By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Despite the vagaries of COVID-19, it seems that “The RV show must go on!” applies in Quartzsite. Yes, the Quartzsite Sports Vacation & RV Show, which has for 36 years been a staple of the tiny desert town that gets big every winter, will pop up the big tent for the 37th time – just a half-mile south of I-10.
Teeming crowds
In case you’ve done a “Rip Van Winkle” and snoozed through the last three decades, we’ll bring you up to speed. Quartzsite, Arizona, is a kind of weird “convergence zone” where RVers of all stripes and persuasion spend days, weeks, or even months of a relatively warm winter splattered out across the desert floor. Focal points for many are the gem and mineral shows, swap meets, and vendors who market their wares to the teeming crowds.
Come the middle of January, a big tent – and we mean HUGE tent – pops up on a chunk of otherwise empty ground right alongside Highway 95. Vendors hawking everything from toilet chemistry, to RV hardware, to dream vacations, set up shop in Kenny and Kim King’s tent. When the doors open on the first day, in years past there has always been a crush of RVers wanting to see the latest (or oldest) RV gee-gaws. Yes, the Quartzsite RV show must go on!
Who’s-who of RVing
The King father-daughter team say this year won’t be different, at least from the standpoint of there being lots to see and spend your shekels on. However, precautions for a health-wise visit are set in place. The crowds will be limited to moving in one direction through the show. Plexiglas guards will cut down air movement between vendors and patrons, etc.
Last year show officials estimated 100,000 folks came through “The Largest Consumer
Attended RV Show in the USA.” Will that be the case this year? Time will tell on that one. Still, there’ll be plenty of vendors under the 70,000-square-foot tent roof. Who might you expect? Dometic, the manufacturer of so many things RV, gets top billing as sponsor. You’ll also find Progressive RV Insurance, Dish Network, Thousand Trails/Equity Lifestyles, FMCA, Redlands Truck & RV Service, Plasticover, and plenty more common RV trade names.
While not specified as being behind the tables at the 37th show, last year there were plenty of “work camper” recruiters from businesses, resorts and private campgrounds from all over the nation. As well, representatives were present from several national parks including Yellowstone.
To find out the who’s-who in totality, you’ll need to show up yourself. This year the dates for the 37th Annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show are January 16th through the 24th and the hours are 9-5. You can get more information from the website www.quartzsitervshow.com.
Are you planning on attending? Let us know in the comments below.
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Will the Quartzsite RV show go on? Here’s the latest!
##RVT972b
Not going
Going to give it a pass this year, as even with those precautions, the crush of people that attend the big tent is too much of a risk for this multi-risk RVer.
Makes about as much sense as the Sturgis biker rally.
Only a fool would go there! I expect it to be very successful!
This has all the trappings of a super spreader event. No way am I planning on being even close to this event this year. Stated precautions will be a far cry from what actually will happen with enforcement becoming a challenge. Hope these folks at least have the sense to stay away from family and friends for at least two weeks after attending. Hope this does not end up making the RV community look inconsiderate. Nothing there I cannot research and purchase in safer ways. Good luck to all attendees.
Disaster in the making. Appears to be no mask or social distance mandate here in Arizona, especially Quartzsite. Few employees in retail establishments are wearing masks nor are patrons. I feel bad for what is to come to the Quartzsite community and those affected by snowbirds that become infected by the virus. The spread of the virus will reach far and wide as folks search for medical help when they become sick as there are limited resources here in Quartzsite, Yuma, Parker and Lake Havasu. Best of luck to all who try to weather the winter storm to come. We are packing up and heading back North and will save our winter visit to Quartzsite for another year.
We’re in Yuma, masks all over where we’ve been. Even at the outdoor Arizona Marketplace, and it was uncrowded.
That’s good to hear that they are taking it more seriously in Yuma. The folks in Quartzsite are in a different world. It’s going to be an interesting event, which I will observe from 1,000 miles away. I wish them all the best.
I would not even think about going to this event this year. I look for many future COVID-19 case to originate there.
Been there once. Doesn’t get better with Covid!!
Sounds like a great year to visit. We have avoided it in the past because of crowds. Looks like it maybe less this year due to covid fears.
Won’t be attending. We’re in the East for the winter.
Traveled from the east coast to there last year. Spent the winter traveling the southwest. Had a great time in Quartzsite. Made it home a day before lockdown. Glad we went when we did! Won’t be traveling this winter. Will miss it. ☹
You are the people that are continuing to spread this pandemic even if you yourself haven’t gotten sick…what is it with you people…..does over 220,000 deaths mean nothing to you?
Maybe you misunderstood or maybe I am misunderstanding. Glenn said that he traveled last year but is staying home now, thereby not continuing to spread the pandemic.
Simmer down Domingo….he said he traveled last winter BEFORE the flu, and made it home just as things closed down.
It’s angry knee jerk reactions like yours that make people argue so much.
It’s not “the flu”, Lori. During the 2019-2020 influenza season, it’s estimated that influenza was associated with 22,000 deaths.
In only NINE months, COVID-19 has killed 230,000.
The flu is a walk in the park compared to COVID-19.
I think domingo is reacting to all the naysayers on here who are trivializing that thousands are dying and arizona is the hot spot in the world, and it aint the flu his response its pretty right on, although yes not to glen , but to others ,this is on the world web site which i just finished reading.
After a vaccine for the Chinese virus is released. Before that, no.
China has done a much better job of taming the Chinese virus than the USA. I agree that I would not attend a function like this absent a vaccine. Wise choice.
I read yesterday in LA newsletter that Chinese have a vaccine and are not sharing. Recipients are told to keep quiet. Read in LA Times newsletter headlines, did not have access to full story.
It might end up relieving the crowding on campsites in other areas this summer by killing off campers foolish enough to attend..
Having the Quartzsite show in the middle of winter when this pandemic is still running wild is the height of crazy and is a complete disregard for public safety even if there are people willing to risk it….where have they been all this time and does over 220,000 deaths mean nothing to these people
They all believe it’s “fake news” but Corona doesn’t believe that.
That makes no sense. A giant super spreader event with thousands of at risk older people. We’ll get there one day but definitely not 2021
I would have thought there were a 100,000 people in the tent the first day last year! As much as I read the article with a tingle of excitement, this year we will sit it out due to the pandemic. Will still boondock for a few days in the area but not around show time. Sigh…
Staying in the Holiday Palms park, so will walk over and check it out.
As Canadian Snowbirds that travel with our 5th wheel and as the Border is still not open and unlikely to reopen anytime soon, we will not be heading South this winter. And even if we wee able to, there is no way in hell that we would be going to Quartzsite. The organizers and retailers and sponsors have no regard for the safety of anyone’s health and are simply out to make money. This is a recipe for disaster!!!!!!
Americans value individual freedoms.
Freedom doesn’t include the endangering of others.
You are absolutely free to spread the disease. This is America dude.
You are absolutely free to spread the disease. And we are free to stay away from you. This is America dude.
Thank you for your common sense and sensibility, Mel. As to Americans valuing their individual freedoms, this is why we are seeing almost 100,000 new cases a day. Many of us also believe in science, compassion, and caring for one another. 2020 has been the year of selfishness, and I can only hope that 2021 turns the corner and brings back decency.
On the bright side, we have eliminated the flu and the common cold. All we have left to fix now is the COVID.
No kidding Americans need to step up and try to get ride of this virus SAY HOME THIS YEAR
What border is closed? Los Algadones is not closed.
Hi, Leslie. That comment from Mel was actually posted three years ago. Sorry. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
The Florida Supershow in Jan 2021 is on too. Thanks to our great Governor, FL is open for business. No suppression of individual freedoms in our state.
Yes, freedom to endanger each other. Foolish.
You are absolutely free to spread the disease. This is America dude.
Unfortunately, he’s mine too. He is one of the first to say that Covid-19 does not affect children. He said so on the day, at the same press conference, that one 18 month old died from Covid and another 9 year old was on a vent in Miami-Dade County. I think he opened the beaches one or two weeks later. Now we are seeing a rise in our daily cases, BUT, STOP THE PRESSES!!!!, he thinks the state should SLOW DOWN testing in Florida to lower the case count. Sorry for the rant.
Stay safe, wear a mask and wash your hands!
LOL I was going to post this RV show also. I’m sure there still will be enough people going to be worth doing this show. If we are in Florida at this time, we will go. I imagine also, like most businesses in Florida, they will require mask usage and have hand sanitation stations and have a lower capacity then usual. We can be safe and still continue our lives., it does not have to be an all or nothing lifestyle.
Good for them Great Decision!
Let’s git on with it and continue to live our lives as we see fit.
See you in Quartzite!
We winter in Texas. I would not go anyway due to the pandemic. I hope those who attend are careful.
Will not be attending. I will enjoy my individual freedom away from crowds. May those who disregard science have a wonderful time – until they get covid.
We will be in Quartzsite during the show, just not sure if it is worth the risk to attend the show.
Sheets of plexiglass dangling in a closed tent while ten thousand people mingle and shop. Yeah, that’ll stop the spread of a microscopic virus, not.
This would have been a great year to either skip it, or switch to scattered small units of booths, out in the open air.
I’ll be in Quartzsite, but not for the Tent Show.
I expect to be camping in the desert this year but that superspreader tent and the forest of littler tents across the street will be avoided like the plague that it is.
I just don’t get it. The campgrounds are full, I don’t recall ever seeing someone wearing a mask and we have been to 19 states and 40 campsites in over a 100 days of camping since May. But the super-worriers flood the comments section of these posts and most RV forums.
I guess there are campers and stay at home commenters in the country. I guess the campers don’t have time to comment.
Yeah, I don’t get it either. Remember the old days where you quarantined the sick and left everyone else alone. I live at the Lake of the Ozarks and we’ve had tremendous crowds at various events this year. The media went absolutely nuts, but no follow-up stories about how there wasn’t a major increase in Wuhan deaths.If you are in bad health or afraid, then stay home. But for everyone else, let freedom ring.
You are absolutely free to spread disease. This is America
Campgrounds are safe because sites are socially distanced. Just don’t hang out with neighbors out side the rv. We full-time and are never close to others. Quartzite is a superspreader event. Just wait for covid cases to jump in late January and into February.
I camp every day. I also have the sense to avoid crowded events, and mask up when indoors interacting with people who are sharing recirculated air which may be contaminated.
There is a huge difference between being outdoors in a campground, chatting with people 8 feet away in the open air, and being in a crowd of thousands of people literally rubbing shoulders.
We plan to be there and spend a month or so in Quartzite. There is a big Escapees gathering there besides the show. And algondenes is just down the road
Remember the border is still closed.
I too hope that it’ll be open this winter but am not counting on it. I’d sure like to see my fav dentist and get a few more pairs of eyeglasses.
Just got back from Los Algadones seeing our dentist. The border there is open. Not sure where you got your information.
Hi, Leslie. The comment from Dave J was from three years ago, when it was closed. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
It’s too soon for this. Greed driven. Many RVers are older, and at more risk for COVID-19. I hope they survive this unnecessary and unneeded dangerous event.
Although I enjoyed RV shows in Hershey PA and Quartzite AZ last year, will NOT be attending this year. Just not worth the risk.
We will continue our Southwest travels to state and national parks avoiding crowds, masking and social distancing when necessary.😷☣️🚍🍷
We are currently planning on camping out in the desert. We will probably check out the outside vendors. Inside the tent is dependent on whether we’ve had our 2nd Covid vaccine yet. I’ve been inside the tent many times, so I know exactly what I’ll be missing.
Yes. At least planning to be in Q for part of Jan and Feb….Been to the show the past 3 years. Not sure we want to be with the crowds this year. We’ll see.
It’s all about choices. Some of us do a better job of educating ourselves and make our decisions based on this information. It’s sad to see too many people have no intention of doing this and only think of themselves and their personal rights.
I just read they have cancelled the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show this year because of covid 19; a 200 million dollar impact on the city of Tucson. When this happens, you know they are serious about the pandemic. We usually always attend this show.
Things like this just confirms we are doing the right thing this year and not going to Quartzsite, one of our all-time favorite places we go to each year. It’s going to suck staying at home this winter, but we will feel safer.
Gone to the big tent last four years. 2 family members survived the virus but both left with severe lung damage. Will skip this year
In March I went to CDC site to look up other flu seasons. From 2009 to 2018 according to CDC the swine flu related deaths were over 900,000. NO LOCK DOWNS, NO SOCIAL DISTANCING AND NO MASK! People stayed home if really sick and where careful around the vulnerable . Amazing, CDC and government NOT NEEDED
Chuck, so your saying that 900,000 died from 2009-2018, ten years or 90,000 people per year, can you send us a link that shows that, I am curious.
Thanks, Charlie
Not going. Never have. Doesn’t interest me. Everyone is responsible for their own health so should not expect a lot of sympathy if they attend a gathering unprotected and then get sick. Protect yourself and stay safe. And stop blaming the government for the spread of this virus. Do your part.
This will be a super-spreader nightmare. Few people around Quartzsite are wearing masks now. I walked out of the Roadrunner grocery store last week because an employee was wearing his mask around his chin, and just smiled at me and walked away when I told him for the third time to put it on. I go over to Blythe in California to do my shopping now – everyone there is wearing masks. Although I ridicule the People’s Republic of California on most issues, this is one thing they have got right. I’ll be spending this winter in the California desert instead of Arizona.
So many people are arrogant walking around without masks and not social distancing. They think they are smart but they are a special kind of stupid. Maybe if we lose another 250, 000 lives they”ll consider wearing a mask. .. I think I’ve given up and have written them off as brain dead already!
We will be in Quartzsite at that time, but going nowhere near the show.
We plan to be at Black Rock RV Resort, a few miles from Quartzite, during the event. We did the Big Tent last year, but doubt we’ll go this year. COVID too much of a risk.
Once Covid is under control, the elections are over, hurricane season ends, and wild fires under control, what will we argue about?
Believe me there will be something…. I have gone three times and although it is a nice mindless stroll, that allows you to recharge, I think I will pass it up this year. There is a private cove south of Santa Barbara calling my name. There may be maybe 4 or 5 other rigs there but the distance is in 100’s of yds not just a few feet. I will feel safer and be able to enjoy my mindless strolls on the beach….
I wouldn’t go anywhere near an event such as this during the covid pandemic! It would be irresponsible and reckless. This could well surpass what we know as a super-spreader event! My doctor feels I had covid in Jan before they were even testing for it. I thought I was dying!! I don’t feel like I would survive it a second time as I’m still having trouble with my lungs ten months later! I’m extremely disappointed in the shortsightedness of the event organizers.
Totally agree!
Agree with you completely.
Although we’ll be set up for the winter in the LaPasa LTVA near Q. I think we’ll skip the show this year out of a possible overabundance of caution. Having other medical issues the covid thing could well prove fatal and we’ve already seen the show for many years in a row and usually spent less than $20. there. Twill be no big loss to miss a few.
please know it is not an overabundance of caution…you are using common sense!
We really enjoy camping at Quartzite for a few days every January and I’m looking forward to going again this year. We love the swap meets and gem shows. We also like seeing all the new RVs. Best of all we seem to always meet some nice people who, like ourselves, are just looking to enjoy time in the desert. We will most likely wear a mask when we attend these events. However, we are younger and not of high risk and we have no health issues and thus are not too worried about catching the virus. Of course if one of us feels sick, we wouldn’t go.
I just came out of the hospital with Covid…wondering why people think this show is worth spreading the Virus! Numbers of people contracting Covid and being hospitalized is on the rise. Why are people still refusing to wear masks and social distance??? Where is common sense?
We will be in Florida this coming winter and avoiding crowds.
This show is my definition of greed. Given the recent uptick in Covid cases, a show like this will only result in more cases of Covid in Arizona which is already suffering from a horrible increase of sickness. And those attending will spread the disease to where ever they have come from.
We are still early (4 years) in our RVing career and have not gone to Quartzsite (at all, let alone the RV show) in the past, nor do we plan to attend this year. We generally work around the farm during the winter, sometimes taking a short (say, 1- or 2-week) trip in February, but generally taking advantage of hibernating snakes to clear undergrowth; create, pile, and burn brush; and make improvements. So, we are unlikely to ever make it to Quartzsite.
I would be there enjoying Quartzite and would attend the show (and yes the tent too).. But, I’m from Canada and our freedom has been removed for 10 months now.. We aren’t allowed to cross the border anymore by land.. Motorhomes don’t fly well.. This covid crap has the potential to destroy freedom without the population even raising a voice.. You had better accept all these shutdowns, because others know whats best for you!! I just hope some level of common sense does return.. I have actually talked to people that thought shutting the border forever would be the best way to go!! Seems to me we fought some pretty good wars to ensure those people were silenced!!
Hey Ray, move to the US, you will fit right in, because you definitely don’t share the view myself or all Canadians have.
We are hoping to attend for the first time. We were unable to get away in 2018 and 2019 for various reasons and hope the weather breaks to allow us to drive down from WA State. RV Travel – thanks for all you do for us!!!
We are here in Quartzsite now for the winter, but we won’t be attending the show for the first time. To many people don’t wear masks and that may be their right, but we won’t be there to walk around. Can find what we need online, not with people coughing and breathing in our face.
Spending the winter in Benson, AZ southeast of Tucson. Probably will use regular precautions as health officials recommend — contact separation, face masks, etc. Want to avoid Quartzsite completely. Too much “togetherness” for me.
As full-time RVers for 14 years my husband and I attended the Quartzsite RV show many times. However, the memories of how tightly people could pack themselves, their walkers, their baby carriages, their arm loads of purchases and their dogs in the big tents bring back the panic I felt when I could barely breathe and crawled on my hands and knees between peoples’ legs and under display tables (there was more air down there) until I could find an opening in the side of the tent to escape the mass of humanity confined in the long tents with very few exits. Unfortunately I was not the only person to be traumatized in those surroundings. From that year on we never went to the Quartzsite RV show on the weekend. It was less crowded during the week.
NO WAY would my wife and I think about attending this or any other RV show until the pandemic is history!!!!
Not this year… Not because of the virus.. It’s just a virus… but have plans to stay south this year. I’ll be there next year.
I understand people nomadding in the area who want to get out of the RV and go look at stuff, most of which has nothing to do with RV’ing, but there is a deadly pandemic going on and everytime there is an event like this, there is a huge spike in new case’s, sure “it’s fake” but there are tens of thousands that would disagree with you but they can’t because they’re dead. Not me, I’m 65 and healthy and want to stay healthy but I have to stay safe, at my age, if I catch it, I’m toast. It will be impossible to keep 6′ a part and half of the people wearing mask will be wearing it on their beard, their neck or their forehead or not at all.
I have no problem with going to Quartzsite and hanging around outdoors with with my friends. If we get a few days, we’ll go. But that tent? You couldn’t pay me to do that.
Brought the RV there two weeks ago for the season. We’ll be attending and wear masks where needed and try to social distance. We haven’t refrained from shopping at grocery stores, or gas stations either. This ‘pandemic’ which is less deadly than seasonal flu for the under 40 crowd and only slightly more so for we seniors with today’s improved treatments, isn’t going to make me cower in the basement. The unbridled fear of this by so many just shows the power the media has over us. Let the haters have at it.
Have you had this virus, well I have. It’s no damn fun.
As a truck cab over camper newbie, I plan on attending the Quartzite RV show.
Not Attending. It is just ludicrous to go to the show where it’s assholes and elbowsAnd just a terrible place and you will get the Covid being that close to people. Stay home people it’s not worth getting sick for a few little RV trinkets.
So many people worried about my health but they don’t mind killing babies with abortion?
These big tent promoters should be given fines by La Paz county health department. Or be sued by people who get the Covid when attending this event.
Really sad that ignorance takes precedent over science. When this pandemic started the death count was 15 and some ignorant human said the virus would disappear! Now the death count around the world is in the millions, daily case counts are astronomical and people still aren’t afraid of it. Not being afraid of Covid is like putting your hand on a stove top and expecting to use that hand again. Staying home is the only way to avoid people who don’t care about their own health and certainly they care less about the people around them.