HARRISBURG, Pa. — Organizers of the Great American Outdoor Show expect this year’s event to be one of the busiest from Saturday until next Sunday, Feb. 11.
“This is truly the NRA's celebration of freedom, this is 650,000 square feet of firearms of RVs, of fishing, of seminars of everything that makes America great is in this farm show complex this weekend,” said Billy McLaughlin, spokesman for the National Rifle Association.
The popular event hosts more than 1,000 exhibits, meaning there’s something for everyone.
“We want to make sure that this event is inclusive of everyone, no matter your age, no matter what your interest lies, if your interest is fishing or if it’s firearms, or if it’s archery, we want to make sure we have the event here for you,” McLaughlin said.
More than 200,000 people are expected to come through the doors from Saturday through next Sunday.
Brennan Decker, his wife Sam, and their son Wade came from Berkeley County, West Virginia.
“Our friends that’ve been coming up, two have been doing it every year for the last couple years, I'd never even heard of it until they told me about it and brought us up here, but this’ll probably be something we bring family to in the future as well,” Decker said.
From rock climbing to bowhunting, to firearm shopping and more, there’s no shortage of activities.
Visitors can spectate the Pennsylvania Lumberjack Championships, participate in the Kids Casting Contest, or watch the DockDogs Competition.
McLaughlin says the event spans generations.
“This is the next generation of people who love the outdoors and who love freedom, so it’s all that in this really exciting 650,000 square-foot exhibit and we’re excited to welcome everyone.”
And Sam Decker agrees.
“It’s really cool just to see all of the millions of things that’re here to look at and everything else so it’s really cool,” Sam Decker said.
To see the full list of Outdoor Show events, click here.