Mountain biking festivals and demo events are a BLAST!  Besides getting to ride a bunch of expensive bikes there are often other activities along with food and beer.  Very social.

Sedona MTB Festival March 4 – 6, Sedona, AZ.  This looks like a great festival.  However, budget lodging and camping in the area is limited so bring money.  The 3 day pass for $100 is a good deal.  Event camping for $125 / adult for two days is not my idea of budget.  Sedona is very nice but later in March has better weather and the other festivals are great also.  Shuttles.

Moab Thaw  March 11 – 13, Moab, UT.  Sponsored by Poison Spider Bikes and includes a fair sample of premium bikes to demo.  I haven’t attended this one yet but Poison Spider is a premiere bike shop and I bet it is good.  Shuttles and no need for your own vehicle to haul bikes.

Hurricane MTB Festival  March 18 – 20, Hurricane, UT. I stumbled into this one in March 2015 on the west side of Zion National Park.  Small town event but really fun!  Over The Edge Sports in Hurricane has their brands reps there, a beer garden in the park, and breakfast at the Red Rock Cafe in La Verkin, a special place.  Of course great riding in the area!!!

Outerbike April 1 – 3, Moab, UT.  This is an amazing event!  Huge number of brands and piles of bikes to ride the red rocks right beside the event.  Shuttles also.  I usually attend their October Outerbike but would like to try this one.  Includes lunches, beer, evening events, and more riding than your legs can handle in three days of pure joy.  The festival is a bit more expensive than others but you get more.  Easy choice for budget travelers with free to high end camping and lodging available.  If you can’t drive that far then a rental car from Denver or Grand Junction works fine.  No need to haul bikes to the trails.

Sea Otter Classic April 13 – 17, Monterey, CA.  HUGE.  It started as mostly racing near Fort Ord but has evolved into a massive event with almost every manufacturer you can imagine.  Not the best for demoing bikes but it is like a party all day on the weekend.  Budget camping and accommodations nearby helps.

Fruita Fat Tire Festival April 20 – May 1, Fruita, CO.  This is a quaint small town with a big bike festival, one of the oldest.  Two beer pubs in a 4 block downtown says something.  Sponsored by Over The Edge Sports but far more than just the brands they carry.  It is one big party!  Great riding terrain all around with amazing views.  You need to haul your bikes in your own vehicles to the riding.

There are probably more all over the West but these are the ones I track.  Let me know of others in the spring.