• by Tanya Gazdik , October 3, 2023

Land Rover is once again partnering with Outside Interactive to bring back its Destination Defender weekend adventure festival. 

The event was first introduced in 2022 in Saugerties, New York, as a way to celebrate the Defender vehicle’s adventure lifestyle and connect with Defender enthusiasts and owners. This year, it will take place this year from Nov. 10-12 at the Iron Horse Ranch in Somerville, Texas. 

Set on 2,400 acres of woodlands, lakes and meadows, the location lends itself to exploration, allowing guests to experience the Defender vehicle’s capability, according to the automaker. 

Outside has tapped into its network of creators, athletes, and personalities to provide such experiences as high-intensity workout classes, guided trail runs, stand-up paddleboarding and mountain biking.

Land Rover and Outside previously partnered for the 4xFar festival in January 2019 in the Coachella Valley venue, the Empire Grand Oasis.

Also on tap will be gourmet outdoor cooking demonstrations and tastings with Ashley Rodriguez of the James Beard Award nominated series, "Kitchen Unnecessary."

The event serves a dual purpose as it also is the venue where the automaker honors organizations who are finalists for the 2023 Defender Service Awards Presented by Chase and announces the six winning nonprofit and charitable organizations. The automaker brought in Chase as a sponsor in 2022.

This year, Defender will be awarding six customized Defender 130 vehicles to U.S. Puerto Rican and Canadian nonprofits and charitable organizations that require a Defender vehicle to further support their communities every day.

ped for 21st century adventures, Defender vehicles feature modern day technologies and all-terrain capabilities with the Defender 90, 110, 130 models. The vehicles will be adventure ready for guests to experience throughout the weekend.  A specially designed off-road trail network will highlight the advanced technologies of the vehicle.