Chicago outdoors: Boat Show & Showtime Week 2

The most venerable of shows in Chicago outdoors has this week alone: The Progressive Insurance Chicago Boat, Sports & RV Show opens today at McCormick Place North and runs through Monday.

That’s right Monday. Once again, the show runs through Martin Luther King Day.

This year, more bigger boats are back, as I noted in my column on the Sun-Times outdoors page on Wednesday.

Or as Bryan Blazek responded Wednesday on Facebook, “A lot of really BIG boats this year. We have been setting up since Monday and this is going to be a great show.”

I look forward to it. Plan to hit opening night with a knowledgeable boat guy, then do the family thing, probably on Monday.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Jan. 22-26: Chicago Outdoor Sports Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont Jan. 24-26: Chicagoland Gun Show, co-located with the Chicago Outdoor Sport Show

Jan. 23-26: Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, Schaumburg Convention Center

Jan. 23-26: Strictly Sail Chicago, Navy Pier

Jan. 24-26: Illinois Fish & Feather Expo, Interstate Center, Bloomington

Jan. 24-26: Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show, Coliseum, Fort Wayne

Feb. 8-9: Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show, Tinley Park High School

Feb. 9: Henry Decoy Show, Henry-Senachwine High School

Feb. 12-16: Chicago RV & Camping Show, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Feb. 14-16: Our World-Underwater, Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

Feb. 14-23: Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds

Feb. 14-16: Bedford Sales Open House, Morris

Feb. 14-16: Rockford Boat, Vacation and Fishing Show, Indoor Sports Center

Feb. 20-23: Deer, Turkey and Waterfowl Expo, Indiana State Fairgrounds