71st Annual Ultimate Sport Show�Grand Rapids Features Family Fun and an Outdoors Extravaganza
Grand Rapids, Mich. � Enjoy the antics of the Marvelous Mutts canine Extravaganza. Purchase that boat of your dreams. Book a safari to Africa, a hunting trip out West, a fishing trip “Up North” or a relaxing houseboat trip down South. Examine some of the best taxidermy in the state, or watch a live demonstration on how to process a deer. Show patrons can do all of this and much more at the 71st annual Ultimate Sport Show-Grand Rapids, March 17 to 20 at DeVos place in downtown Grand Rapids.
71st Annual Ultimate Sport Show�Grand Rapids Features Family Fun and an Outdoors Extravaganza
Grand Rapids, Mich. � Enjoy the antics of the Marvelous Mutts canine Extravaganza. Purchase that boat of your dreams. Book a safari to Africa, a hunting trip out West, a fishing trip “Up North” or a relaxing houseboat trip down South. Examine some of the best taxidermy in the state, or watch a live demonstration on how to process a deer. Show patrons can do all of this and much more at the 71st annual Ultimate Sport Show-Grand Rapids, March 17 to 20 at DeVos place in downtown Grand Rapids.
Over four acres of new boats, hunting and fishing gear and outdoor accessories, family entertainment, educational seminars and featured attractions is why West Michigan residents flock to the Ultimate Sport Show each year.
“The DeVos Place convention facility will be bursting at the seams with fun and educational features when Michigan’s premier Sport Show returns to downtown Grand Rapids, March 17-20,” says Show Manager Ben Nielsen. “From the Marvelous Mutts to a Rock Climbing Wall and an Archery Range to our Outfitters Expo, the Taxidermy Display and a full slate of educational Seminars, there truly is something for everyone this year at the Ultimate Sport Show-Grand Rapids.”
The Marvelous Mutts make their debut at the Ultimate Sport Show this year and will be in Grand Rapids all four days of the show. These canine athletes, all rescued from shelters, amaze audiences as they flip and fly to snatch Frisbees out of the air and race through obstacle courses with breathtaking speed. Spectators, children and adults alike, will leave The Marvelous Mutts’ shows with smiles on their faces� after they pick up their jaws off the ground!
More boats than ever before will be on display this year at the Ultimate Sport Show. From fishing kayaks to walleye and bass boats, center consoles, pontoons and more, show patrons in search of a new boat will find a wide variety to choose from.
Outfitters Expo provides show patrons with dozens of family vacation and adventure travel opportunities including hunting and fishing destinations throughout North America and beyond. You can even book a fishing trip to Canada, an elk hunt in Idaho, a family houseboat adventure in Kentucky, or a safari in Africa.
The Michigan Taxidermist Association will hold its state competition and convention at the Ultimate Sport Show. Located in the 3rd floor “Grand Gallery Overlook at DeVos Place, this display of life-like taxidermy is the first stop for many show attendees. Be sure to stop by and cast your vote for the People’s Choice award.
Another highlight of the show every year is the beautiful and impressive display of the Woodland Woodcarvers. These local artisans will display the results of their work, as well as demonstrate their considerable skills.
On Thursday at 7 p.m. Michigan Out-of-Doors TV will film Big Buck Night-West. Hosts Jimmy Gretzinger and Jenny Olson will interview hunters who took some of the biggest bucks during the 2015 season. This one-night event will be filmed for airing on an upcoming show and is a must see for every Michigan deer hunter. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m.
Lake Ultimate returns to the Ultimate Sport Show. This 110,000 indoor lake will be a stage for on-the-water seminars by some of the biggest names in fishing.
The Hawg Trough, a 5,000-gallon aquarium on wheels, will be on display at the Ultimate Sport Show and will be used by seminar speakers to give patrons an up-close look at precisely how different tackle and techniques look underwater.
There will also be Antique and Classic Fishing Tackle, Vintage Boats and Outboard Motors, a Deer Processing Demo by Steve Francis of Country Smokehouse in Almont, Michigan, Fly Casting Demonstrations, Fly Tying Lessons, Fish Cleaning Demonstrations, a Trout Pond, a Rock Climbing Wall, the annual Grand Rapids Turkey Calling Competition, a Kids Fishing Tournament on Lake Ultimate, an Archery Range for Kids and a Video Fishing Simulator.
Don’t forget our star-studded lineup of seminars covering topics including: walleye, bass, muskie, steelhead and salmon fishing; deer and turkey hunting; land management and food plots; fly fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Ultimate Clinics on fishing electronics, walleye, bass, and salmon and steelhead will again be offered during the show. This year, the Ultimate Walleye Clinic and the Ultimate Steelhead and Salmon Clinic are free.
The first 500 attendees on Thursday and Friday receive a free, collectible Dardevle spoon from Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn. The first 250 attendees on Saturday and Sunday will receive a K&E Bass Stopper lure from Stopper Lures in Hastings.
The Ultimate Sport Show-Grand Rapids is at DeVos Place March 17 to 20. Show hours are 3 to 9:30 Thursday; 11 to 9:30 Friday; 10 to 9 Saturday and 10 to 6 Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 14 and children 5 and under will be admitted free.
The Tony Gates/MSAH Food Drive will take place on Thursday. Bring a minimum of four pounds or six cans or boxes of non-perishable food items to the Pontoon parked in front of DeVos Place and get into the Show FREE. The food will be collected by Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger volunteers and donated to God’s Kitchen and other needy organizations.
Discount coupons are available in the Grand Rapids Press and at Wendy’s.
Visit www.UltimateSportShow.com for more information.