Calling All Outdoor Enthusiasts

The Outdoor Sporting Expo will be held March 1-3 at Claremore Expo Center.

Hunting, fishing, camping, ­hiking, boating – in other words, all things outdoors – will be coming to Claremore for the Outdoor Sporting Expo, March 1-3. Vendors and celebrities will fill the 90,000-square-foot Claremore Expo Center with booths and demonstrations ­during the three-day event that will offer something for everyone in the family.

    Hosted by the Claremore Chamber of Commerce, Claremore Main Street and the Claremore Expo Center, the event will encompass all kinds of outdoor activities, according to Cindy Bissett, executive director of Claremore Main Street.

    Presenting sponsors for the Outdoor Sporting Expo are Claremore Physicians Immediate Care and Advance Imaging. Other sponsors include TTCU the Credit Union, Visit Claremore and Tulsa RV.

    Attendees can browse through an assortment of booths related to hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, motocross, camping, canoeing, traveling, cabins and resort rentals, and anything else that takes place outdoors during the event. Well-known individuals in the fields of hunting, fishing, alligator trapping and BMX stunts, as well as others who are making a name for themselves in the world of outdoor sports, will be on hand to demonstrate their skills, answer questions and sign autographs. Campers, RVs and ATVs will also be on display.

    Timmy Biffle, a professional angler for the last 21 years, finished the Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year race in third and was runner up at the Bassmaster Classic twice and three times at the FLW Cup. Biffle will be conducting seminars in the “bass” tub at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday as well as being available to answer people’s questions during the show.

    “Gator Boys” reality star Jimmy Riffle, from Animal Planet, will be on hand to meet and greet the public and sign autographs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Jimmy has been gator wrestling since he was 11 years old, giving him the unmatched ability to handle nearly any dangerous reptile with ease.

    On Saturday and Sunday, the Rise Above BMX Team will perform twice and conduct seminars for children, demonstrating bicycle safety and teaching basic ground tricks. The team has been featured on the CBS Morning Show and travels around the country entertaining and encouraging youth to work hard and stay drug-free.

    Kaleb Summers, the Oklahoma Noodling Champion, will be available all three days of the expo to conduct seminars, share his experiences, and meet and greet the public. “You don’t want to miss any of Kaleb’s ­presentations - his outdoor adventures are exciting for sure,” says Dell Davis of the Claremore Chamber. Summers, a Claremore native, was part of the “2012 Okie Noodling Tournament” champion team.

    The Dog Creek Outfitters will also be on hand to share their culinary skills with original chuck wagon cooking ­demonstrations. The team from Claremore includes Mike Shelton, John Lewis and Larry Hougland.

    Archery exhibitions will also be a part of the event as Charlie Merz, a bow hunting expert, will be on hand for several seminars.

    “We will have a wide range of booths,” says Davis. “There will be something related to the outdoors available for everyone.” Hours for the three-day event are noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

    Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children. Kids, 10 and under, are admitted free. For more information about the event, including ­special admission, giveaways, schedules of demonstrations and other updates, go to ­www.outdoorsportingexpo.com. You can also go to Facebook to “like” and share the event.

    Vendors who might be ­interested in participating may call (918) 341-5881 or ­ (918) 341-2818 to see if booth space is still available. 

For more information, contact

Claremore Chamber of Commerce

(918) 341-2818