ANCHORAGE – Sunny weather, melting snow and increasing light means most Alaskans are getting anxious for summer fun. Get the latest outdoor gear, hunting, fishing and outdoor adventure advice and services by attending the 35th annual Great Alaska Sportsman Show this weekend. The show runs from Thursday, April 5 through Sunday, April 8 at Sullivan and Ben Boeke Arenas in Anchorage.
Nearly 400 vendor booths will pack Sullivan Arena and both sides of Ben Boeke Ice Arena for the state’s largest trade show. Attend hourly free workshops and seminars, let the kids (12 and under) catch their first fish in the Kid’s Fishing Pond, practice your skills at the Flycasting Pond and take advantage of show-only specials on outdoor gear and services.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve been presenting the Great Alaska Sportsman Show for 35 years,” said Steve Shepherd, president of Aurora Productions, Inc. “This show has become a spring tradition for outdoor enthusiasts across Alaska and I’m pleased to say that we have most of the mainstay guides, vendors and nonprofits returning this year, as well as some new and exciting offerings.”
The Great Alaska Sportsman Show runs for four full days: Thursday, April 5 from 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, April 6 from 12 noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and, Sunday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 ($10, plus $1 city tax) for adults, $3 for kids 2-12, free for kids under two and $6 for parking. A full show pass is available for $22, allowing you to come all four days of the show (must purchase on Thursday or Friday only).
Save the $6 parking fee by riding the free Shuttle Express, courtesy of Premier Alaska Tours. Buses start running at 3 pm on Thursday, 11 am on Friday and 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttles run 60 minutes after the show closes each day from both Midtown Walmart and Northway Mall.
Fish and Game Biologists and others with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game will present a variety of seminars on Stage 2 throughout the show. That includes presentations on Nushagak River king salmon, deepwater release and rockfish survival, fishing Kodiak’s road system and targeting Susitna wild rainbow trout. Fly fishers will want to practice and attend hands-on demos, and kids 12 and under have an opportunity to catch a fish for free in the Kid’s Fishing Pond. Visit the Author’s table to meet your favorite writers and get their latest books signed. Be sure to check out the latest in big adventure toys — from RVs to boats — in the parking lot outside.
Read the show program, see the complete list of seminars and download a Sportsman Show planning form at https://www.fishalaskamagazine.com/great-alaska-sportsman-show. Learn more at www.greatalaskasportsmanshow.com.
Aurora Productions, Inc., has been producing trade shows in Alaska since 1983. In addition to the Great Alaska Sportsman Show, the company organizes the Alaska Women’s Show and the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival.