Back to the big time 2023: outdoors shows, classes, swap meets, ice events around Chicago [UPDATE 12]

The broad listing of outdoors shows, claasses and swap meets is back in a big way around the Chicago area in 2023.

SHARE Back to the big time 2023: outdoors shows, classes, swap meets, ice events around Chicago [UPDATE 12]
The “Boat Show”—photograph is an overview from the last show in 2020—is slated to be back in January for the first time in three years to kick off show season around Chicago outdoors. Credit: Dale Bowman

The “Boat Show”—photograph is an overview from the last show in 2020—is slated to be back in January for the first time in three years to kick off show season around Chicago outdoors.

Dale Bowman

UPDATE 1: Northern Illinois Sports Show canceled. Explanation is here.

UPDATE 2: Island Lake Lions Club Ice Fishing Derby.

UPDATE 3: Wild Things 2023 Conference

UPDATE 4: LVVA Ice Fishing Derby and the Hard Water Classic

UPDATE 5: NICC Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Festival

UPDATE 6: Hard Water Classic canceled

UPDATE 7: LVVA Ice Fishing Derby moved back

UPDATE 8: Outdoor Sport Expo canceled

UPDATE 9: LVVA Ice Fishing Derby canceled

UPDATE 10: Wisconsin Fishing Expo

UPDATE 11: Northern Illinois Boat Show

UPDATE 12: South Side Muskie Hawks’ Fishing Swap Night

Here is the list of outdoors shows, classes, swap meets and major ice-fishing events for the coming winter and spring in 2023, well, a couple are from December.

If you have any additions or changes, please let me know by email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com) or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).

2023 CHICAGO-AREA OUTDOOR SHOWS

Dec. 2-4: St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show, St. Paul RiverCentre, Minn.

Dec. 3: Antique Lure Swap Meet, free to attendees, who are encouraged to bring old tackle to swap or sell, Niles VFW Post 3579

Jan. 6-8: Let’s Go Fishing Show, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville,

Jan. 11-15: Chicago Boat Show, McCormick Place South

Jan. 14-15: Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Jan. 14-15: Spring Lake Izaak Walton Outdoor Show, 4700 W. 49th Avenue, Hobart, Ind.

CANCELED Jan. 19-22: Northern Illinois Sports Show, Lake County Fairground & Event Center, Grayslake

Jan. 20-22: Muskie Expo Chicago, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles

Jan. 21-22: Capt. Dan Keating Schools, Lake Michigan Angler, Winthrop Harbor, Salmon Foundations, Salmon 101, Jan. 21, Advanced Tactics & Seasonal Strategies, Jan. 22

Jan. 21: Musky Swap Meet, Quad County Hawg Hunters chapter of Muskies, Inc., St. Charles Moose Lodge, Duane Landmeier, dlandmeier@frontier.com

Jan. 26-29: Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, Schaumburg Convention Center

Feb. 2-5: All-Canada Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles

[UPDATE 2] Feb. 4: Island Lake Lions Club Ice Fishing Derby, Island Lake, headquartered at Eastway Park

CANCELED [UPDATE 6] Feb. 11: Hard Water Classic, Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville

Feb. 11: Midwest Musky Club Fishing & Outdoor Show, Village Sportsman’s Club, Alsip

[UPDATE 7] Feb. 11-12: NICC Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Festival, Chain O’Lakes, headquartered on Thirsty Turtle Beach on Channel Lake, Antioch

Feb. 12: Henry Decoy Show, Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe

Feb. 15-19: NWTF Convention & Sport Show, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville

Feb. 16-19: Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Feb. 17-19: Tinley Park Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo, Tinley Park Convention Center

Feb. 17-19 and 22-26: Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds

Feb. 17-19: National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, Minneapolis, Minn.

Feb. 17-19: Muskie Expo Milwaukee, Washington County Fair Park, West Bend, Wis.

[UPDATE 9] CANCELED Feb. 24-26: LVVA Ice Fishing Derby, Bangs Lake, Wauconda

[UPDATE 10] Feb. 24-26: Wisconsin Fishing Expo, Wisconsin Fishing Expo, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis,

[UPDATE 3] Feb. 25: Wild Things Conference, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Feb. 25: Salmon Unlimited Swap Meet, River Park Moose Lodge, River Grove

[UPDATE 8] CANCELED Feb. 25: Outdoor Sport Expo, Quality Inn, Bradley, scott@qualityinnbradley.com

Feb. 25-26: Fish On, Woodland Park, Portage, Ind., portageinchamber.com or (219) 762-3300.

March 2-5: Northern Illinois Boat Show, Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake

March 4: Indoor Fishing Flea Market, Rolling Meadows High School

March 4: Illinois Smallmouth Alliance’s Bronzeback Blowout, Elmhurst American Legion

March 9-12: Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis, Wis.

March 9-12: Ultimate Sports Show, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Mich.

March 10-12: Rockford RV, Camping & Travel Show, Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park

March 10-12: Canoecopia, Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis.

March 11: Fish & Hook Sports Show, VFW Post 5788, Lockport

March 11: DRiFT’s annual Fly Fishing Auction, VFW Post 2801, Villa Park

March 11: Fox River Valley chapter of Muskies Inc.’s annual banquet, Schaumburg Golf Club

March 16-19: Illinois Taxidermist Association convention, Northfield Inn & Suites, Springfield

March 24-26: Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, Tenn.

March 25: Walleyes Unlimited swap meet, Antioch VFW Post 4551

March 31-April 2: Illinois Deer Classic, Peoria Civic Center

April 6: Midwest Musky Club Mega Raffle, Village Sportsman’s Club, Alsip

UPDATE 12 April 19: South Side Muskie Hawks’ Fishing Swap Night, Vince’s Pizza, Chicago

April 25-29: North American Vintage Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show, Westin Chicago Lombard

April 29: Riverside Fishing Club swap meet, LaGrange American Legion Berwyn Moose Lodge 424

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