The Great American Outdoor Show, drawing around 200,000 attendees annually to Harrisburg, is a vital economic boost, generating $75 million for local businesses.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — About 200,000 people attend the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg every year.
Some businesses believe the show’s impact is a lifeline to keeping the lights on. For the thousands in attendance, everywhere you turn, there’s something unique for everyone to enjoy.
“Coming to a show like this that brings different diversity, ethnicities, and different things that you can do. whether it is hunting, or fishing, or just enjoying your wildlife,” John Bingaman, Hunter Nation Pennsylvania state director, said.
Visitors from around the world experience businesses from both near and far.
Dauphin County-based Woods & Wildlife Forestry Consultants works on forest land between ten and 50 acres, helping people improve hunting quality, forest health, or liquidate their assets on the property they own. The company works with each private landowner to meet their conservancy and property goals, focusing on tree, timber, and wildlife management.
With a lot of foot traffic throughout the nine-day event, managers said it can boost the forestry consultants’ business through a large part of the year. “On a down year, at least a third of our annual business is the show. on a good year, as much as half or even more than that,” forestry consultant resource manager Quinn Frassetta said.
Officials with the event expressed that it does not just impact inside the doors, but also outside in the community. More than $75 million flows through vendors, concession stands, hotels, and transportation around Dauphin County each year as people learn more about the outdoor lifestyle.
With visitors from across the globe, hunting officials are hopeful the family first event inspires generations.
“When you’re talking about a show that is around our outdoor lifestyle. You’re looking at a generational thing from kids in strollers to the 95-year-old that is a veteran going around here in his wheelchair,” Bingaman said.