Chicago Outdoor Sports Show returns to Rosemont
The 37th Chicago Outdoor Sports Show, which bills itself as Chicagoland's Largest Fishing, Hunting, Travel & Outdoors Show, opens Wednesday and runs five days through Sunday, Jan. 24, a the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road in Rosemont.
The show includes dozens of fishing and hunting seminars, many new family-friendly attractions and hundreds of vendors and exhibitors popular with the outdoor enthusiast. The show's goal is to deliver seminars, attractions and exhibits designed to speak to sportsmen and women of all ages with a focus on activities that the entire family can enjoy.
Attendees will have an opportunity to shop for deals on fishing tackle, boats, archery, outfitters, wildlife art, hunting supplies, charters, rafting, gun safes and knives, taxidermy and other items. Representatives of prestigious fishing and hunting lodges around the world will be on hand to provide unique travel opportunities.
Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door, with children 11 and under free. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Organizers are promoting the event as four shows in one, with the Chicago Fire and Ice Show running all five days, and the Chicagoland Gun Show and the Hot Sauce Expo running Friday through Sunday in Rosemont. Details on all of the shows are at www.chicagosportshow.com.
Special programs include:
• Chicagoland All Wheel Show Championship Competitors Exhibit Friday through Sunday.
• Chics with Axes, 'Timber' Tina's World Champion Lumberjills, women compete in crosscut sawing, ax throwing, chain-saw carving, log rolling and other events.
• Grant Kemmerer's Wild World of Animals educational stage show Friday through Sunday (www.wildworldofanimals.org).
• Bow Fishing Range
• Expert Musky Panel
• Rosemont Boat & RV Pavilion, showcasing the latest boats and RVs.
• Ducks Unlimited Conservation Day Saturday with kids activities and free seminars. The first 500 kids will receive free Berkley Lures on Saturday.
• Fire & Ice Expo Pavilion, a one-stop shop for creating the ultimate man cave, campsite or backyard barbecue. Industry experts will also share their man cave designs, camping survival tactics and wild game recipes.
• American Fly Fishing School Casting Pond led by Captain Mike Corblies, director of the American Fly Fishing School.
• Historical Fishing Display tracing the evolution of fishing in America from the Copper Culture 8,000 years ago through the 1970s. Bring your old fishing lures and other tackle to us for a free identification, valuation and cash.
• The Hawg Trough 5000 gallon mobile bass aquarium, hosting fishing demonstrations by professionals.
Family fun events will include:
• Chauncey's Great Outdoors World, a place to learn about and get questions answered about fishing, hunting, camping, napping in the hammock.
• Kids Zone, a learning center for the next generation of outdoor sports enthusiasts.
• Kids Archery Range.
• Catch and release trout pond.