• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, October 10, 2022

Land Rover is partnering with Chase to offer a celebration where like-minded Defender owners and enthusiasts can gather. 

The weekend event will be held Nov. 12-13  at Oz Farm in Saugerties, New York in the Hudson Valley Region. It is the first time Land Rover has developed an event on the East Coast to celebrate the Defender Lifestyle.

When I recently drove a Defender, the vehicle proved to be more than capable on all terrains, whether it was country backroads or the freeway.   

Given Queen Elizabeth’s recent passing and her devotion to the brand, I found driving the distinctively boxy and rugged vehicle to be an appropriate tribute to her memory.

Destination Defender will offer guests an immersion into the Defender lifestyle. Guests will experience Defender-centric adventure activities, curated vehicles displays, local vendors, food, camping and glamping opportunities.

The event will support Land Rover’s commitment to recognizing U.S. and Canadian nonprofits that go above and beyond for their communities via incorporation of the Defender Service Awards.

The five winners of the 2022 Defender Service Awards will be announced at the event, which also will feature special guest hosts and musical entertainment. Classic and heritage models will be displayed to celebrate iconic Defender vehicles through the decades.

Chase as presenting sponsor will be donating $5,000 to each of the five finalists in each category for a total of $125,000. 

Category sponsors include Pelican for Search and Rescue; Outside Magazine for Environmental & Conservation; Dentsu for Veterans Outreach, ei3 for Community Service; and KONG Company for Animal Welfare. 

Each of the five winning category organizations will receive a new Defender 130, along with $25,000 from the category sponsor. The Queen would definitely  approve. 

The Land Rover Defender is “an iconic vehicle recognized globally for much loved design and extraordinary capability,” says Joe Eberhardt, president and chief executive officer, Jaguar Land Rover North America.

Since its redesign, Defender has created a strong following from a new group of enthusiasts and owners.

The weekend event aims to “celebrate the Defender lifestyle,” he adds.