Originally published January 11th, 2023 3:02 p.m.
Updated February 10th, 2023 9:45 a.m.
(KNSI) – The 35th Annual St. Cloud Sportsmen’s Show is returning to the River’s Edge Convention Center this weekend.
Around 150 exhibitors will be on the floor from February 10th through the 12th. It’s the largest event of its kind in central Minnesota. Show Manager Barry Cenaiko says it’s a good mix of everything outdoors. “What you get at the Sportsmen’s Show is about 1/3 boats and docks, 1/3 campers and trailers, and 1/3 resorts and lodges. So whatever your favorite activity is in the great Midwest during Summer, we’re going to have it at the sportsman show.”
He says some of the fun at the show is that you don’t know what you’re going to find. “We’re always bringing in new mom-and-pop tackle dealers. New products. A lot of outdoor equipment. People invent something, and they’ll go to a sports show and try it out and get some feedback from the public. And so, you’ll see some equipment there that you won’t see at the big box stores.”
Besides tons of outdoor gear, the show features hunting and fishing demonstrations and the famous trout pond. Cenaiko says to come out and let your kids catch dinner. “We’ve had the live trout fishing at the show for all 35 years. It’s just a couple of bucks, and you get to fish for seven minutes, but when you catch the fish, they’ll put it in a bag, put it on ice and when you’re ready to leave the show, take your trout with you, and you can go home and cook it for dinner.”
With the 55th annual St. Paul Sportsmen’s Show canceled this year, Cenaiko explains that shows in smaller cities like St. Cloud will become more important. “Last year we did some advertising in the Twin Cities and we absolutely dragged people up. And we’re increasing that too. We want people from the suburbs to come up and visit St. Cloud. So we think it’s quite the win-win.”
Tickets are $8.00 at the door for adults and $2.50 for kids ages 6-12. Children five and under are free. For more on this year’s show, click here.
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