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Dear Ruck the Ridge sponsors and non-profits,

November 8th is almost here! Thank you so much for your sponsorship and support of this unique celebration of service and sacrifice. This note is intended to confirm which organizations plan to be present at Ruck the Ridge on Nov 8th and to provide information so that you can plan your day at the event.

At the bottom of this email is the list of the organizations that have indicated that they intend to participate in our “RuckFest Expo” by sharing information about your organization with visitors and participants at the RuckFest. If your plans have changed - either you did not indicate that you planned to participate but would like to, or the other way around - please let us know, not later than Wednesday November 5th, by sending a note to rucktheridge@livingfree2gether.org.

For those who do participate, here is some important event info and basic instructions:

Ruck the Ridge will be held at the Blue Ridge School. Click here for a Google Maps link to the front gate location. The main parking area for Ruck the Ridge is a practice athletic field directly across from the front gate.
The RuckFest Expo will be set up along a small gravel road that runs along the edge of the main RuckFest area, which is just inside the BRS front gate and to the right.
Each of you will be assigned a space large enough for a (self-supplied) 10’x10’ tent and your supplies. If you need a larger area, please let us know as soon as possible.
Once the Ruck the Ridge event opens to participants at 8:10am we will limit vehicle access to the RuckFest Expo area - so please plan to arrive with enough time so you can check in, drive to the Expo area to offload your gear, and park your car back in the main parking area by 8:10am. We will be on site and the area will be open for setup as early as 7:00am, but arrival between 7:30 and 7:45am should give most of you plenty of time.
When you arrive, tell the parking monitor outside the gate that you are an Expo participant and they will allow you to drive in through the gate. Approximately 50 yards past the gate, turn right onto the gravel road and pull off to the side to temporarily park. The check-in and registration table will be under the trees. Check-in there to get your space assignment, then you can move your vehicle closer, if necessary, to offload before returning your vehicle to the main parking area outside the gate by 8:10am.
If you have a banner you would like us to display on our stage then please bring that to Tonya King at the stage as soon as you arrive (not later than 8:15am).
The RuckFest will begin at 8:30am with a short Opening Ceremony and will continue until 2:30pm. RuckFest attendees and ruck participants will be able to visit the RuckFest Expo and enjoy the RuckFest activities during that entire time. Please plan to tend your area as much as possible during that window. There will be food trucks onsite and we will have water available to refill water bottles.
After 2:30pm we will again allow vehicles into the RuckFest Expo event area to break down your display and pack up.
Ruck the Ridge 2025 can not allow pets at the event, so please leave furry friends home for the day.

Your contact for questions prior to the event is: John Bruggeman, 434-981-7414 or rucktheridge@livingfree2gether.org

Your event day point of contact is Mike Reichard. Mike will be waiting for you near the check in table with your space assignment.

Event Day timeline:

07:00 - volunteers gather at BRS

07:15 - final setup of check-in table, volunteer support tent, and stage

07:45 - parking opens

08:10 - check-in opens

08:15 - RuckFest activity set up is complete

08:15 - RuckFest Expo table/booth set up is complete

08:30 - Opening Ceremony (opening remarks, sponsor recognition, National Anthem)

08:40 - first ruck start (individuals only until 9:00am)

08:40 - 2:30 pm - Ruck Fest activities

09:00 - first team ruck starts (team & individual starts)

12:30pm - last ruck starts (team or individual)

1:00pm - Veterans Day Ceremony (sponsor recognition, guest speaker)

2:30pm - all participants complete and accounted for - ruck course closed

2:30pm - family activities complete, RuckFest and RuckExpo are closed

5:00pm - clean up complete

Thank you again for your support of Living Free Together, the military community and this unique event. Without your support, LFT could not meet its mission of enriching, encouraging and empowering the military families of Charlottesville to live their best lives! Please take a moment to connect with us on our social media platforms for the latest updates. Here are the links: