'Epic!': Expect Daytona's Jeep Beach to go 'really big' when it opens Friday, April 19

Jim Abbott, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Updated ·5 min read

HOLLY HILL — Surrounded by several dozen Daytona Beach Jeep Beach volunteers, Charlene Greer, the founder of the annual celebration of the iconic SUV brand and the lifestyle it represents searches for the right way to describe expectations for this year’s 10-day event that officially opens on Friday.

“What’s the proper word?” she asks, pausing for dramatic effect.

“Epic. Yes, I think that’s a good word. With all the changes we’re bringing to the experience of Jeep Beach, this year is going to be really big. We’re all really excited.”

Jeep Beach founder Charlene Greer and her husband, Kurt, pose next to their Jeep outside the Copper Bottom Craft Distillery in Holly Hill. "Epic," is the word that Charlene Greer uses to describe expectations for this year's Jeep Beach, which unfolds from April 19-28 in Daytona Beach.
Jeep Beach founder Charlene Greer and her husband, Kurt, pose next to their Jeep outside the Copper Bottom Craft Distillery in Holly Hill. "Epic," is the word that Charlene Greer uses to describe expectations for this year's Jeep Beach, which unfolds from April 19-28 in Daytona Beach.

Now in its 21st year, Jeep Beach has continued to expand, adding the inaugural daylong Jeep Beach Radio Music Fest on the infield at Daytona International Speedway to kick-off the closing weekend of the event that runs through April 28 in Daytona Beach.

Music fest celebrates connection

More: Headed to Jeep Beach in Daytona? Check out One Daytona, offering fun, shopping, dining

On April 26, the music festival will feature the lineup of country singer-songwriter Lee Brice (“One of Them Girls”), country star Craig Morgan, the Wailers, singer-songwriter Maggie Rose and California-based sibling duo the Wheeland Brothers.

Those registered for Jeep Beach can buy reduced price tickets to the music fest during registration. For others, general admission tickets are available for $75 at jeepbeach.com.

Jeep Beach founder Charlene Greer and her husband, Kurt, broadcast on the air from the Daytona Beach studios of Jeep Beach Radio, one of numerous spin-offs from the successful 10-day Jeep beach celebration that's now in its 21st year.
Jeep Beach founder Charlene Greer and her husband, Kurt, broadcast on the air from the Daytona Beach studios of Jeep Beach Radio, one of numerous spin-offs from the successful 10-day Jeep beach celebration that's now in its 21st year.

The multi-act music festival expands on a "post-Main Event" concert by pop singer-songwriters Colbie Caillat and Tim Montana on the closing weekend of last year’s event.

Check out Jeep Beach Radio: On the radio: Here's the music that powers Daytona Jeep Beach

“Music and Jeeping go hand-in-hand,” Greer said, “so to bring live music to the event and keep it at a family-friendly, community-friendly price point is huge.”

New branded Jeep Beach Bourbon also debuts

An informal pre-event pep rally for some two dozen leaders of the event’s legion of roughly 300 volunteers earlier this week at Copper Bottom Craft Distillery offered sample tastings of yet another new spin-off, Jeep Beach Bourbon, a collaboration between the event and the popular Holly Hill distillery.

It’s the follow-up to Copper Bottom’s previously released Jeep Beach Silver Rum and Jeep Beach Aged Rum. There are two more varieties soon to come, Greer said.

“We love these collaborations to shine a light on local businesses,” Greer said. “These are families, these are our friends, and we want to let people know what they are doing.”

How big is Jeep Beach?

Jeep Beach typically draws tens of thousands of attendees, according to Greer, the event’s executive director and chairwoman. In 2023, the event attracted more than 225,000 visitors and 25,000 Jeeps to Daytona Beach, a throng that represented all 50 states and 34 countries, according to the event’s official website.

In addition, a staff of more than 300 volunteers works a cumulative total of more than 6,700 hours over the event week, beyond time spent in year-round preparation.

At the Copper Bottom event, one of those volunteers, Raul Ramirez, 54, said that he discovered the event and its work to support an array of area charities and community organizations when he moved to Palm Coast from Connecticut about six years ago.

Although initially not a Jeep owner he was inspired by the event to buy his first, a Rubicon Gladiator, about three years ago. Now, his wife also owns one and he’s involved in Jeep Beach volunteer work year-round, he said.

“It’s everything positive that it does to support the community,” he said of the event’s appeal. “I wanted to be part of it because it’s contagious what they do. So I went out and bought a Jeep.”

Nearby, another volunteer, Jada King, 44, travels with her daughter, Rachel, from Salt Springs in Marion County to help with the event.

“It’s just a family,” she said of the community of Jeep owners. “You can buy one and you have instant friends that come with it.”

Jeep Beach built on charitable mindset

Incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity in 2017, Jeep Beach Inc. has donated over $4.1 million to area charities over the past decade through the event’s annual weeklong fund-raising efforts. Recipients include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia & Flagler Counties; the NASCAR Foundation; the Childhood Cancer Foundation, as well as more than 70 additional nonprofit groups.

A Jeep takes on the obstacle course at Daytona International Speedway during Jeep Beach 2023.
A Jeep takes on the obstacle course at Daytona International Speedway during Jeep Beach 2023.

On its closing day, the event’s community-oriented approach is reflected in the traditional Jeep Beach parade along the sands of Daytona Beach, where an armada of Jeep owners pick up and dispose of trash to leave the beach better than they found it.

What’s the schedule of Jeep Beach events?

Here are a few highlights of the 10-day event:

Kickoff Night: 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 19; Ormond Brewing Company, 301 Division Ave., Unit 15, Ormond Beach.

Official Let’s Get This Party Started, meet-and-greet: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, April 20; Destination Daytona, Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 1, Ormond Beach.

Jeep Beach 5K and Fun Run: 7:30-11:00 a.m. Sunday, April 21; Riverfront Esplanade, 249 N. Beach Street, Daytona Beach.

Jeep Beach Luau – Celebrating Jimmy Buffet’s Legacy: 5-9 p.m. April 23; One Daytona, 1 Daytona Blvd., Daytona Beach.

Jeeps At The Rock, beach party on the sand behind Hard Rock Hotel: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 24 and 25; Hard Rock Hotel, 918 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach.

JB24 Main Event Show, with vendors, obstacle course and more, sponsored by Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 26 and 27; Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.

World Famous Jeep Beach Parade: 6:45 a.m. April 28; The annual closing-day Jeep Beach Parade illustrates the event’s community-oriented mindset. Jeeps start cruising the beach early for the annual “Jeep Beach Sweep” to pick up and dispose of trash to leave the beach better than they found it.

If you go

WHAT: Jeep Beach

WHEN: April 19-28

WHERE: Throughout Daytona Beach and Volusia County, including Daytona International Speedway, One Daytona and Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach.

ONLINE: jeepbeach.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Jeep Beach ready to roll April 19-28 in Daytona Beach