The adventurous spirit of the defender comes to Temecula, California.
As one of the most important names in the world of off-road sports, Defender has become a brand in its own right, embodying the spirit of adventure and producing go-anywhere vehicles that combine luxury, solid engineering and undeniable performance. Destination Defender is a series of festivals that bring together enthusiasts and lovers of nature and off-road driving to celebrate Defender vehicles and take part in activities surrounding the stunning natural environment in which Destination Defender festivals take place.
This year, Destination Defender returns to California for Destination Defender West, heading to Galway Downs in Temecula, nestled in Southern California wine country, November 14-16. Surrounded by mountains, Destination Defender West offers an off-road driving course, fine dining, live music and entertainment with acts such as Grammy-nominated band Kaleo, as well as enriching outdoor activities such as a mountain bike demo course, yoga lessons, horseback riding demonstrations and photography/video classes.
The festival will also announce the winners of Chase’s 2025 Defender Service Awards, which honor nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work by awarding six customized Defender 130 vehicles to winning U.S. and Canadian organizations to strengthen support for their communities. In addition to the SUVs, the category-winning organizations will also receive $30,000 thanks to the generosity of award sponsors, as well as $5,000 from Chase for 30 finalists in the six categories to support their efforts.
Rally driver Sara Price will be present at Destination Defender West and share her experiences as a member of the Defender Rally Team ahead of her participation in the upcoming Dakar Rally 2026 behind the wheel of the Defender Dakar D7X-R, racing in the Stock category of the legendary rally. The race marks Defender’s highly anticipated racing debut in the Dakar Rally.
A display of vehicles from The Great Expeditions collection, previously shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, showcases the incredible history and heritage of Land Rover vehicles, including the 1950 Series I “Pollyanna” that Barbara Toy drove from London to Baghdad, and the 1955-56 Land Rover “Oxford” at the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition took part. With a esteemed legacy of off-road excellence, the Destination Defender West brings unbridled adventurous spirit to Southern California’s wine paradise this year.
Image source: JLR
