fest’s most unique and talked-about experiences. Picture a scavenger hunt with points all over town, ending with a cache of outdoor gear. After a wild two-hour adventure, every participant goes home with a piece of the latest and greatest gear from your brands. Low lift, high buzz.

Here’s how it works:

  • You send gear (packs, tents, bikes, accessories, apparel gift cards, etc.)
  • Your product gets hyped on social media leading up to the event.
  • Someone chooses your gear at the finish, we take pictures, and they take pictures.
  • Your brand gets more social media buzz and is associated with a unique adventure.

Contact us for details and where to send gear.

3. Partner and stand out

GO Fest partnerships aren’t about slapping logos on banners, they’re about supporting the outdoor community in meaningful, visible ways.

Opportunities include:

  • Naming rights for pro athlete shows: high-line slackliners, lumberjacks, trials riders, dog agility and more.
  • Stage sponsorship: be the brand that creates atmosphere and gets people dancing.
  • Branded experiences and custom activations. Ask us about what we’ve done with brands like HydroFlask and Oboz.
  • Support for access, education, and stewardship initiatives.

These partnerships put your brand front-and-center and align you with what GO Fest attendees care most about.

Contact us to explore partnership opportunities.

Why GO Fest Works for Outdoor Brands

  • 40,000+ attendees across three days
  • The Roanoke Region is a top outdoor destination, with momentum.
  • Hands-on demos inspire engagement, not passive impressions. Expect a highly engaged audience, not just spectators.
  • Our community has a strong sense of regional pride and values access, inclusivity, stewardship, and face-to-face connections.
  • Our local outdoor retailers (a few have brick-and-mortars steps from the festival) are here to support and celebrate your connection with the festival.

This isn’t just another trade show or festival. This is a gateway to a thriving outdoor community.

Next Steps

We’re here to work for you. Let us know what you’re thinking:

Quick Facts

Date:

Friday-Sunday, October 16-18, 2026

Locations:

Exhibitor Hours:

  • Friday 5-8pm
  • Saturday 10am-8pm
  • Sunday 11am-5pm

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