NRA Great American Outdoor Show Underway

American Rifleman’s coverage of the new gear and guns debuting at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas, Nev. has more than a few people eager to add to their collection or, at the least, get a first-hand glimpse of the industry’s latest. Unfortunately, it’s a trade show, so only buyers, retailers, manufacturers and media can attend the annual event.

Thankfully, you don’t have to wait very long. Many of those new products are also on display during the 2020 Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Penn., Feb. 1 to 9. It’s open to the public and the largest consumer show dedicated to the outdoors on the planet. Tickets are on sale now. 

There are nine exhibit halls and 650,000 square feet of indoor floor space at the annual event. Nearly 200,000 people will attend over the nine days the show is open. More than 1,100 exhibitors will be on hand.

The 2020 Great American Outdoor Show is family-friendly, too, which is very different from SHOT. Children and significant others who don’t yet have the same eagerness to compare rifling rates and barrel threads have a lot more to keep their attention.

Themed exhibit halls feature fishing, RVs, boats, hunting outfitters, outdoor products, archery and, of course, shooting sports. There will be more than 400 hunting outfitters and fishing charter captains from across the globe at the show.

Special events include the NRA Country Concert, fundraising dinners, speeches, celebrity appearances, kid’s activities and much more. Basically, there’s something for everyone each year—and it keeps getting bigger and better.

The benefits aren’t exclusive to attendees, either. More than $75 million in economic activity is generated by the show each year, creating or supporting more than 6,000 jobs in the area’s lodging, transportation, food and beverage, retail and recreation businesses.