Switchback Spring, June 16-18, 2025 in Nashville, TN
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Switchback at TRE, December 2-4, 2025 in San Antonio, TX
Welcome Party, located at Water’s Edge | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Hosted by Merrell and Outdoor Industry Association
We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Nashville and kick off the debut Switchback Spring! At the Welcome Party, you’ll find food, drinks, live music, outdoor industry bingo, and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. Delta riverboats will also be available for tours, taking guests around the river that flows through the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
The party is open to all: retailers, exhibitors, media, non-profit partners, and other industry members.
Speaker Office Hours, located in the Networking Room (Ryman Studio AB, Level 0) and the Exhibit Hall
Keep the learnings going by visiting four Switchback speakers! Stop by their Office Hours to receive candid advice and actionable insights tailored directly to your unique challenges and questions.
Tuesday, June 17 | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Networking Room
Tuesday, June 17 | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Networking Room
Tuesday, June 17 from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Wednesday, June 18 from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Exhibit Hall, Booth 8
Join Holly Wiese, retail merchandising expert and founder of 3 Dots Design, for a Retail Refresh Session designed to help you improve your store’s layout, visual merchandising and customer experience.
These quick, high-impact consultations are limited to 10–15 minutes and are intended for focused, actionable advice. Bring a few photos of your store, come with specific questions you’d like to tackle, and walk away with fresh ideas and clear next steps!
Exhibit Hall Happy Hour, located on the show floor | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Exhibit hall happy hours will take place on the trade show floor Tuesday evening. Grab a snack and a drink and start mingling! See which brands are participating below, and make sure you stop by their booths before wrapping up your busy day!
“The Rock Fight” Live Recording, located in the Trailheads Theater, Booth 455 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Don’t miss a live recording of The Rock Fight: an outdoor podcast that aims for the head! Host Colin True and co-hosts Eoin Comerford, Shawnté Salabert, and Producer Dave will be joined by multiple guests to talk about everything going down at Switchback!
Morning Hike, located at Shelby Bottoms Greenway | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Meet in the Gaylord Opryland Magnolia lobby between 6:00 AM – 6:15 AM to board the shuttles.
Hosted by Merrell
Start your morning on the right foot with fresh air and a hike through one of Nashville’s local parks. After picking up complimentary breakfast and coffee at the hotel, participants will take a 20-minute shuttle ride over to Shelby Bottoms Greenway. The park is home to five miles of greenway, offering a mix of trail surfaces, river views, wild flowers, and even some wildlife!
Upon arrival, participants can choose to join a group walk or explore on their own. There will be signage with QR digital codes to quickly pull up trail maps and park information.
Last Call in the Hall, located on the show floor | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Last Call in the Hall happy hour will take place on the trade show floor Wednesday afternoon. Celebrate the close of the debut Switchback Spring with snacks, drinks, and good vibes.
All show floor areas will be open during exhibit hall hours: Tuesday, June 17 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Wednesday, June 18 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
The Trailheads Theater is an open and engaging space in the exhibit hall (Booth 455) featuring educational presentations and panels. Leaders from brands, partner organizations, and other industry experts will share data, lead timely discussions, and foster community and conversation. Check out a few sessions:
Tuesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 18
To see the full education program, click here.
Thanks to Helinox for providing Trailhead Theater seating!
The Outdoor Recreation Archive is coming to Switchback, visit them at Booth 158.
In 2017, Utah State University Special Collections and Archives partnered with the College of Agriculture and applies Science’s Outdoor Product Design and Development program to create a historical collection of books, catalogs, periodicals, photographs, and manuscripts documenting the history of outdoor gear. Known as the Outdoor Recreation Archive, its mission is to document the history of the people, products, and brands of the outdoor industry through unpublished documents, published materials, and audio/visual materials. The organization strives to make those materials widely accessible to the public, including students, academics, enthusiasts, industry professionals (including marketing and design), and others with interest in the history of outdoor gear.
The Outdoor Recreation Archive includes:
At Switchback, you’ll get the unique chance to interact with archive materials throughout the event.
Designed in partnership with 3 Dots Design, a leading retail merchandising firm, the Retail Innovation Lab is an interactive space in the exhibit hall. The lab will showcase versatile displays that will inspire retailers to present their merchandise in unique, engaging ways. Participating brands include:
The Campground is a hands-on tent display in the exhibit hall that will allow retailers to explore the latest tents from various brands. Participants can check out the full functionality, size, and materials of the tents, mirroring real-life usage. Participating brands include:
The Product Showcase is just that—a showcase of the latest products from outdoor industry brands. Located near the exhibit hall entrance, stop by to check out what’s new, and then swing by the brands’ booths to learn more about their most recent offerings. Participating brands include:
Christina Henderson, Event Director
[email protected]
214-263-4706
Beth Gordon, New Business Development Director
[email protected]
949-293-1378
Emma Galeckas, Attendee Relations Coordinator
[email protected]
207-842-5607
