It’s the start of a new year and time to think about updating your camping, hunting and fishing gear for a visit to the great outdoors.
Three major upcoming expos in Pennsylvania will help.
This weekend kicks off the outdoor show season with the Pittsburgh RV Show, Jan. 7-15 in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
Billed as the longest running indoor RV show in the country, it will be filled with all sizes of campers, ranging from some that can be pulled by a motorcycle to those that can be driven like a bus.
More than a dozen RV dealers will have their inventory on display alongside another 80 businesses ranging from RV parks to home improvement companies to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Visit pittrvshow.com for ticket information and additional details.
Another show near Pittsburgh hasn’t been held for a couple of years.
The USA International Sportmen’s Show and Outdoor Recreation & Travel takes over the Monroeville Convention Center Feb. 17-19.
David Stoner, promoter and owner of Family Festivals Association, purchased the Allegheny Outdoor, Sport and Travel Show that was held at the same location for 36 years. The last show was held in 2000 right before the start of the global pandemic.
“I really felt the show needed a breath of fresh air,” he said about renaming the event. “It’s new in many ways.”
Stoner is using his more than 40 years of trade show experience to make this year’s event bigger with 160 vendors and outfitters, he said. In addition to hunting, camping and fishing, vendors will have e-bikes and kayaks.
Something new for this year, Stoner plans to have three gun dealers participate with their rifles and shotguns. In the past, the show couldn’t have gun dealers because of a conflict with other events in the area, he said.
There will be three boat dealers and several RV dealers bringing their boats and campers to the event.
He is also planning more seminars and speakers than in the past. He anticipates about 15 speakers, ranging from a deer processor to a representative of the Pennsylvania Game Commission talking about a proposal to reintroduce martens in the wild.
They have former Pittsburgh Steeler Brett Keisel involved in the promotions as he’s an avid outdoorsman and well-known personality in the area. He will be at the event with NFL Hall of Fame star Russ Grimm for autographs and photos.
The three-day event is a family function that includes a trout pond for children to catch fish and an area to mine for gemstones.
Visit USASportsmenShow.com for ticket information and schedule details.
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The outdoors show near Harrisburg
In southeastern Pennsylvania, the NRA Great American Outdoor Show will be held Feb. 4-12 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
The event includes a wide variety of attractions, including a concert on Feb. 11 by country music start Brantley Gilbert and guest Jacob Bryant.
The nine-day event is designed to celebrate hunting, fishing, and outdoor traditions that are enjoyed by families across the country.
The show is expected to have more than 1,000 exhibitors ranging from gun-related manufacturers to outfitters to fishing boats, RVs, archery equipment and artistry.
The 650,000-square-foot venue will have a wide variety of interactive opportunities including a 3D bowhunter challenge, “try before you buy” shooting lanes, and a large fish tank for demonstrating fishing lures.
There are seminars and events for everyone who enjoys the outdoor life ranging from deer hunting, small game hunting, fishing, predator hunting, understanding birds of prey and wild game cooking.
Visit greatamericanoutdoorshow.org for tickets and additional details.
Make plans to visit some of the outdoors shows to help fulfill your outdoor dreams and plans this year.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him atbwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website’s homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook@whipkeyoutdoors.
