ROANOKE, Va.—
Do you think hunting season is over until the spring? While you might be right as far as heading to the woods and harvesting that buck of a lifetime, or that fall longbeard and the elusive black bear, hunting has become a year-long endeavor. This is the time of the year that many promoters bring in our favorite outdoor personalities and products to make our hunting and fishing experiences better, and hopefully more successful.
For the past couple of years, our side of the Commonwealth has been without a show, and you had to drive to Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Richmond or farther to attend an outdoor show. This year we get to stay closer to home when Hunt Fest Virginia comes to the Roanoke Civic Center for three days starting Friday, January 27.
Virginia Hunt Fest is the creation of Max and Stacey Rowe. They successfully run one of those "go-to" shows that outdoors men and women have attended. The Greater Virginia Sports & Big Game Show in Harrisonburg is in its sixth year with them as promoters and owners.
If their names sound familiar, that may be because Max, along with Buck Buchanan, host the popular hunting show Just Killing Time (JKT) on The Sportsman Channel, and locally on My Valley in Harrisonburg and soon on My 19 in the Roanoke market. Stacey can also be seen on JKT, spending time with Max, her husband and "showing the boys how it is done".
Max and Stacey want everyone to know that Virginia Hunt Fest is a "brand new show with experienced outdoor professionals on its staff who understand the outdoor sports world"
But there is more than experience incorporated into this outdoor show.
"We started VA Hunt Fest because we believe deeply in our great country and feel strongly that the lessons an individual learns from hunting and fishing teach us, self respect, patience, the value of working towards a goal, respect for life, and build moral character. All of which are in shrinking supply here in the USA. By creating VA Hunt Fest we have helped provide the local nonprofit outdoor organizations an opportunity to raise needed funds, provide education, entertainment, and a chance to see new things to all generations of outdoors people. We have spent over two years making preparations for, and are very proud of this first annual VA Hunt Fest, It will be a sports show like no other before in Roanoke" says Stacey.
Max and Stacey believe that "Roanoke deserves a top-notch outdoor show" and they are definitely stepping up and answering the call. Even with some hesitation by the local folks to participate in a local sports show, Va Hunt Fest has pulled in one of the top names in the hunting outdoor business in Michael Waddell, "The Bone Collector." Waddell tops the lineup of seminar hosts that include Guinness Book Record holder Randy Oitker. Randy shot six arrows at six separate targets, and hit all six at the same time.
Max and Buck from JKT, Virginia's first Outdoor TV show, along with many other local and national names in the outdoor world. These seminars start Friday at 1 p.m. and run on the hour most of the show. Check www.huntfestva.com for the full schedule. Also included are live animals, a trout fishing pond for the kids and of course the large amount of vendors to make your next outdoor experience the best yet.
"We want all of our vendors, exhibitors, and talent to have a great show, but most importantly we want our attendees to walk away going 'Wow, this one is different and better.'" The Roanoke area has deep roots in the outdoors. We will be the first to show them we understand what they desire in an outdoor sports show.
This isn't any ole sports show this is Roanoke's Sports Show. Come out and support us."
Va Hunt Fest runs January 27 through January 29 at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibition Hall. Tickets are $10 for an adult, $5 for youth 12-and-under, and a family ticket package that includes two adults and two youth tickets for $20. All tickets are single day and you can save $1 with your Monster Jam ticket stub at the gate. Tickets are cash only at the door. An ATM will be available on site. Hours are Friday 1 p.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
