Cool Jeep Events You Can Look Forward to in 2019

The year is almost over, but there are plenty of fun off-roading and official Jeep events in 2019 to be excited about.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Hanukkah has only just begun. All that’s left is Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and then that’s it, 2018 will be over. We hope you’ve had a fantastic year full of adventures in your Jeep. If you haven’t had a chance to take it out as much as you would like, don’t worry. There’s always next year.

It’ll be packed with fun experiences all around the United States, several of which we’ve put in the list below.

King of the Hammers Week: February 1 – February 9 (main race February 8) | Johnson Valley, California

There’s more to Ultra4 Racing’s King of the Hammers event than just the eponymous one-day off-road race. It’s a whole week full of competitions, including the Smittybilt Every Man Challenge and KOH UTV Race. The Toyo Tires Desert Invitational trophy truck race will be new to the 2019 KOH festivities. Of course, the King of the Hammers race will be the main attraction. If you’re going, take plenty of sunscreen and get ready to see rollovers, busted parts, and some badass rigs flying over sand and crawling over rocks.

Easter Jeep Safari: April 13 – April 21 | Moab, Utah

Jelly beans and chocolate bunnies are tasty, but they’re not why we’re looking forward to April. Easter Jeep Safari is going to be a week full of production models, friendly people, knowledgeable experts, challenging trails, and wild Jeep concept vehicles. We won’t be surprised if Jeep has a new Gladiator pickup there, too.

Jeep Beach Jam: May 14 – May 19 | Panama City Beach, Florida

Attendance figures for the Jeep Beach Jam have been steadily increasing since the event started. Organizers of the 4th Annual Jeep Beach Jam estimate that it’ll draw more than 2,000 Jeeps from 14-plus states. We don’t doubt their figures because next year’s event will have a variety of attractions, including beach bonfires, luaus, a multi-day scavenger hunt, surfing lessons, a Show & Shine contest, and several scenic off-road trail adventures.

Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival: June 7 – June 9 | Butler County, Pennsylvania

Bantam hasn’t been in business for several decades, but its connection to Jeep is still going strong. In previous years, the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival has featured Jeep history lessons, an event that allows attendees to get up-close looks at thousands of Jeep vehicles, and, of course, lots of off-road driving. More than 2,300 Jeeps from 30 states showed up to last year’s event. Time will tell if the 2019 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival will top those numbers.

FCA’s What’s New Event: End of June | Chelsea, Michigan

Every year, FCA gives the automotive press a preview of the major changes it made to its various brands’ lineups for the next model year and their upcoming all-new models. We’re looking forward to bringing you all news of the various cosmetic and technological changes in store for Jeep in the 2020 model year…and getting dirt and mud all over Grand Cherokee Trailhawks and Wrangler Rubicons.

SEMA: November 5 – November 8 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Don’t want to lose your shirt in Sin City? Go inside the Las Vegas Convention Center and lose your mind as you check out the SEMA show’s numerous product demonstrations, special events, aftermarket parts, and extensively modified vehicles. There will be plenty of Jeeps there, many of which will be jam-packed with upgrades from Mopar and several other manufacturers. Jeep’s entries in next year’s SEMA show will determine if it will win its 10th straight “4×4/SUV of the Year” award.

Jeep Jamboree USA Events | Various Dates and Locations All Year

Sometimes, no matter how much you plan to go to a certain event, life gets in the way. It happens. The good news is that Jeep Jamboree USA has wheeling events scheduled all through 2019, although you might have to make a long road trip depending on which one you choose to attend. The first one is in late January in Drummond Island, Michigan. Over the next 10 months, there will be off-roading and overlanding adventures all over the U.S. The last drive will be at the end of October/beginning of November in Death Valley, California.

Toledo Jeep Fest: Dates TBA | Toledo, Ohio

It doesn’t get much more Jeep than Toledo, the home of Wrangler production. According to The Blade, 60,000 people showed up to the three-day event last year. Approximately 1,700 Jeeps took part in the parade through downtown Toledo. Right now, it’s not exactly clear whether or not there will be a 2019 Toledo Jeep Fest. Perhaps interest in the upcoming Gladiator pickup will give organizers even more of a reason to hold the event next year.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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