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Outdoor Show Introduces Two New Coliseum Events Jan. 22-24

For the seventh consecutive year, the Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show – taking place Jan. 22-24, 2016 at Fort Wayne’s Memorial Coliseum – will debut two new sister events in the venue’s new conference center connected to the outdoor show.

On Friday, Jan. 22 from 6-10 p.m., Federated Media (97.3 WMEE, 98.9 The Bear, K105 and News Talk 1190 WOWO) will present Beer & Bacon Fest, the Coliseum’s first-ever craft beer event. Then the following Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 23-24, Lutheran Health Network and WANE-TV’s Get Fit Expo will fill the same 30,000-square-foot space with lifestyle seminars, interactive activities and health screenings, vendors and more.

“We wanted to expand on certain areas of the outdoor show that deserved more attention, plus add a new dimension that fit with recreation and leisure,” said Dave Marquart, director of Coliseum Productions. “The Get Fit Expo will cater to the active lifestyle, but will overall focus on health and wellness – something that is definitely top of mind at the beginning of a new year!”

Marquart says that the Beer & Bacon Fest is a perfect tie-in for those who like to “treat” themselves during their free time. Beer and bacon enthusiasts can sample local craft brews and pair them with sizzling bacon-inspired bites from local restaurants while enjoying live music. World War II veterans will also appear as part of a silent auction benefitting Honor Flight Northeast Indiana.

Following the Beer & Bacon Fest, the Lutheran Health Network Pavilion will revolve more around how to start building healthy habits and reduce risk for disease in six key areas: nutrition, hydration, exercise, sleep, stress management and tobacco cessation. They will have another area that concentrates more on injury prevention and performance improvement by featuring warm-up demos, video gait/golf swing analysis, and special information for runners. Get Fit Expo hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 23 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24.

All Beer & Bacon Fest and Get Fit Expo attendees receive free access to the Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show, which takes place all weekend. Visitors can explore log cabin and timber-frames homes, shop with countless outdoor-related vendors and browse a tremendous new 20,000-square-foot RV display from Camping World – America’s largest RV dealership coming to Fort Wayne for the very first time.

Schnelker Marine Focus PowerSports will fill a larger 3,500-square-foot space with a tackle shop along with the following Bass Pro Shops branded products: Polaris snowmobile and off-road (utility, performance and all-terrain) vehicles, Ascend fishing kayaks, Nitro performance bass and Tracker aluminum fishing boats like the Grizzly, Sun Tracker and Regency pontoons, Tahoe recreational boat, and their brand new Timbersled snow bike.

Family-friendly activities include two ziplines, daily STIHL Timberworks lumberjack shows (with an amateur competition that Saturday evening), kayak rides, archery and air rifle range, seminars and more.

Children especially will enjoy two new features – an appearance by Spiderman on Friday and Saturday – plus live fishing at the “Grandpa Doc’s Fishing Hole,” which will raise money for the Riley Children’s Foundation. But all youth fish for free when accompanied by a grandparent.

Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show hours are noon-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets for the outdoor show are $10 for adults, $5 for active/veteran military, and free for children 12 & under. Mizpah Shrine Circus attendees can receive $2 off general admission with a valid ticket stub.

Beer & Bacon Fest tickets will be available on BeerBaconFest.org after Christmas. Admission is $25 each for ages 21+ (or $40 a couple), and designated drivers are $15. Adults are $10, and children 12 and younger are free.

Tickets for the Get Fit Expo and Outdoor Sports, Lake & Cabin Show are available through the Coliseum box office during show hours, and will be valid for re-entry. These two events will have $2 off general admission coupons available at Fort Wayne’s two Dick’s Sporting Goods’ stores after Christmas, and on SportsandCabinShow.com starting Jan. 1. Discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

For more information on all three shows, log on SportsandCabinShow.com.