Escapees is an organization that we joined primarily for the discounts and perks. However, it also opened up some doors for amazing social events. The event we were first looking forward to was Xscapers Bash. Xscapers is a subset of the Escapees RV Club dedicated to working-aged RVers. While we were looking forward to Bash, the size and hype surrounding it was a little intimidating. Lucky for us, Xscapers hosts another annual event: a rowdy New Year’s Eve party!
The year we went, the party was hosted way back on the Plomosa Rd BLM land outside of Quartzsite. Loosely scheduled, this three-day event consisted of several potlucks and some live music mixers. The crowning jewel of this event was the New Year’s Eve rave.
The New Year’s Eve event is free for Escapees members. It encourages folk who may not be able to afford the paid convergences. Being free means there aren’t any catering or RV services. The event is held on public land, all the rigs boondock, and all the community meals are potluck style. However, what the Xscapers do provide is live and DJed music and a sense of community.
A great introduction to the Xscapers group
Being new to the club, and having already registered for Bash, the Xscpapers’ “big party” of the year, we were eager to attend New Year’s Eve as a “mini-Bash” warm-up. At the Xscapers New Year’s Eve event, we were able to meet many faces and start to see what a convergence might be like. Full disclosure, though: Attending New Year’s Eve as a taste of Bash is like watching half a YouTube college lecture to see if you’d like to attend a university. It’s got some of the hallmarks, but it’s not the same.
One of the highlights for us though was watching the kids, especially The Boy, dance all night long to the club music. They danced like no one was looking, and really impressed a lot of the other parents and attendees. Suffice it to say, it beat the heck out of staying home, watching the ball drop in New York, and trying to stay awake until midnight.
If you’re an Escapees member, planning to be in the area of the next New Year’s Eve event, and especially if you’re new to the club, you should definitely check out the Xscapers New Year’s Eve Party. You’ll have a leg up on us, as you’ll already know someone who’s there!