OMS Announces Opening Night “Forest Party” at Sierra Nevada
Outdoor Media Summit Announces “Forest Party” in Partnership with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
OMS opening party heads to the woods at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. where 100+ media attendees gather for a night of music, product demos, and of course, great beer.
July 1, 2026 — ASHEVILLE, NC — Outdoor Media Summit (OMS) announces its partnership with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., one of America’s most beloved craft breweries. Forest Party will welcome hundreds of media and brand attendees for an evening of live bluegrass music, southern-inspired food, and hands-on product testing set in their wooded Mills River brewery campus along the French Broad River.
“All the biggest names in outdoor media will be there,” said Yoon Kim, founder of Outdoor Media Summit. “The brands that show up are going to get a lot of exposure.”
The event caps off Day 1 of OMS, following New Gear Speed Date, a hyper-productive product showcase where brands are guaranteed a minimum of 40 meetings with media in a speed date format. Forest Party takes those afternoon conversations outside, into the woods, with a cold beer in hand.
A Little Bit About Sierra Nevada’s Mills River Brewery
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has become one of the most popular destinations in Asheville. Tucked below the brewery along an accessible hiking path, the woodsy Lower Park grove sits right on the French Broad River. No ballroom can replicate this backdrop. The setting is a natural fit for OMS’ Forest Party and its community of writers, creators, and brands who prefer to network and test gear in an outdoor environment.
“We’re excited to welcome media members and outdoor brands to the Sierra Nevada brewery,” said Ashlee Mooneyhan, External Communications Manager at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “Our company has always been inspired by the great outdoors, so it feels only natural that we host the industry’s top professionals to kick-off the Outdoor Media Summit.”
Attendees will hike down to Forest Party for an evening of music, food, and brand activations. Forest Party will give the opportunity for brands to showcase products in the environment they were made for. The brewery will serve as the evening’s host and sponsor, providing the setting, the beers, and the perfect environment to bring OMS attendees together outside.
Why in a Forest?
Like New Gear Campout and Excursions at Outdoor Media Summit, Forest Party is built on a simple premise: outdoor gear stories are best told outside. For brands, it’s an opportunity to get products into the hands of writers who collectively reach millions of readers before the conference programming even begins. For media, it’s a chance to settle into Asheville and make connections with the best brands in the industry.
The momentum from the opening night party will carry into Day 2 on Tuesday, September 29, with a full morning of technical breakout sessions aimed at helping brands and media navigate the ever-changing media-tech, ecommerce and ad-tech landscape. That afternoon, attendees will get more time to test products during Excursions.
About Outdoor Media Summit
Outdoor Media Summit is the largest gathering of gear media in the outdoor industry. It’s where the brightest minds in media and marketing gather to share secrets, forecast the future, and learn to make more money. This year’s conference will take place in the heart of Downtown Asheville from September 28–30, 2026, with the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville serving as the host hotel. OMS brings together editors, writers, brand marketers, and PR professionals for three days of high-value programming, networking, and forward-thinking conversation about the future of outdoor media.
For more information on Outdoor Media Summit or sponsorship opportunities, connect with [email protected].
About Sierra Nevada
Inspired by frequent trips to the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Ken Grossman founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in 1980 and today the brewery remains 100% family-owned and operated. Highly regarded for using only the finest quality ingredients, Sierra Nevada has set the standard for craft brewers worldwide with innovations in the brewhouse and in its sustainability efforts. The pioneering spirit that launched Sierra Nevada now spans both coasts with breweries in Chico, California and Mills River, North Carolina. Sierra Nevada is famous for its extensive line of beers and other beverages including Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing® and a host of seasonal, specialty and limited release beers. Learn more at www.sierranevada.com.
