Equip Exposition was named "The Greatest Trade Show of 2024" by Trade Show Executive in its Gold 100 Awards and Summit.
The sold out, blockbuster show also won the "Against All Odds Award" and ranked the third largest trade show in the country.
"These particular awards are an exceptional achievement by Equip and OPEI staff," said Kris Kiser, president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns and manages Equip Exposition. "Last year was challenging as our registration vendor was a victim of a cyberattack days before the show's opening. Yet the staff was able to pivot and deliver the best show we'd had yet, still seamlessly. That shows the strength of the team."
Equip, a private, business-to-business show, takes place Oct. 21 — 24, at the Kentucky Exposition Center. This year marks the fourth time in a row Equip's trade show floor exhibit space has sold out and, this year, in the shortest amount of time in the show's history. Equip had a record-breaking 28,500 registered contractors, dealers and manufacturers in 2024, and attendee numbers are expected to match or exceed that number this year.
"The outdoor industry is growing and evolving, and we are with it," said Kiser. "Equip has always been a unique show, and we'll continue to seek ways to better serve our members, exhibitors and attendees with new programming, events and experiences. For anyone in the landscape, hardscape, irrigation, tree care and similar outdoor living field, Equip is a unique opportunity for them."
Since OPEI took management of the trade show in-house and rebranded it in 2022, Equip has now been nominated for 15 Grand Awards, and has brought home trophies for "Most Innovative Show" and "Best New Idea" in addition to the recent wins.
In Equip's 30-acre outdoor demo yard, attendees can "test before they invest" by driving, mowing, mulching, cutting, chopping, digging and more with the latest, most innovative equipment. The newly expanded UTV test track, offering a track with mud, rocks and curves, allows attendees to get behind the wheel and try out the latest four-wheel workhorses.
Peer to-peer networking events and classroom, training and education sessions also provides the attending landscapers, dealers, contractors, hardscape experts and outdoor power equipment manufacturers a unique platform to learn from each other.
The show opens with a welcome reception at Churchill Downs sponsored by Caterpillar. Other events include a 4th Street Live! Party sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council, and a concert with Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson at the Kentucky International Convention Center sponsored by Gravely, and more.
Trade Show Executive's prestigious Gold 100 & Summit recognizes the top trade shows held in the United States and offers associations and independent show organizers an opportunity to highlight their achievements. The awards were presented at a TSE Summit in Palm Springs, Calif.
For more information, visit equipexposition.com.
