Do you hunt, fish, or do archery? Check out this outdoor expo coming to Idaho Falls this weekend
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IDAHO FALLS — An outdoor expo coming this weekend to Idaho Falls promises to be a good time for families, filled with unique vendors and incredible giveaways.
The East Idaho Outdoor Expo is happening on Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing, 1220 Event Center Drive. On Friday, the expo will run from noon to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free.
“The expo is geared towards families who love to recreate in the great outdoors. We have vendors that are bringing items that can’t be found anywhere else,” said Matt Smith, the event organizer.
Smith said this is the first year of the event and explained the reasoning behind creating it.
“I’m an avid hunter. I’ve hunted all my life. I’ve been to expos in Salt Lake and Boise, and I know we have a lot of avid hunters like myself here in southeast Idaho,” he said. “I thought, why don’t we have an outdoor show here in eastern Idaho? It just kind of made sense. I decided I would organize it.”
Over 50 vendors are participating in the expo. There’s a wide variety of vendors, from hunting and fishing guides and taxidermists to equipment for camping, hiking, and four-wheeling.
Smith told EastIdahoNews.com proceeds from putting on the expo are going towards developing a nonprofit that helps women and children get out of abusive conditions.
“I used to run an organization called ‘Operation Shield’ where we recovered kids from sex trafficking,” Smith said.
He ran the local group in Idaho Falls for 13 years. Click here for a previous story that EastIdahoNews.com reported on regarding Operation Shield. This new nonprofit he wants to create is just in the beginning stages.
As for the East Idaho Outdoor Expo, there will be coloring stations with wildlife art, a scavenger hunt with a drawing for many different prizes, a fire-starting contest and more.
“There are a lot of different contests to make it fun for the whole family, not just adults. It’s really geared for kids as well,” Smith said.
Some of the prizes include a custom fly rod, a Dutch oven, a $500 gift certificate to Archery Idaho and a guided fishing trip.
Smith said he is looking forward to the East Idaho Outdoor Expo, which is meant to be lighthearted and fun for everyone.
“It’s just something for the community to enjoy,” he said.
