Given the general lay of the land for the RV marketplace in mid-March of 2026, the leadership of the Family RV Association (FRVA) probably could not have asked for a better overall experience Wednesday through Saturday of last week (March 18-21) for its 112th International Convention at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Ga.
That’s the summary report from FRVA’s Executive Director Doug Uhlenbrock, whose Cincinnati-based RV membership organization has been shifting recently from its original identity as the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) to an all-inclusive, motorhome-and-towable group known as FRVA.
“We had a terrific show,” he said. “The weather started a little iffy when we got people rolling in on Monday. It was rainy and cold. But as the week was going on, it got so much better, weather-wise. The event itself was really good, I think, and people really enjoyed it. All the entertainment was awesome and well-received.
“We had over 100 seminars, our real hallmarks, of course, and many of them were overflowing their capacities,” Uhlenbrock added. “And we had about 120 display RVs on site. So, it ended up being a really great show. I think most people really enjoyed it.”
RV registrations totaled 1,005, with an estimated 2,000 individuals involved.
“We had a good crowd even though we had quite a few people cancel within the last couple of weeks for various reasons,” Uhlenbrock said. “And I can’t say they were all because of the economy or related factors, but I think they played a role in some of our cancellations. But we had a nice turnout. Like I said, the people who were there had a great time. The weather treated us perfectly.”
Among the other highlights Uhlenbrock mentioned was a “Welcome to Perry Party” held downtown that was reportedly well attended by FRVA members and community people as well.
“We had a band down there on Thursday night and they’d set up a stage in front of their city hall with some streets closed off and just had a big party down there,” he told Woodall’s Campground Magazine. “And we had food trucks in addition to all the restaurants in that area, and we had some outdoor bar situations where people could go get drinks and things like that. They also had some photo booth opportunities. So, it was really a nice time both for our attendees and for the community to come together in one place.”
All in all, in Uhlenbrock’s view, it was just the kind of an event that the revamped national RV owners group is trying to promote while reshaping its image in the U.S. recreational vehicle marketplace. In fact, he added, plans are well underway for the next FRVA rally, which is slated, along with its observance of the nation’s 250th birthday party, for July 1-4 in Sedalia, Mo., and will involve new event director Jack O’Reilly Tanner.
