The first National Outdoor Expo will be held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) of Birmingham, the U.K.’s largest exhibition venue, on March 27-28, 2021. The end-consumer event is organized by Raccoon Events, the company responsible also for the National Running Show. According to Raccoon, the event will have many interactive features, including a rope walk, climbing experience, zip line and outdoor skills theatre, as well as inspiring talks and the very latest gear to try and buy. There will be six key areas: walking, climbing, eating outdoors, camping, family excursions and running. Visitors will also have a chance to listen to, learn from and meet their outdoor idols, including the broadcaster, writer and adventurer Ben Fogle, the sportsman, athlete and adventurer James Cracknell, and the adventurer and endurance runner Susie Chan.
Brands such as Ordnance Survey, Adidas Terrex, Hoka One One, Grangers Vibram, Aftershokz and Yamatune will also be on location with gear available for purchase. The show is still looking for additional exhibitors.
The National Outdoor Expo also just announced its first retail partnership with Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, a leading premium U.K. retailer of outdoor, snowsports, hiking and climbing products. Ellis Brigham, still owned by the Brigham family, was established in Manchester in 1933 and has 24 stores across the U.K.
The organizers will be donating 10 percent of the profits to support the outdoor industry and another 10 percent to charities that encourage outdoor activity.
