The National Rifle Association of America announced that more than 200,000 people packed the exhibit halls at this year’s NRA Great American Outdoor Show, held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa., from February 4-12. Our nation’s hunting and outdoor heritage was on full display, as more than 1,000 exhibitors covered 650,000 square-feet to present the latest and greatest in products, gear and technologies, as well as booking once-in-a-lifetime hunts and fishing trips in America and abroad.
The 200,000 attendees at GAOS in 2023 mark a 35,000 improvement over last year’s total.
“Dauphin County was the epicenter of all things outdoors as the world’s largest outdoor show hosted hundreds of thousands of sportsmen and women this year,” Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr., the executive director of NRA General Operations, said about GAOS this year. “It was thrilling to see the exhibit halls—from the shooting sports hall to the hunting outfitter hall—packed with families and friends celebrating our shared values and way of life. NRA is grateful for the support from our local partners, sponsors, and exhibitors that helped make this show a resounding success and a memorable experience for all attendees.”
Throughout the nine-day show, leading outdoors experts conducted more than 200 educational seminars and demonstrations on a variety of topics including hunting, fishing, trapping, self-defense tactics and wild game cooking. Show attendees also had the opportunity to compete for bragging rights at the 3D Bowhunter Challenge, Metal Madness Airsoft Range and Kid’s Trout Pond, take in the DockDogs competition with athletic canines competing in a variety of distance and speed events, and visit the Eddie Eagle Kid’s Zone for crafts, games and face painting.
This year’s show also saw the return of two popular events. On Thursday, February 9, Second Amendment supporters gathered for a Friends of NRA banquet for a night of games, auctions, and fun to raise money for the shooting sports. This family-friendly event gave attendees the opportunity to win exclusive guns, gear, décor and collectibles—all while ensuring the future of American freedoms for future generations.
The second Saturday of the show concluded with a sold-out NRA Country concert presented by Magpul Industries. Platinum-selling artist and country superstar Brantley Gilbert, along with special guests Jacob Bryant and Nate Hosie, provided an unforgettable night of music and storytelling celebrating freedom and American values. The Large Arena of the Farm Show Complex was at full capacity proving that central Pennsylvania truly is NRA Country.
The night before the show kicked off, NRA officials and local elected officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the NRA Foundation announced approximately $50,000 in grants to central Pennsylvania organizations that promote the shooting sports and outdoor lifestyle, and law enforcement agencies that keep their communities safe. Recipients included the Bensalem High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC Program, the Sugarloaf Township Police Department, the East Pennsboro Township Police Department, the Southern Fulton High School Trap Team, Hunters Sharing the Harvest, the Chambersburg Area Senior High School Navy Junior ROTC Marksmanship Program and the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit. Since 2014, the NRA Foundation has donated more than $400,000 in conjunction with the Great American Outdoor Show.
The 2024 NRA Great American Outdoor Show is scheduled to take place February 3-11. Visit greatamericanoutdoorshow.org for more information.
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