Outdoors Shows by Showspan

NOVI, MICH — Why is Outdoorama Michigan’s best-known outdoor sport show? Answer: Because for nearly four decades it has served the state’s 1.4 million licensed anglers, 750,000 licensed hunters, and 1.4 million wildlife watchers.

For many of these conservationists and their families, Outdoorama provides wall-to-wall fun and education.

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs launched Outdoorama at the old state fairgrounds in Royal Oak in 1974. This year’s 38th edition, February 24 to 27 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi, remains true to its roots.

There is a Pellet Shooting Range with certified instructors offering free lessons and a Trout Pond with frisky rainbows for kids. The nominal donation for that activity, as well as the popular Virtual Fishing Simulator, goes to non-profit or charitable causes.

The family-favorite “Ultimate Air Dogs” feature with Milt Wilcox is free every day as is the Howell Nature Center’s “Wildlife Encounters” program where kids can get up close and personal with hawks, owls and other native Michigan wildlife.

“Big Buck Night,” an annual family staple on Michigan Out-of-Doors TV Show, will be filmed on Thursday starting at 7:00 p.m. It, too, is free with admission.

More than 75 scheduled seminars on fishing, hunting, dog training, growing food plots for wildlife, and other subjects are free with admission. Other in-booth demonstrations draw crowds all day long. A favorite is traditional skills expert Jim Miller who shows kids of all ages how Native Americans made fire, built canoes from birch bark, and tanned animal hides without chemicals.

Non-scheduled fun events are always popping up at Outdoorama. In past years, “Cogs the Robot” and “Smokey the Bear” have strolled the aisles. Cran-Hill Ranch near Grand Rapids will bring its “Family Zone,” a fun, interactive way for children to experience the outdoors.

Bill Yoder’s Live Big Game Show lets youngsters get up close and personal with white-tailed deer, reindeer and little critters, including a black bear cub and a baby fennec fox.

What kid doesn’t like to nibble on elephant ears, Mackinac Island fudge, roasted almonds or beef jerky? If they’re still hungry, the Sportsmen’s Grill food court serves up baskets of breaded fish fillets with slaw and fries at an affordable family price.

More than four acres big, Outdoorama is crammed with hunting gear, fishing tackle and other outdoor products, including camping equipment—all at great bargains. There is bottom-line value on fishing boats, duck hunting boats, pontoons and pleasure boats, along with boat docks, lifts and other accessories

Outfitters Expo provides the public with nearly unlimited family vacation and adventure travel, including hunting and fishing destinations, throughout North America and beyond. You can even book a fishing trip to Alaska, an elk hunt in Idaho, a family houseboat adventure in Kentucky, or a safari in Africa.

Kids are among those who enjoy collecting the commemorative Dardevle spoons that Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn hands out each year on Thursday and Friday to the first 500 show patrons. On both Saturday and Sunday, Carlisle Float Company will offer free bobbers to the first 250 attendees.

Adding to the show’s broad appeal is the 4th Annual Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, which runs concurrently at Suburban Collection Showplace and offers free crossover admission to Outdoorama patrons. The Cottage & Lafefront Living Show features a huge beach area of play sand where artisans build stunning sand castles and where the kids can play for free.

Show hours are Thursday and Friday, 2 to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; and Sunday, 10 to 5. Affordable admission is the same as last year: $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12 (no charge for kids 5 and under). For more information, call 800-328-6550 or go to www.Outdoorama.com. Follow us on FaceBook and Twitter.