by NRA Staff - Monday, December 7, 2020
Chalk up the 2021 Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS) as another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The news comes as a disappointment for GAOS fans, exhibitors and organizers, as governmental restrictions in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will prevent the much-loved event from taking place in February at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa.
Dating from the 1950s, a midwinter gathering of hunting, shooting, fishing and other outdoor interests has drawn enthusiasts and vendors from around the globe, and 2021 was shaping up to be one of the biggest shows ever, with 1,100-plus exhibitors on tap. Since the NRA stepped in to save and revitalize the event by creating GAOS in 2014, the event has attracted six-figure crowds and represented a major boon for the state and local economies, annually contributing around $75 million to area business and governmental revenue, according to official estimates.
The NRA will truly miss sharing America’s outdoor and firearms heritage with the thousands of attendees who faithfully make the trek to Harrisburg, but we look forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones at the next GAOS, scheduled for Feb. 5-13, 2022.
Until then, you can stay updated on GAOS news and developments by visiting https://www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org/newsletter/.
For NRA members and others interested in reaching out to hunting and fishing outfitters, firearm companies, equipment suppliers and other vendors you’ve met in previous years, here’s an index of exhibitors from 2020: https://s15.a2zinc.net/clients/nra/gaos2021/Public/exhibitors.aspx?ID=3880.