Daily ScheduleOpenVan Tours & DIY ContestRaffle InfoFood TrucksMusic

Please be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page, below the schedule table for details about the activities and the food trucks that will be available each day. Changes and additions to the schedule are likely at this early stage of planning!

General Information

Campers be sure to arrive between 11:00 am and 6:30pm on Friday. Gates to the park close at 6:30pm and do not re-open until 9:00 am on Saturday. Gates close at 6:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. We highly recommend campers arrive on Friday or early Saturday. Please check out our FAQs for more information.

Day pass ticket holders are welcome to join us between the hours of 10:00am to 9:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. However, the park gates close at 6:30pm. So, if you’re a day pass attendee, please exit the park by 6:30pm or, if you stay later, we will be opening the gates for a 10 minute window at 7:30pm and 9:00. Those windows will be your ONLY opportunity to exit the park after 6:30pm and overnight camping for day pass attendees is not allowed. So, please plan accordingly!

We recommend bringing your own chair/blanket and refreshments to each location.

One of our goals as organizers of this event is to minimize waste. So, please bring your own cups, dishware and silverware for the festivities. There will be food and drinks for sale but you’re welcome to bring your own.

If you ever have any questions, please visit the Vanlife Outfitters Pavilion – there will be at least one team member there from noon until 7:00 pm on Friday and from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Leafy Lounge and Village Green are hangout spots that are open each day.  Some special events will be hosted at these locations which are detailed below.

Check out our maps page to see a site map of the amazing Withlacoochee River Park and the “village map” of what we’ll create together over the weekend including the various venue and street names that are unique to Peace Love & Vans.

Daily Schedule

Please note that what you see below is the 2024 schedule. We have just started planning for our 2025 event but you can expect even more awesome stuff!

What When Where Go on… tell me more…
Friday, March 7th, 2025 (Camping Ticket Holders Only)
Arrival & Welcome 11:00am – 6:30pm Groovy Grove Campground You made it! Welcome! Please don’t arrive earlier than 11:00am on Friday and be sure to have arrived by the time the gates close at 6:30pm on Friday or Saturday or you’ll have to wait outside the park, which would suck.
Live Music: TBD 4:00pm – 5:00pm Swingin’ Stage
Kickoff with Campfire and S’mores 5:30pm – 10:00pm Leafy Lounge & Village Green Join us for drinks, socializing, and s’more!
Live Music: TBD 7:30pm – 9:00pm Swingin’ Stage
Saturday, March 8th, 2025
Good Vibes Morning Coffee 8:00am – 10:00am Vanlife Outfitters Pavilion Bring your favorite morning beverage or sample the offerings from the food truck, Glazed & Confused and join the community at the Vanlife Outfitters Pavilion and Village Green.
Yoga: Instructor TBD 9:00am – 10:00am Talking Tree Join us for some yoga and salute the sun! A gentle flow through accessible postures with light breath work. All levels are welcome🙏☀️- bring a yoga mat or towel.
Day pass ticket holder entry begins at 10:00am.
Expo area open.
Victron Energy Trailer Tours & Expert Electrical System Advice 10:00am – 5:00pm Victron Energy Trailer Come by the Victron Energy training trailer to tour example power systems and get your questions on their products or electrial systems in general answered by experts from Victron Energy and Vanlife Outfitters. We’ve also partnered with War Horse All Terrain to demo a state-of-the-art 48-volt secondary alternator Victron-based power system in a Sprinter van that you can check out right next to the Victron trailer. Go blue power!
Guided Tour/Hike of Withlacoochiee Park 10:00am – 11:30am Vanlife Outfitters Pavillion Gather up at the Vanlife Outfitters Pavillion to join other cool cats for a fun exploration of the beautiful nature park that is the venue for the event with Duane who has been the park administrator for decades!
Workshop: TBD 10:00am – 11:00am Talking Tree
OpenVan Tours & DIY Contest Voting 11:00am – 4:00pm Groovy Grove and Chillville Campgrounds Check out the creativity and diversity of our community and meet fellow vanlifers by touring their vans. Participating rigs will have signs/info so you know which vans you can tour. Use your DIY Contest voting card that you received when you arrived at the event to vote for your favorite! More information on the OpenVan Tours and DIY contest .
Workshop: TBD 11:00am – noon Talking Tree
Workshop: TBD 1:00pm – 2:00pm Talking Tree
Workshop: TBD 3:00pm – 4:00pm Talking Tree
Saturday Raffle 4:00pm – 5:00pm Swingin’ Stage There will be awesome prizes in our raffle on both Saturday and Sunday. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Vanlife Outfitters Pavilion. More info.
Note: park gates close at 6:30pm.

If you’re a day pass attendee, please exit the park by 6:30pm or, if you stay later, we will be opening the gates for a 10 minute window at 7:30pm and 9:00. Those windows will be your ONLY opportunity to exit the park after 6:30pm and overnight camping for day pass attendees is not allowed. So, please plan accordingly!
Happy Hour sponsored by Victron Energy 6:00pm – 7:00pm Leafy Lounge & Village Green Join us for drinks, socializing, and sunset at the Leafy Lounge & Village Green. Thanks to our sponsor, camper ticket holders will get one free drink ticket that can be redeemed at the Leafy Lounge bar during happy hour. You’re welcome to bring your own food or drink.
Evening Chill at the Lounge 7:00pm – 9:00pm Leafy Lounge Come and chill out with all the cool cats in the Leafy Lounge which is tucked inside a forest of trees. We’ll set the vibe with campfires and mood lighting. Expect lively conversation and plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with other vanlifers.
Star Gazing 7:00pm – 9:00pm Connected Camp Campground Join our friends from the St. Petersburg Astronomy club who will be sharing their telescopes, knowledge and passion of the skies. Turns out Withlacoochee River Park is a particularly groovy place to star gaze.
Live Music: TBD 7:00pm – 9:00pm Swingin’ Stage
Late Night at the Lounge 9:00pm – midnight Leafy Lounge Calling all night owls to the Leafy Lounge! We’ll keep the campfires going so the late-nighters can gather at the lounge and enjoy music and conversation before retiring to camp.
Sunday, March 9th, 2025
Good Vibes Morning Coffee 8:00am – 10:00am Village Green Bring your favorite morning beverage or sample the offerings from the food truck, Glazed & Confused and join the community at the Vanlife Outfitter Pavilion and Village Green.
Yoga: Mike Lyons 9:00am – 10:00am Talking Tree Join our very own support tech, Mike and salute the sun! A gentle flow through accessible postures with light breath work. All levels are welcome🙏☀️- bring a yoga mat or towel.
Workshop: TBD 10:00am – 11:00am Talking Tree
Day pass ticket holder entry begins at 10:00am.
Expo area open.
Victron Energy Trailer Tours & Expert Electrical System Advice 10:00am – 5:00pm Victron Energy Trailer Come by the Victron Energy training trailer to tour example power systems and get your questions on their products or electrial systems in general answered by experts from Victron Energy and Vanlife Outfitters. We’ve also partnered with War Horse All Terrain to demo a state-of-the-art 48-volt secondary alternator Victron-based power system in a Sprinter van that you can check out right next to the Victron trailer. Go blue power!
Workshop: TBD 11:00am – noon Talking Tree
OpenVan Tours and DIY Build Contest 11:00am – 2:00pm Groovy Grove & Chillville campgrounds Check out the creativity and diversity of our community and meet fellow vanlifers by touring their vans. Participating rigs will have signs/info so you know which vans you can tour. Use your DIY Contest voting card that you received when you arrived at the event to vote for your favorite! More information on the OpenVan Tours and DIY contest .
Workshop: TBD Noon – 1:00pm Talking Tree
Workshop: TBD 1:00pm – 2:00pm Talking Tree
DIY  Build Contest Winners Announced 3:30pm – 4:00pm Swingin’ Stage Come on down to the Swingin’ Stage for the announcement of the DIY Build Contest “Best in Row” winners for each row as well as the “Best in Show” winner!
Workshop: TBD 3:30pm – 4:30pm Talking Tree
Sunday Raffle 4:30pm – 5:00pm Swingin’ Stage There will be awesome prizes in our raffle on both Saturday and Sunday. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Vanlife Outfitters Pavilion. More info.
Note: park gates close at 6:30pm.

If you’re a day pass attendee, please exit the park by 6:30pm or, if you stay later, we will be opening the gates for a 10 minute window at 7:30pm and 9:00. Those windows will be your ONLY opportunity to exit the park after 6:30pm and overnight camping for day pass attendees is not allowed. So, please plan accordingly!
Happy Hour sponsored by Vanlife Outfitters 6:00pm – 7:00pm Village Green & Leafy Lounge Join us for drinks, socializing, and sunset at the Leafy Lounge & Village Green. Thanks to our sponsor, camper ticket holders will get one free drink ticket that can be redeemed at the Leafy Lounge bar during happy hour. You’re welcome to bring your own food or drink.
Trivia Night 6:00pm – 7:00pm Swingin’ Stage Let’s get trivial! Come down to the Swingin’ Stage for trivia night. You can either form your own team or ask to be assigned to a team randomly. This is sure to be a fun hour!
Evening Chill at the Lounge 7:00pm – 9:00pm Leafy Lounge Come and chill out with all the cool cats in the Leafy Lounge which is tucked inside a forest of trees. We’ll set the vibe with campfires and mood lighting. Expect lively conversation and plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with other vanlifers.
Live Music: TBD 7:00pm – 9:00pm Swingin’ Stage
Late Night at the Lounge 9:00pm – midnight Leafy Lounge Calling all night owls to the Leafy Lounge! We’ll keep the campfires going so the late-nighters can gather at the lounge and enjoy music and conversation before retiring to camp.
Monday, March 10th, 2025
Good Vibes Morning Coffee 8:00am – 10:00am Village Green Bring your favorite morning beverage and join the community at the Pavilion and Village Green. Sorry, no food trucks are available.
Fare Thee Wells 10:00am – 11:00am All vans must be gone by 11am Please help us clean up the area so we are invited back next year!

OpenVan Tours

We are consistently amazed at the creativity and innovation we see in DIY van builds, so we wanted to showcase this talent in the OpenVan tour and a DIY Van Build contest. In our first year (2023), this was one of the favorite activities during the gathering!

On Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm participating campers will open their vans for tours. This will be an awesome opportunity to see a huge range of layouts and get inspiration!

The OpenVan tours are in the Groovy Grove and Chillville campgrounds only (check out the village map). If you’re “van curious” and want to check out vans, be sure to roam the streets of these campgrounds to check out tons of conversions. You’re almost guaranteed to be inspired!

If your rig is for sale, you’re welcome to promote that during the OpenVan tours as well.

DIY Build Contest

Entering Contest
Anyone who participates in the OpenVan tours in Groovy Grove or Chillville campgrounds (see village map) can choose to enter our DIY Build Contest! To enter, visit the Vanlife Outfitters Pavillion and ask for a contest voting box – these are available for free. To enter the contest, your voting box needs the following four items written on it with a marker:

  1. Your name
  2. Your rig’s name
  3. Your street’s name
  4. Which row you’re in on that street (east side or west side)

Please remember this contest is for DIY rigs which means that you did all or substantially all of the work on the build yourself!

Voting
All attendees (campers and day pass) will be given a voting card. As they tour vans they can choose their favorite and vote for it by simply placing their voting card into the voting box at their favorite rig. Voting will end at 2pm on Sunday. If you’re a contestant you MUST bring your voting box to the Vanlife Outfitters Pavillion by 2:30pm on Sunday. Our team will count the votes. The rig with the most votes in each “row” (each the streets in our village has two rows – east side and west side) will win the “Best in Row” award and the rig with the most votes in the entire contest will win “Best In Show”. Winners will be announced at the Swingin’ Stage at 3:30pm on Sunday.

Promote Your Rig!

If you’d like to participate in the OpenVan tours and/or the DIY Build Contest and show off your rig, we highly recommend that you bring stuff to decorate and promote your work. This can include signs with information about the build, flags, lights or even hand-outs! Be creative and be sure to include the name you’ve given your build. We will NOT be providing signs about the tour/contest.

DIY Build Contest Prizes

Best in Row winners will receive a free ticket to next year’s event, a Best in Row sticker, and a large helium balloon to tie to their rig so attendees can tour the judge’s favorite vans. The Best in Show winner will receive a free ticket to next year’s event, 2x Flat-Jack air levelers, a $200 gift card to Vanlife Outfitters, a free event t-shirt, and a Best in Show sticker.

Raffles

Every camping ticket holder will receive one raffle ticket upon entry. Both campers and day pass ticket holders can purchase additional raffle tickets at the Vanlife Outfitters Pavilion at a cost of $1 per ticket or 6x tickets for $5. We have nearly $15,000 in raffle prizes lined up – everything from Webasto heaters to one-of-a-kind crafts! Raffle ticket sales support the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club.

Raffle winners will be announced at 4:00pm Saturday and 4:30m on Sunday at the Swingin’ Stage. Raffle prizes are distinct for Saturday and Sunday. To enter the raffle, simply drop your raffle ticket(s) into the box corresponding to the prize you want to win. In some cases, there will be more than one of the same prizes, in which case, there will be multiple winners and this will be noted on the raffle box. You must be present to win.

Food Trucks

We’ll have a variety of food trucks each day. We have made it our goal to support locally owned businesses as much as possible during the Florida Vanlife Gathering.  Below is a listing of the food trucks that will be attending the Florida Vanlife Gathering. They are mostly based in Dade City or in the area directly surrounding Dade City, FL. This list may change at any time.

Friday

  • TBD

Saturday

  • TBD

Sunday

  • TBD

Awesome Live Music Every Night!

Saturday & Sunday – Info Coming Soon!