Contact:
Dan Forst
Renfro Productions Media Relations
317-441-7106
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2024
Ford 69th Annual Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show Set For
Feb 16-18 and 21-25, 2024 and 26th Annual Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo Feb 23-25, 2024
Has Cabin Fever got you down? Week after week of grey skies and no sunshine can take its toll on you. Then the sun comes out, and Midwesterner’s thoughts instantly turn to spring and summer adventures!
For 69 years the Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show has been inspiring families to embrace the outdoor lifestyle which includes boating, RVs, fishing, hunting and travel. The 2024 dates are February 16-18 and 21-25 and the event is held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The Show is the largest in the nation with more than 750,000 square feet of the great outdoors, indoors. The February dates are the perfect time to gather at the Show. Bring your extended family and plan the trip of a lifetime, or see, touch and compare the new boat, RV, motorcycle or other powersports purchase you’ve been contemplating. With more than five and a half acres of boats and four and a half acres of RVs you’ll find the Midwest’s largest selection of new models, and you can meet with hundreds of experts all under one roof and all in one trip!
If fishing is your thing or if you want to explore fishing as your new hobby you’ll love TackleTown USA – an entire building overflowing with fishing tackle, rods & reels, canoes, kayaks and expert fisherman who will share their knowledge to help you be a better fisherman. There’s even Ask The Pros Fishing Seminars on kayak fishing and walleye, where you the audience help control the seminar.
Have you ever seen the Hawg Trough? It’s a 4000-gallon aquarium where the experts show you how species of fish react to fishing techniques, baits etc. See Scott Martin, talking about bass fishing; Wally Marshall AKA Mr. Crappie who will be talking about crappie; Mike McKinstry, the Bassquatch Hunter will be presenting about kayak fishing; Mike DelVisco will teach you about sonar and of course we’ll have Kid’s Fishing presentations by Dan Armitage. Speaking of kids and fishing…be sure to check out Kid’s Trout Fishing, it’s an experience they will always remember!
You won’t want to miss the Kayak Fishing Showcase where you can experience the latest innovations in fishing kayak technology. The top manufacturers in the industry will showcase their products and there’s even a demo pool! You’re sure to find the perfect kayak for your fishing, hunting or recreational needs. To view the extensive list of presenters and to find your favorite topics visit https://indianapolisboatsportandtravelshow.com/speakers. You will come home ready to start your fishing season.
One thing all outdoor enthusiasts share in common is their love of adventure, the wilderness, the water and creating new memories with families and friends. The Travel & Tourism Pavilion is the place where you can meet face to face with travel experts and talk with the people who can give you the best advice for your trip. Travel destinations such as houseboat rentals, Canadian hunting and fishing lodges, camping, African Safaris as well as regional CVB’s promoting their areas.
The Ultimate Camp Cooking comedy duo returns to the Show this year sharing quick and easy campsite friendly meals that minimize mess and clean up and are huge with flavor! Comedians Pat Mac and Mike “The Big Cheese” Faverman (aka “Mac & The Big Cheese”) venture into campgrounds, tailgates, and any outdoor setting around the world to cook gourmet meals for total strangers who become “cast members” and a live audience. Mac & the Big Cheese share their knowledge and obvious love of food, creating warm a festive atmosphere for everyone to come together like a big family. Food and laughter, memories, and friends…the ingredients to a happy life.
Did someone say DOGS? The Sport Show is Going to the Dogs this year! In addition to the daily K9 X Games Show (the popular dock-diving sport), K 9 University will also feature new seminars on Outdoor Adventures with Your K 9! Why leave your dog at home or kenneled when you go on your outdoor adventure? Now you don’t have to! K 9 University will talk about how to train your pet and YOU for a safe and fun adventure. These informative seminars cover topics on safety and getting you up to speed on how you can take your pets with you in the great outdoors. For the full schedule: https://indianapolisboatsportandtravelshow.com/show-program
Kid’s Day on Saturday, February 24th is one of the things we most look forward to – getting kids started on their love for the outdoors! The first 500 kids through the door receive a free Wormgear rod & reel combo.
Maybe you want to hit the open road for some 2-wheel adventure on a motorcycle – the Show can help with that too! You’ll see several of the area’s best motorcycle dealers displaying a vast selection of motorcycles. If you’re interested in motorcycling, visit the Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling and learn from the Pioneers that helped make motorcycling the fun, family sport that it is today. Take a look at the historic displays of motorcycles, equipment and memorabilia all from the private collections of the men and woman who made motorcycling history right here in Indiana. The Pioneers themselves present lively moderated panel discussions about the early days of the sport right through to modern times. Always fun and entertaining, these panels also share current information on how to learn to ride and where you can ride. The Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show has always been a family event and this includes motorcycling.
ABATE of Indiana provides Tiny Tots – a fun riding adventure for children. This free feature’s purpose is to give children the thrill of riding a kid-sized electric motorcycle, no experience, no problem.
The 26th Annual Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo is held February 23 – 25, (and your Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show ticket also includes the best hunting Expo in the Midwest if attending February 23-25). This 3-day event is the Midwest’s Premier Hunting Expo and showcases such features as Archery Alley, the Manufacturers Archery Demo Lanes, the Hoosier Record Book Trophy Buck Display, Deer Scoring, Outfitters from Around the Globe, Waterfowl Flyways (an amazing selection of all things waterfowl-hunting related), Indiana Hunter Education, and the Youth Archery Range ( a free kids activity). New this year will be the Huff Buck, which scored a whopping 211 4/8 typical in Boone & Crocket, which makes it Indiana’s largest ever and the worlds 2nd largest buck.
You won’t want to miss the Seminar Series which includes Cody Robbins, producer of the TV show Live2Hunt, Tom Mesnard speaking about Land Management, Bill Epeards, presenting on Turkey Hunting, Jessica Outcalt and Ed Oehlman speaking on Wildlife Ecology and Forestry. Also included is a seminar on training your dog to hunt morels! Brian Wilson, head trainer at Wilson’s Dog Training will share tips, techniques and insight into how he successfully hunts morels with dogs. For the complete Hunting Seminar Schedule visit https://indianadeerandturkeyexpo.com/daily-schedule/.
The 69th Annual Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show runs from Feb. 16-18 & 21-25, 2024 (closed Monday and Tuesday). The 26th Annual Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo runs Feb. 23-25, 2024. Two great shows – one ticket (if attending Feb 23-25)! For show hours, admission prices and more show details, check our website at IndySportShow.com.
###
