The Outdoor Sports Group will present The Northern Illinois Sports Show Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 16-19.
This year’s show continues a 40-year tradition of sports shows gracing the shores of Lake Michigan and the greater Chicago area and providing a break from cabin fever.
It brings together the outdoor community in a new venue at the Lake County Fairgrounds’ inaugural Northern Illinois Sports Show, a fishing and hunting spectacular.
The Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center is at 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. The Northern Illinois Sport Show will provide free attendee and exhibitor parking spots, plus discounted online tickets. The show will cater to the sporting consumers and will feature dozens of fishing and hunting seminars, new family-friendly attractions and hundreds of exhibitors for the outdoor enthusiast. Attendees will have an opportunity to shop for deals on an expanded selection of RVs, boats, fishing tackle, outfitters, wildlife art, hunting supplies, charters, paddle boards, knives and more.
Attendees will also be able to enter to win door prizes, such as a custom-made rod from Grandt Rods and a tackle bag giveaway by Mike Jackson Outdoors, and more. The first 100 children will receive free Berkley Lures on Saturday, Conservation Youth Awareness Day, to celebrate the next generation of the outdoors, courtesy of Grandt Rods, Jim Grandt National Hall of Fame and Illinois Hall of Fame.
Show hours are noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $10 online or $12 at the door. Attendees can bring in four or more cans of food for an Illinois Conservation Foundation food drive for $6 admission on Thursday or a $2 discount on other days. Children 11 and younger are free.
There are ticket specials for seniors, service members, Scouts and students.
Featured events and attractions include:
• Timber Tina’s Great Maine Lumberjack Show: Cheer on teams of male and female lumberjacks in a fast-paced, family-friendly logging sports exhibition including underhand chopping, ax throwing, sawing and log rolling. Meet Tina Scheer from CBS’s “Survivor: Panama-Exile Island” and Nat Geo’s “Ultimate Survival Alaska,” as well Mark Bouquin, current Stihl Timbersports Series finalist and winner of Fox’s “American Grit.” Shows run at 1:30, 4 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10:30 a.m. and 2 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday; and 10:30 a.m. and 1 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
• The Kids Zone: A special area designated for kids of all ages that will include a learning center, family-friendly vendors, a kids range and more.
• Trout Pond: A catch-and-release pond for the kids. The first 50 children each day will receive a pack of Berkley swim baits, courtesy of Grandt Rods.
• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: At 10 a.m. Saturday, Crystal Curfman, executive director of the Illinois Conservation Foundation, will open the show by cutting the ribbon. She will also hold a seminar on the importance of youth conservation and an introduction to the ICF.
• 2020 National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: At 3 p.m. Saturday. Inductees will include: Tommy Skarlis, Pro Angler, Crappie Pro World Champion; Bruce Deshano, Off Shore Tackle CEO; and Ted Peck, Northwest Illinois and Wisconsin guide and outdoor writer.
• Walleye vs. Muskie Hall of Fame Panel: At 1 p.m. Sunday featuring five National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Famers: Bob Mehsikomer, Spence Petros, Tommy Skarlis, Mark Martin and special guest moderator Mike Jackson.
• Tackle Time Pavilion: See and buy the latest fishing gear.
• Boat, RV & Powersports Hall: The pavilion will feature an expanded selection of boats on display for show discounts.
