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Frequently Asked Questions about the FROG International Rally

Frequently Asked Questions about the FROG International Rally

Here are some of the questions that we've geen getting regarding the FROG International Rally, along with the answers to them.  We'll be adding more as time goes on.

When is it?

The FROG Rally will be held August 6-12 at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, 17746 County Road 34 (also called East Monroe Street), Goshen, IN 46528.

How early can we arrive?  How do we make reservations?

Early parking begins Thursday, August 3.  The Elkhart County 4-H Fair – the third largest county fair in the country with over a quarter of a million visitors (yes, really!) – ends on Saturday, and the Fairgrounds staff has just a few days to clean up, mow grass, move equipment, clean buildings, and lay out electric and water lines for us.  In order to give them time to do that, we’ve asked the Fair office not to allow arrivals before Thursday.  To make a reservation for early arrival, please call the Fairgrounds at (574) 533-3247.  You will make payment directly to the Fairgrounds for early nights.

We’ll be asking our parking and registration team to arrive earlier for training and orientation.

How late can we stay following the FROG Rally?

Because of another event arriving the week that the FROG Rally ends, limited parking will be available.  Please check with the Fairgrounds for availability at (574) 533-3247.  You will make payment directly to the Fairgrounds for late nights.

Are children welcome at the FROG Rally?

Children are always welcome at FROG events.

Are pets allowed?

Pets are allowed with normal restrictions.  They must be on a leash, not left outside unattended, and the owner is responsible for cleaning up after them.  Animals other than Service Animals are not allowed in any of the buildings on the Fairgrounds.  If you are having service done on your unit, the pet must be crated or removed for the safety of the technicians, as well as to prevent your pet from accidentally escaping from the unit.

Do you provide a pet-walking service?

We do not have a pet walking service.  However, in the past, some members have offered this service.  Please check at registration to see if it’s available.

Will we have electricity / water / sewer / full hookups?

All sites have either 30 or 50-amp electric service (we can’t guarantee which one) and water.  About 200 sites have a sewer hookup (we can’t guarantee that you’ll have one), and the rest will have the option for a free pump-out midweek.  It helps if you can arrive with empty holding tanks.  There’s a place to dump if you need to empty your tanks on arrival.  Please do not dump anything from your tanks on the ground.

How many meals are included?

The FROG Rally includes four dinners -- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – and six breakfasts, Monday through Saturday.  In addition, each of our optional tours includes either a lunch or a dinner.  The tours that include dinner are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday so that you don’t miss out on a dinner at the Fairgrounds.

Who will be catering the dinners?

Nelson’s, who was our primary caterer for the first four years of FROG Rallies and provided the Service Tech lunches last year, will be catering all of our meals this year.

Do you have special diets – allergies, gluten-free, etc.?

Unfortunately, in serving nearly 18,000 meals during the week, we are not able to survey for individual diet needs and prepare special menus.  There are likely some gluten-free items at each meal (ask the caterer), but we do not prepare individual alternative meals.

Do you have reduced-price reservations if we don’t want to have the meals?

No, the volume of people and the need to create meal tickets and monitor who does and does not have them is simply not practical.  We ask that you wear your FROG Rally name badge, which is your ticket to all of the meals and activities, with the exception of the optional tours.

Do you have reduced-price reservations if we just want to come for a few days?

No.  If you make a reservation, you’re welcome to stay for the week and participate in all FROG Rally activities.  We are not able to use that site or transfer those meals to someone else.

Is Handicapped Parking available?

We have close-in parking available for folks with mobility issues so that you’re close to meals, entertainment, vendors, seminars, etc.  We don’t require that you have a handicap sticker, just that you be honest about the need because of the limited number of spaces available.  Handicapped parking does NOT guarantee a full hookup – in fact, the closest spaces don’t have full hookups.  If you have a MEDICAL NEED that requires a full hookup, please let us know when you register.

Will there be a Forest River RV display?  Can I buy an RV there?

Yes, we will have a cross-section of Forest River products on display.  If you’re interested in seeing a brand or model that isn’t on display (at our Dealer Expo in September, we display over 600 different models), it MIGHT be possible to arrange a visit to one of our plants to see it.  Please check with the sales team at the display.  You can speak with a sales representative at the display who can help you with arrangements for purchasing a unit during the FROG Rally.

Will there be factory tours, and are they free?

Yes, we will have bus tours to some of our plants.  Tour destinations are determined in part by how many units of a particular brand are registered, which tours have been popular in the past, ability of the plant to handle a large group of visitors, production schedules, and other factors.  All of our plant tours are free, and we provide bus transportation.  If you’re interested in a plant that isn’t on our schedule, it MIGHT be possible to arrange a private tour, although we can’t guarantee it.  Please check with the sales staff in the RV display.

You’ll have an opportunity to register for factory tours on Sunday.

If I have tickets for an optional tour and decide not to go, can I get a refund or sell my tickets?

We are not able to refund your tickets on optional tours at the event.  In the FROG Rally Office, located in the vendor area, there will be a bulletin board where you may post that you are trying to sell or buy tickets for a tour.  The transaction is strictly between the seller and the buyer.  HOWEVER, please let us know if you’ve sold tickets so that we can remove the seller’s name and add the buyer’s name to the tour roster in order to speed the boarding of buses.

Prior to the event the cancellation policy will apply.

Is alcohol allowed at the FROG Rally?

FROG does not serve alcohol at any of its events.  However, if you are legal and are behaving responsibly and courteously, you may have alcohol to consume at your site, or to take to another campsite for consumption.  You may also bring wine or another beverage to dinner for your private use.  Please do not consume alcohol or have open containers around the grounds outside of a campsite, especially while using a golf cart or any other vehicle.

How can I volunteer to help at the FROG Rally?

Volunteers are always welcome and are the lifeblood of the FROG Rally.  We have a lot of jobs that need to be done before, during, and for a short time after the event.  These include parking; registration; setting up chairs in the dining room and seminar areas; driving golf cart shuttles; loading buses for tours; hosting in the Rally Office; assisting vendors in locating their sites; and much more. 

To volunteer for parking or registration, please send an e-mail to frog@forestriverinc.com with the word VOLUNTEER for the subject.  We can't guarantee that we'll need everyone for parking, and will start contacting volunteers shortly after registration closes.  For other volunteer opportunities, you can check in and volunteer at registration, or throughout the week at the Rally Office in the vendor area.

My friend and I want to park together.  Can we do that?

We will try to honor requests for two or three people to park together, but we MUST know about the request ahead of time.  You and your friend should both make a note giving each other’s names under “Parking Requests” when you register, and should plan to arrive together.  We have a lot of traffic in the parking reception area and we can’t take the time to change parking assignments there.  We park each area “hobo-style,” with each unit going into the next available space, and we can’t hold a space next to you for your friend to arrive later.

Will you park everyone with my brand together?

Over the past few years we have parked several brands – primarily those with clubs that pre-date FROG or pre-date their acquisition by Forest River – together.  We have received requests from owners of some other brands to park them together as well.  Whether we will be able to park any other brands together depends on many factors, including number of RVs of that brand attending, available space, preference from the division’s service team, and more.  We will continue to evaluate the situation base on those and other factors, but can’t make a guarantee that we will park additional brands together this year.

What do we do in case of inclement weather?

The Fairgrounds are equipped with a siren warning system in case of inclement weather.  The siren is tested on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., barring bad weather in the area.  There are three designated storm shelter on the grounds:

• the basement restrooms on the west end of the Community Center, next to the Main Gate on Locust Street
• the Home and Family Arts Building on Maple Street
• the restrooms in the southwest corner of the dining room

Please make a point of locating these sites in advance of the unlikely chance of needing them.