HEST’s 5th Annual HESTIVAL Announces Record Turnout in the Pursuit to Protect Public Lands

May 12, 2026

SEATTLE, WA [May 12, 2026] /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – HEST Outdoors, in partnership with The Conservation Alliance, celebrates the continued success of its annual HESTIVAL event which welcomed hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and influence for a sold-out experience. The event brought together community members, brand partners, advocates, and families to celebrate the outdoors while spotlighting education, stewardship, and the shared values that continue to shape the outdoor industry.

HESTIVAL underscores HEST’s commitment to creating meaningful connections beyond product, pairing fun and community with advocacy and education in support of a greater outdoor purpose. Over 650 campers showed up at the sold-out event at Big B’s Delicious Orchards in Hotchkiss, Colorado. The family-friendly weekend relished in live music, campfires and connection.

“HEST is passionate about Hestival because it brings people together in a way that reflects who we are as a brand,” said Aaron Ambuske, CEO and founder of HEST Outdoor. “It’s about more than an event — it’s about community, celebration, and aligning our brand and values with a purpose greater than ourselves. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this sold-out gathering such a joyful way to kick off camping season.”

Customers, brand partners and industry stakeholders showed up in droves at HESTIVAL 2026 to offer inspiration, optimism for the future of outdoor and to spark conversations. Conor Hall, Colorado’s Director of Outdoor Recreation, was among keynote speakers at the event.

“Colorado’s outdoor industry is deeply connected to our public lands and waters, and HESTIVAL captured that connection perfectly,” said Hall. “ It was inspiring to see outdoor brands, advocates, families, and community leaders come together not just to celebrate the outdoors, but to support the places that power our economy, strengthen our communities, and define so much of Colorado’s identity and way of life.”

The Conservation Alliance is also an integral part of the heartbeat of the industry that partnered with HESTIVAL. Rebecca Gillis, VP of Government Affairs & Advocacy at The Conservation Alliance, had the opportunity to share her voice at the event.

“HESTIVAL shows what’s possible when brands move beyond simply benefiting from public lands and actively investing in protecting them,” said Gillis. “Bringing together advocacy, community, music, education, and joy in one space created something deeply meaningful and reminded all of us that conservation is strongest when people feel personally connected to the places we’re fighting for.”

In addition to celebrating the kickoff of camping season, the success of Hestival also set the stage for the next milestone in HEST’s product lineup. The all new Foamy Camp Chair, originally announced in March, is officially available today on HEST.com. With a temperature-resilient memory foam cushion, the Foamy Camp Chair is built for unmatched comfort, durability, and packability, the Foamy Camp Chair reflects HEST’s vision of bringing the comfort of home to the outdoors, reimagining the next outdoor escape.

HEST Outdoor will showcase the all new Foamy Camp Chair and other camp comfort essentials at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, where attendees can experience the brand’s latest innovations firsthand at booth #J4.

For more information, visit HEST.com.

About HEST Outdoors:

HEST brings the comforts of home to the great outdoors through high-performance, low-maintenance solutions for camping or traveling. HEST was founded in 2019 by outdoor industry product engineer Aaron Ambuske who was looking for a better night’s sleep when spending nights outdoors. Today, HEST is committed to building a line of products that takes the comforts of our home into portable, adventure-ready forms. HEST revels in the idea of enabling more people to get outdoors and enjoy all that they have to offer, especially after a good night’s sleep. Learn more about HEST at www.hest.com.

Media Contact: Lauren Haber, lauren@laurenhabercommunications.com, 412-780-5000