Here is the long list of outdoor shows, classes, and exchange meetups around Chicago and beyond, primarily for the winter of 2022.
The last outdoor show I attended was on March 6, 2020 at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo in Birmingham, Ala. The last big local show for me was February 8, 2020 on the opening day of the Tinley Park Fishing Show.
I expect to be back to the big shows this winter. I was sure of that until we talked about omicron.
There is a major change. The Chicago Boat Show, the region’s oldest show, has been postponed again until 2023.
Officially, this is “the result of Chicagoland’s current needs and market economy, including supply chain disruptions and a historically low market specific boat inventory.” Take this with a grain of salt.
The Muskie Expo Chicago opens the show season Jan. 7-9 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. The show moved there after Pheasant Run closed in 2020. The All-Canada Show also moved there from January 20-23.
The big fishing fair, the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, will take place from January 27 to 30 at the Schaumburg Convention Center.
The delayed arrival of the Illinois Deer Classic will take place April 1-3 at the Peoria Civic Center.
The Henry Decoy Show, now Illinois’ oldest show with the postponement of the Boat Show, plans to move to Exposition Gardens in Peoria. This shift to a non-academic setting will also allow Jason Baldwin to expand the options for what is allowed.
The Tinley Park Fishing Show is also growing.
“I expanded the pitch for the 2022 show,†show director Rich Komar emailed. “We are thrilled and can’t wait to bring him back. “
The show takes place the usual second weekend in February (February 12-13) at Tinley Park High School.
The exhaustive list of shows, classes and exchange meetings is published (and updated as needed) below. If you have any additions, subtractions or other changes, please E-mail (BowmanOutside@gmail.com) Where contact me on Facebook (Dale bowman), Twitter (@Bowman) or Instagram (@Bowman).
2022 OUTDOOR SHOWS IN THE CHICAGO REGION
December 3-5: St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show, St. Paul RiverCentre, Minn.
January 7-9: Muskie Expo Chicago, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
January 7-9: Let’s Go Fishing Show, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville
January 13-16: Northern Illinois Sports Show, Lake County Fairground & Events Center, Grayslake
January 20-23: All-Canada Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
January 27-30: Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, Schaumburg Convention Center
January 29-30: Capt. Dan Keating Schools, Lake Michigan Angler, Winthrop Harbor, Foundations, Salmon 101, January 29, Advanced Tactics & Seasonal Strageties, January 30
February 5: Musky Road Rules, Holiday Inn, Elk Grove Village
February 5 and 6: Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
February 5 and 6: Spring Lake Izaak Walton Outdoor Show, 4700 W. 49th Avenue, Hobart, Ind.
February 11-13: Muskie Expo Milwaukee, Washington County Fair Park, West Bend, Wisconsin.
February 13: Henry Decoy Show, Exposition Gardens, Peoria
(provisional) February 16-19: NWTF Convention & Sport Show, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville
February 18-20: Rockford Boat, Holiday and Fishing Lounge, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park
February 18-20 and 23-27: Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds
February 17-20: Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
February 19: Midwest Musky Club Swap Meet, Village Sportsman’s Club, Alsip, (630) 302-0759 or larry@riotracing.com
February 19: Russell’s Fishing Tech Chicagoland, Wood Dale, State-of-the-Art Salmon and Trout School and Display
February 26: Unlimited Salmon Exchange Meeting, River Grove Moose Lodge
March 3-6: Northern Illinois Boat Show, New Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake
March 4-6: Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, Greenville, South Carolina
March 5: Indoor Fishing Flea Market, Rolling Meadows High School
March 10-13: Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, West Allis, Wisconsin.
March 10-13: Ultimate Sports Show, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
March 11-13: Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin.
March 11-13: National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, Omaha, Neb.
March 12: Fish & Hook Sports Show, VFW Post 5788, Lockport
March 12: Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc.’s annual banquet, Schaumburg Golf Club
March 13: Quad County Hawg Hunters Fishing Flea Market, Plano American Legion, dlandmeier@frontier.com or 815-286-7170
March 19: Walleyes Unlimited exchange meeting, Fox Lake Legion Hall
April 1-3: Illinois Deer Classic, Peoria Civic Center
April 26-30: North American Vintage Lures & Sports Collectibles Show, Westin Chicago Lombard
April 30: Riverside Fishing Club, LaGrange American Legion exchange meeting