Test equipment in the Outdoor Demo Yard at the 2022 Equip Exposition

Newly expanded to nearly 30 acres, the outdoor demo space allows grounds management professionals, dealers and other attendees to “test before they invest” in new equipment to see if it’s right for their business.

Equip Exposition, owned and managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), will be held Oct. 18 – 21, 2022 in Louisville, Ky., at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). The show draws thousands of attendees and 1,000+ exhibitors that cover 675,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space in addition to the Outdoor Demo Yard, where attendees can drive, dig, mulch, cut, trim, mow, saw and more to see how the equipment handles and performs before making critical buying decisions.

“Companies that have never reserved outdoor demonstration areas to show their products are lining up to be outside this year,” Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI, said.

The Outdoor Demo Yard is open on Oct. 19 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“As the industry innovates, more technology is being introduced into landscape care and planning. The Outdoor Demo Yard is where you can see and try the newest developments in our industry – from the latest robotic and zero-turn mowers to the toughest UTVs,” said Kiser. “Additionally, changing regulations in California are forcing sizable shifts in what equipment can be sold and used, and Equip Exposition is the best place to see and get a hands-on experience with the equipment of the future.”

The Eqiup Expo also includes the “UTV Driving Experience,” where attendees can drive and compare the latest vehicles while putting them through their paces on curves, hills, rocks and bumps. Attendees 16 or older with a valid driver’s license will be able to drive alongside a representative of the manufacturer who can answer questions about load capacity, features, price and more.