2021 Florida RV Supershow Recap
The Florida RV Supershow kicks off the RV Show season in Florida every year with a serious influx of RVs, entertainment, and fun. It is held every year in January and arguably is the biggest RV show in the country, filling every inch of the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa with RVs and vendor booths. For snowbirds escaping the winter blues to locals looking for a good time and great deals, the Supershow is their chance to see the latest and greatest, attend seminars, and connect with other RVers.
Behind the Scenes of the Florida RV Supershow
Planning an event as huge as the Supershow is an epic task. The event is hosted by the Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA), a non-profit dedicated to supporting and protecting the RV industry in the state of Florida. It takes a full year of planning for the small team at the FRVTA to mastermind the event details. From mapping every square inch of the fairgrounds to plotting food and entertainment, the team never stops thinking about the Supershow.
The show is so big in fact, that it takes about 3 weeks just to bring the RVs onto the fairgrounds. Sunrise to sundown every day, RVs are rolling through the gates in a carefully orchestrated dance of machinery. I was there a couple of days before the gates opened and they were still bringing in RVs and setting up the displays.
On top of the overwhelming amount of planning, 2021 brought the additional hurdle of safety protocols including temperature checks, RV and building disinfection schedules, and social distancing. Post-COVID, there had already been quite a few successfully held shows throughout the state, including the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show and numerous Home Shows. Conferences were held to discuss their protocols and to try to improve upon them whenever possible. In addition, the Florida State Department of Health reviewed the safety plans for the fairgrounds and agreed with the plans.
Serious Shoppers in Attendance
Year over year, the attendance numbers for the show has grown. With the public health concerns, however, the FRVTA expected to have less attendees even though RV sales have been booming as families look for safe travel and vacation options. The 2021 Florida RV Supershow was no exception as longtime RVers and first-time buyers scoured the fairgrounds to find the RV of their dreams.
It seemed like the gates had barely opened when Sold signs started popping up everywhere. The supplier halls were also busy with socially-distanced shoppers stocking up on the latest RV accessories. The campgrounds booths were also kept busy as RVers rushed to reserve the best spots for their vacations.
Upcoming Shows
The Florida RV Supershow happens every year in January. If you missed the 2021 show, mark your calendars now for 2022! It is also a great idea to subscribe to the FRVTA on YouTube and Facebook. If you stay active with the community, you will have plenty of advance notice on the upcoming Supershow. Additionally, the FRVTA hosts multiple regional shows throughout the state of Florida which can be found on the social channels or on the Show Page of their website, frvta.org.
