Feb. 8, 2020 was the last time Dale Bowman attended a local outdoors show (the Tinley Park Fishing Show); show season is projected to return in force this year. | Dale Bowman
Here’s the expansive list of outdoors shows, classes and swap meets around Chicago and beyond, primarily for the winter of 2022.
The last outdoors show I attended was March 6, 2020 at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo in Birmingham, Ala. The last big show locally for me was Feb. 8, 2020 on opening day of the Tinley Park Fishing Show.
I expect to be back at major shows this winter. I felt definite about that until word came of omicron.
There’s one major change. The Chicago Boat Show, the area’s longest running show, postponed again to 2023.
Officially, it is “a result of current needs and economics of the Chicagoland market, including the supply chain disruptions and historically low market-specific boat inventory.” Take that 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 on Jan. 20-23.
The big fishing show–the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo–is in its usual slot from Jan. 27-30 at the Schaumburg Convention Center.
The delayed arrival of the Illinois Deer Classic is April 1-3 at Peoria Civic Center.
The Henry Decoy Show, now the longest running show in Illinois with the Boat Show postponed, plans to move to Exposition Gardens in Peoria. That change to a non-school setting will also allow Jason Baldwin to expand the options for what is allowed.
The Tinley Park Fishing Show also grows.
“I have expanded the field house for the 2022 show,” show manager Rich Komar emailed. “We are excited and are looking forward to bringing it back.”
The show is on its usual second weekend of February (Feb. 12-13) at Tinley Park High School.
The expansive list of shows, classes and swap meets is posted (and updated as needed) below. If you have additions, subtractions or other changes, please email ([email protected]) or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).
2022 CHICAGO-AREA OUTDOOR SHOWS
Dec. 3-5: St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show, St. Paul RiverCentre, Minn.
Jan. 7-9: Muskie Expo Chicago, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
Jan. 7-9: Let’s Go Fishing Show, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville
Jan. 13-16: Northern Illinois Sports Show, Lake County Fairgrounds & Event Center, Grayslake
Jan. 20-23: All-Canada Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
Jan. 27-30: Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, Schaumburg Convention Center
Jan. 29-30: Capt. Dan Keating Schools, Lake Michigan Angler, Winthrop Harbor, Foundations, Salmon 101, Jan. 29, Advanced Tactics & Seasonal Strageties, Jan. 30
Feb. 5: Musky Road Rules, Holiday Inn, Elk Grove Village
Feb. 5-6: Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
Feb. 5-6: Spring Lake Izaak Walton Outdoor Show, 4700 W. 49th Avenue, Hobart, Ind.
Feb. 11-13: Muskie Expo Milwaukee, Washington County Fair Park, West Bend, Wis.
Feb. 13: Henry Decoy Show, Exposition Gardens, Peoria
(tentative) Feb. 16-19: NWTF Convention & Sport Show, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville
Feb. 18-20: Rockford Boat, Vacation & Fishing Show, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park
Feb. 18-20 and 23-27: Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds
Feb. 17-20: Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
Feb. 19: Midwest Musky Club Swap Meet, Village Sportsman’s Club, Alsip, (630) 302-0759 or [email protected]
Feb. 19: Russell’s Fishing Tech Chicagoland Advanced Salmon and Trout Tactics School and Tackle Show, Wood Dale
Feb. 26: Salmon Unlimited Swap Meet, River Grove Moose Lodge
March 3-6: Northern Illinois Boat Show, New Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake
March 4-6: Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, Greenville, S.C.
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, Wis.
March 10-13: Ultimate Sports Show, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Mich.
March 11-13: Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.
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, [email protected] or 815-286-7170
March 19: Walleyes Unlimited swap meet, Fox Lake Legion Hall
April 1-3: Illinois Deer Classic, Peoria Civic Center
April 26-30: North American Vintage Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show, Westin Chicago Lombard
April 30: Riverside Fishing Club swap meet, LaGrange American Legion
