For the 4th Year At Holly Oaks
By Dom Santina, Contributing Writer
While Metro Detroit might be gearing up for two major traditional automotive events in the coming months, there is an off-roading event that is picking up even more steam and continues to grow each year. This alternative auto show is giving rpm enthusiasts another outlet for adrenaline. The Detroit 4 Fest is set to take place at Holly Oaks ORV Park on Saturday, September 17th through Sunday, September 18th. The 4fest will have a vendor village, equipment demos, off road demonstrations, Concours d’Dirt, an Ultra 4 Competition and so much more.
For the four-wheel enthusiast, the 4Fest Events offers two full days of off-road fun and experiences with trails to explore, hills to climb, rock courses to test your skill, and acres to enjoy doing what you love, driving your off-road machine. In addition to the driving experience, 4Fest Events offers a full schedule of offroad skills seminars to make you a better offroad driver, including sessions for complete beginners. Some workshops include offroad skills 101, winching and recovery techniques and vehicle setup with more seminars added as the event comes closer.
The 4Fest Events is your opportunity to drive the latest and greatest trucks and UTV models from manufacturers like Jeep, Polaris, Ford, Honda, and many more. And if checking out the latest and greatest is your thing, then look no further than the packed vendor village.
This year the event will feature an expanded vendor village. The village will have companies sporting some of the best technology, equipment and vehicles in off-roading. The 4fest will honor all Covid protocols and will have separate villages, where there will be less than 100 people per village.
Some of the vendors that attend 4fest include: Jeep, Ford, Honda, Polaris, General RV Center, BDS Suspension, RAM, Progressive, Szott Auto Group, TYRI Off-Road lighting along with many other vendors. A full list can be found on their www.4festevents.com website.
Throughout the event, there will be seminars by industry professionals including offroading skills 101, winching & recovery techniques and vehicle set up. After learning a few things you can wander over to the Powersports & Pickups XPO area. This area designed for enthusiasts to drive, shop and install all the latest and coolest gear on site. The XPO advertises – try it, buy it, install it – onsite… not something you see at an average get together.
If you visit www.4festevents.com right now, you can register one vehicle with one guest pass for $25 which is half off. A great deal as you read through all that is offered.
All new this year will be the Concours d’Dirt, a off-road style classic vehicle show. It will let the spectators get into the mix with a people’s choice 4×4 judging competition for Best Jeep, Best Ford, Best Chevy/GMC, Best Toyota, Best British, Dirty Award and the Long Distance Traveler Award. There are limited registrations available for $20.00 that will include a special Concours d’Dirt parade in the park at 5pm on Saturday.
There will be a grand reveal with the first ever Ultra 4 EV race truck debut. Whether electric vehicles will become a popular choice or not will yet to be determined. But it marks a big step for the ultra 4 racing world to date.
4Fest Events
The Detroit location is one of four events that take place throughout the country. While Detroit and Elk River, Minnesota are the only two listed on the schedule for this year. The group has gone to Idaho and Austin, Texas as well.
As the events have taken place, they had racked up 41,405 trail miles driven and had 21,300 guests come through the gates. A very successful run of events over the past four years. Each event has its own unique opportunities that you must go and check out. As the group has made certain partnerships, it has opened the door for different things to happen at each event. Such as Travis Pastrana, Nitro Circus and Nitro Rallycross will be at the Elk River event later this September.
General Information
The Holly Oaks ORV Park is located at 14551 Shields Road, Holly, Michigan 48442 and just off of I-75.
The gates will open at 9 o’clock on both Saturday and Sunday. You can register online at www.4festevents.com/detroit.
There are six different registration options available starting with the simple guest spectator pass for $10. All the way up to the weekend vehicle pass which costs $50. The weekend pass provides entry to the park and vendor village for one vehicle and one driver, any other passengers must buy a guest pass.
A single-day vehicle pass is $25 and follows the same guidelines as the weekend pass. If you want to register for the Concours d’Dirt it costs $20 and provides a pass for one vehicle and one driver. While also giving a commemorative ribbon for vehicles and a vintage 4×4 park tour. Once again any guest must purchase a guest pass.
Safety Rules
Flags are required for vehicles in the park. The warning flag shall maintain a minimum 10-foot height at stand still and 8-foot in motion. There will be Detroit 4Fest flags available for purchase at the event for a cost of $50 (for a 2 piece flag and mount).
Michigan ORV sticker is required for this event. If you do not have a current ORV sticker they will be available for purchase at the park.
Most vehicles made for off-roading are welcomed to this event and include SXS, UTVs, Jeeps, 4×4 trucks. Please note that for safety, MOTORCYCLES AND ATVs are not allowed at this event.
If you plan to stay for the Weekend
The Groveland Oaks Campground is directly across the street and offers hookups, cabins and yurts for rental. For anyone using a generator for camping or other use during any 4fest event please be certain it is far away from any rv or trailer where any persons might gather or stay.
• Quality Inn Grand Blanc 5.4 miles away.
• Fairfield Inn 5.6 miles away.
• Holiday Inn Express 5.9 miles away.
There are many more choices to the south and north on I-75 within about 10 miles of the off road park.