HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — If you like to hunt or fish, your weekend plans are waiting in Downtown Huntsville. The annual Tennessee Valley Hunting and Fishing Expo is this weekend and it's going on all weekend long.
The event brings over 500 vendors to area and they're not all local. Ward's Whitetails is based in Kansas, while Thump Gel is based in Guntersville, AL. Marty Holland, Owner and President of the Tennessee Valley Hunting and Fishing Expo, said, "We're an essential part of hunting and fishing."
There's a variety of booths set up. Janson Reynolds of Fetch N' Fish said. "Anything and everything you want to do about hunting and fishing, it's right here."
Events like this are one of many that provide a large economic boost to the City of Huntsville. Officials say Madison was the 2nd most visited county in Alabama last year. "travel and visitors in Madison County alone was more than $2.4 billion," said Charles Winters, Executive Vice President of Huntsville Visitors Center.
Winters also says travel and visitors are a huge economic driver in the community. Reports say Madison County had 3.9 million visitors in 2023, saving every household more than $1,300 in tax money.
Stuart Vest of Bone Collector Game Calls said, "That's what we strive to do, is to get the kids involved back into hunting and fishing and enjoy the local resources of the community.
If you missed the action Friday, you still have the opportunity to visit the Expo Saturday and Sunday. The full schedule can be found here.