Clearfield’s March Madness An Outdoor Sportsman’s Dream
Among the special guests at the Central PA Outdoor & Sports Show will be Clearfield County’s own Roland “Rockhouse” Welker, season 7 winner of the History Channel’s ALONE. He will be speaking at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 in the Expo II building at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds during the three-day event and be on hand with the Case “Stay Sharp” display to showcase the knives he designed for W.R. Case & Sons Company. (Photo from Roland Welker’s Facebook page)
By Julie Rae Rickard
CLEARFIELD – To some, March Madness refers to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. But in Clearfield, it means it is time for the annual outdoor sports show and special sales at Downtown businesses.
The eagerly anticipated Central PA Outdoor & Sports Show will be held at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds on March 15, 16 and 17. It is the largest three-day outdoor and sports event in North Central Pennsylvania, according to their website, centralpaoutdoorshow.com where you can find a complete schedule of their festivities.
The tradition of having special sales this time of the year started with Grice Gun Shop’s anniversary and Cabin Fever sale in 1984. Later, Jim’s Sports Center and Bob’s Army & Navy Store, both also in Downtown Clearfield, joined in with their own sales. Eventually, organizers of the Central PA Outdoor Show realized they could bring even more people into the area with a larger event that has continued to grow.
The Central PA Outdoor & Sports Show
This year it will include three buildings at the fairgrounds with nearly 150 vendors, 60 of which are new this season. “The show promises to have something for everyone,” it says in a recent press release.
The expansion also includes two stages that will be packed with over 20 free informational seminars, demonstrations and A-list outdoor TV personalities including Bobby Hart, a “Legends of the Outdoors 2023 American Outdoor Sportsman of the Year”; Tim Andrus of Realtree Outdoors; Jerry Lannen who has been featured on The American Predator and Predator Quest TV; Amy Bue who will speak about the Science of Sasquatch; and more.
A concealed carry seminar by Clearfield County Sheriff Mike Churner, Deputy Greg Neeper, and District Attorney Ryan Sayers, as well as Representatives Mike Armani and Dallas Kephart will be held Saturday at noon in the Expo II building.
“There will be antler scoring by Buckmasters and Case Knives will be on hand with the ‘Stay Sharp Tour’ to offer free knife sharpening,” the release says.
Clearfield County’s own Roland Welker, certified big game hunting guide, outdoor survival expert, million dollar winner of Season 7 of the History Channel’s ALONE, and local legend will be on hand with the Case “Stay Sharp” display to showcase the knives he designed for W.R. Case & Sons Company.
The show is also a family affair with many activities for the children.
The Susquehanna Rod and Gun Club will host a live fishing pond in the Expo II Building with free fly-tying lessons with those participating going home with their own fly. There is also a youth turkey calling contest with prizes sponsored by H3 Game Call and PA Boyz Outdoors, and an exotic animal presentation by Exotic Edventures.
On Friday beginning at 4:00 p.m., the first 50 kids ages five to nine will receive a certificate for a free spincast outfit courtesy of Jim’s Sports Center, and all youth 15 and under can register to win a free “Youth Hunter Starter package” (gun, ammo, clothing, boots and more) valued at $700 from Bob’s Army & Navy.
Admission is just $5, children under 12 are free.
Everyone aged 18 and over will receive three door prize tickets with admission which means three chances of winning over $10,000 in door prizes including a Can-Am Outlander 450 DPS in camo from Mountain Extreme Powersports, a Mossberg Patriot 6.5 Creedmore from Grice Gun Shop, a Foxpro Hellcat Pro from Foxpro and more.
There will be free golf cart shuttles for those in need of help moving between the buildings courtesy of Jake’s Golf Carts from McVeytown.
The show is sponsored by Visit Clearfield County, Carns Powersports, Mountain Extreme Powersports, the Clearfield County Fair & Park Board, Seven Mountains Media-Bigfoot Country 102.1, Novey Recycling, Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub, and GANT News.
The Downtown Clearfield Sales
While you are in the area, be sure to stop by these local merchants offering many sales and prizes.
Grice Gun Shop has expanded their 40th Anniversary Sale to cover all of March. For specifics on what they have to offer, go to gricegunshop.com.
Bob’s Army & Navy Store is now back, under new ownership after being closed in 2022. They will be having daily drawings for guns and gun safes during their three-day sale. You can see more details on their website, Bobsarmynavy.com.
Jim’s Sports Center has information on their sales and special fly tying presentations on their Facebook page.