CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Watch off-road vehicles climb red rocks by day then headbang to headliners by night at the eighth annual Trail Hero, a six-day off-road extravaganza with an abundance of free events.
“It’s a one-stop shop for the entire week,” Trail Hero founder Rich Klein said. “You’ll be entertained from morning until night.”’
From free spectator events like rock crawling and beach racing to free afterparties with live music and line dancing, the jam-packed event calendar features fun for the entire family.
The fun begins Monday night with Trail Hero’s free Kickoff Party at the Sand Hollow Resort Rock Bowl. Daily free events include a 140-booth vendor show, with companies like Monster Energy providing unlimited samples to fuel adventures. For anyone with a valid driver’s license, free demo rides with Kawasaki will be available, allowing those interested an opportunity to jump in an all-terrain vehicle with a guide and experience the mountain for free.
This year’s brand-new scavenger hunt, the Yukon Gear & Axle Trail Hero Hunt, will allow participants to play in person or at home via virtual check-ins. Checking in at vendor booths and other locations around Washington County will earn players additional prize-drawing entries, and $8,000 in prizes will be given away.
Watch the Trailbreaker Qualifier for free on Tuesday at 2 p.m. And later, as the sun falls behind the mountainside Tuesday night, a family-friendly movie will be projected onto the red rocks, creating a fun drive-in theater. Be a free spectator at the ATV race on Wednesday, and end the day with a free drive-in movie on the music venue jumbotrons.
Attendees can watch the rock crawling race BF Goodrich Tires Trailbreaker on Thursday and a regular rock crawling competition at 2 p.m. Friday. Find a complete list of events at this link.
Note that Sand Hollow State Park charges a fee upon entry. Trail Hero Music Festival ticketholders and state park pass owners receive free admission.
The Trail Hero Music Fest will take place Oct. 5-7, with camping open Oct. 1-8. During the Trail Hero Music Fest, attendees will experience music that falls in line with Trail Hero’s patriotic and off-roading culture. Top billboard artists will take the Monster Energy Main Stage three days in a row, beginning with Uncle Kracker on Oct. 5, Saving Abel on Oct. 6 and P.O.D. on Oct. 7.
The music festival kicks off on Thursday with a Veterans Appreciation Night. The event will include a Gold Star presentation, honoring families who have lost loved ones during their service.
“It’s not just the individual who served, but we believe it’s the family that served as well,” Klein said about Gold Star families.
All Gold Star families, veterans and kids under age 12 are free to attend the three-day music festival.
The organizers of Trail Hero aim to spotlight community support for military veterans along with improving access to public lands for children and adults with disabilities. Off-roading vehicles serve as their legs, giving them the ability to enjoy the beauty of Southern Utah through motorized access.
Trail Hero has traditionally been a trail ride event for the off-road industry with 5,200 off-roading vehicles and 33,000 in attendance over the course of one week. Expanding to various events including the music fest, they’re focused on boosting the local economy by using local vendors, bands and more.
“We are an off-roading community here, and this has become our family and our community,” Klein said. “Our economic impact on the local economy is important to us as well. So in many ways, it’s about giving back to the community, not just for veterans and special needs individuals, but also making sure the money stays local.”
For more information on Trail Hero, including the full event schedule, the music festival and camping options, visit the Trail Hero website.
Written by JESSI BANG for St. George News.
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