HESTIVAL Returns for Fifth Year with Full Dedication to Public Lands in Partnership with The Conservation Alliance

September 23, 2025

2026 dates announced with a reimagined, purpose-driven festival celebrating music, car camping, outdoor recreation, and conservation.

SEATTLE (September 23, 2025 ) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – After four incredible years of bringing campers, overlanders, music lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts together to kick off camping season, HESTIVAL is leveling up in 2026—transforming into a purpose-driven festival fully dedicated to protecting America’s public lands in partnership with The Conservation Alliance.

From May 1–3, 2026, HESTIVAL returns to Big B’s Delicious Orchards in Hotchkiss, Colorado, where the tradition of camping beneath starry skies and blossoming apple trees, enjoying live music, outdoor adventures, and delicious local food and drink continues. This year, the spirit of celebration comes with even greater purpose—amplifying awareness, raising funds, and uniting a community of advocates to safeguard the places where we play, connect, and camp.

As a proud member of both 1% for the Planet and The Conservation Alliance (TCA), HEST was inspired by TCA’s Brands for Public Lands coalition to share the HESTIVAL platform for a greater cause. The 2026 festival is dedicated entirely to public lands and will spotlight the event’s national and local nonprofit partners, who are both 1% for the Planet environmental partners: The Conservation Alliance and the Western Slope Conservation Center. A majority of sponsorship and ticket proceeds will directly benefit these efforts, ensuring HESTIVAL has a lasting impact well beyond the weekend.

Alongside music, camping, and outdoor activities, the reimagined HESTIVAL will feature advocacy panels, educational talks, and action tents hosted by TCA and partners, where attendees can learn how to take tangible steps to protect public lands for generations to come.

“The community we’re building at HESTIVAL continues to inspire us,” said Aaron Ambuske, founder of HEST. “We’re excited to evolve the experience in partnership with The Conservation Alliance and make this a purpose-driven festival—celebrating not only music, camping, and the outdoors, but also the protection of the public lands that make it all possible.”

“Public lands are at the heart of our outdoor experiences, and events like HESTIVAL provide an incredible platform to bring people together in celebration and advocacy,” said Paul Hendricks, Executive Director at The Conservation Alliance. “Businesses like Hest and communities across western Colorado and beyond depend on the preservation of outdoor spaces for recreation, economic vitality and job creation. We’re proud to partner with HEST to inspire action, raise awareness, and protect the wild places that make outdoor adventures possible for future generations.”

HESTIVAL is actively seeking mission-aligned brand sponsors to support this evolution. Eighty percent of sponsorship contributions will go directly to The Conservation Alliance and count toward a sponsor’s annual 1% for the Planet cash commitment, with the remainder helping to cover booth space and event expenses.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact mj@hest.com.

The 2026 band lineup and ticket sales will be announced in early 2026. Stay tuned for updates at hest.com/pages/hestival.

About HEST

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 all the best things from 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 or a restful experience at camp. Learn more about HEST at www.hest.com.