The 2026 Ohio River Hunting and Fishing Expo this weekend in the Junior Fair Building at the Washington County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday. Sixty-three vendors participated. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

MARIETTA – As people begin thinking about getting out into the great outdoors, hunters and fishers attended the 2026 Ohio River Hunting and Fishing Expo this weekend at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Organizers saw over 1,000 people on Saturday at the Junior Fair Building where 63 vendors of hunting, fishing and other outdoor related products and activities gathered to show and sell their wares and provide information about outdoor activities. Another big crowd was on track Sunday with food and food vendors also on hand.

“It has been wonderful,” organizer Sarah Schmidt, who was with the business sponsor Ivory & Rust, said. “The sun is out so why not come down and show your support.”

Schmidt said the event was focused on families getting outside and together enjoying outdoor activities together as well as learn what goes into doing these activities.

“We want to focus on the family dynamic,” she said. “It is not just for the men, it is for the family.”

Vendor Timothy Patterson of Shimmer Glimmer, a maker of custom fishing lures, explains the different lures he had available Sunday to George Shegog of New Concord, Ohio, during the 2026 Ohio River Hunting and Fishing Expo at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Marietta. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

They wanted to start getting youth interested in fishing and hunting activities now and start building that love and appreciation of the outdoors as well as the proper safety equipment and the gear they would need for hunting and fishing.

“We hope they feel this is an experience they will truly remember,” Schmidt said.

They had representatives on hand with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and others involved in these activities to begin educating the youth.

“That is what we want to do is start the kids out young, doing it right and following the rules and spending time with their family,” Schmidt said. “Everything has been going great and we are glad to be here.”

George Shegog of New Concord, Ohio was walking around Sunday “to see what is out there.”

Peyton Vest and Hunter Helmic of Brushcreek Calls of Pebble, Ohio interact with Amy Woodby of Newport, Ohio Sunday during the 2026 Ohio River Hunting and Fishing Expo held Saturday and Sunday at the Washington County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

He described himself as an avid fisherman and bought a number of lures from vendor Timothy Patterson of Shimmer Glimmer.

“I enjoy hunting and fishing,” he said. “An outdoor sports show just fits for me.”

Shegog said the show was a chance to get out and see what was available.

“It is great,” he said. “They have good representation of different things. I am very impressed.”

Patterson said they had good crowds both Saturday and Sunday and were doing a lot of business.

“The weekend has been outstanding,” he said. “There were a lot of people and a good turnout.”

This was their second year at the show and they are talking about doing a third year.

With the weather starting to warm up, people were starting to think about getting out and doing trout fishing this spring and that is where he comes in. He makes custom fishing lures with materials made in the United States and prides himself on his business being veteran owned.

“I started this and feel God gave me the opportunity and I had to apply myself,” Patterson said. “People really like it.”

Amy Woodby of Newport, Ohio was looking at some of the animal calls available from Brushcreek Calls of Pebble, Ohio.

“The kids love to do the fishing and hunting and stuff,” she said.

She was impressed with the variety of vendors and products available and liked that this show was able to bring attention to what many of these small businesses are doing.

“It is helping the entrepreneurs boost their business,” Woodby said. “It is amazing the people and businesses from the different parts of Ohio.

“It is just amazing that people come from a distance to come here for this. It is awesome.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com