Below a round-up of some of the gathering taking place from March 3 to 6, providing industry with opportunities to come together off the show floor.
Before the exhibition halls open to the public, the American Herbal Products Association hosts its annual AHPA Herb Walk, a guided tour of the 26-acre botanical gardens at Fullerton Arboretum at California State University and its permanent collection of culinary and medicinal herbs featuring over 4,000 plant species from around the world. Guides include Catherine Hunziker of WishGarden Herbs, Feather Jones of Canyon Spirit Ventures, Roy Upton of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and David Winston of Herbalist & Alchemist. Bus transportation to and from the Anaheim Hilton and the Fullerton Arboretum will be provided (March 3, 1 to 5 p.m.).
That evening, the American Botanical Council welcomes members by RSVP to the 21st Annual American Botanical Celebration and Awards Ceremony to honor outstanding contributions to the herbal community (March 3, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Hilton, Pacific Ballroom B).
The Expo West Block Party takes over the Grand and Arena Plazas, with live music, food and a special 45th anniversary “Through the Decades” theme. (March 3, 3 to 6 p.m.).
Off site, Startup CPG hosts The Kickoff Dinner at Anaheim Whitehouse gathering industry buyers with emerging brands at this mingling and networking event (March 3, 3 to 6 p.m., ticket purchase required)
The next day, the Natural Products Expo West Pitch Slam competition features pitches from 10 emerging brands and a Q&A with the judges followed by networking (March 4, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Center).
Women In Nutraceuticals (WIN) once again welcomes all to a networking reception focused on working together to support gender parity from the boardroom to the research lab for the betterment of businesses and consumer health, empowering women to unlock their potential (Date and time, TBD). The long-standing AHPA Member Reception invites members and friends for refreshments and networking at the Sheraton Park Hotel’s Garden Ballroom and Patio (March 4,5:30 to 7:30 p.m.).
An Organic Night Out: Honoring The Year’s Best in Organic, an awards show and dinner hosted by The Organic Center and Organic Voices, will celebrate the success of organic brands, companies and leaders working to advance consumer education, crop production, soil health, food safety, climate action and sustainability (March 4, 6 to 9 p.m., Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Center, separate registration required).
The following afternoon, J.E.D.I (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Community Happy Hour welcomes attendees to toast a more inclusive equitable and diverse natural products industry (March 6, 4 to 6 p.m, Arena Plaza), followed by the NEXTY Awards Ceremony, celbrating the CPG’s next-gen innovators (March 5, 6 to 7:45 p.m., Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Center). The LGBTQ + Allies Networking Reception gathers community members and allies for an evening of drinks, networking and fun (March 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Hilton, 2nd floor, California A).
Purpose Pledge invites attendees to RSVP to its evening event, joining founders, member brands and Commitment Catalysts for a celebratory happy hour and presentation outlining the inaugural, fully operational year of Purpose Pledge. Co-founded in 2025 by Dr. Bronner’s, LIFT Economy and One Step Closer, the Purpose Pledge is a stakeholder-centered, collaborative initiative anchored by 10 clear commitments that embed purpose into company governance, operations, and supply chains. At its core, the PurposePledge is about restoring “right relationship” between companies, people and the natural systems on which the world depends.
On March 4 and 5 at the Grand Plaza Stage, attendees can join in early morning yoga sessions from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and take in the live music from musical guests including Blind Melon and Thursday Capital Cities from 6 to 8 p.m.
Naturally Chicago, in collaboration with the Naturally Network chapters in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado, is hosting “The Midwest & Mountain Mingle”, celebrating all things food and beverage int he natural products world (March 5, 4 to 6 p.m., Anaheim Convention Center, ticket purchase required).