BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The annual Early Bird Sports Expo is back in Columbia County. Whether you’re a hunter or outdoor enthusiast the event brings a weekend full of exhibits showcasing new gear and educational seminars.
Barry Sones stands at position skillfully eyeing his target
“About 25 years old I started shooting a compound bow,” said Sones, who is the President of the Bloomsburg Archery Club, and with the Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors.
Sones is an avid archer warming up on a 3D shoot competition set up for the Early Bird Sports Expo in Bloomsburg.
“Bloomsburg Archery Club, we have a 24-target course here that people can come and compete and just shoot for fun,” explained Sones.
The club is just one of more than 120 vendors participating in the weekend-long event. Many of them are small businesses, like Ryan Neely’s who grew up attending the expo.
“My family always came down even before I was a vendor, here at this expo, and we’d always come down and see my uncle shoot in the archery competition so it’s a tradition for us,” said Neely, who is the owner of Leading Edge Baits.
The early bird sports expo features everything from hunting gear to woodworking items for sale and is celebrating its 34th year.
Owner Jarrett Swartz took over the ropes for it back in 2021. As the expo gets bigger each year Swartz says they not just targeting hunters but all lovers of the outdoors.
“We get people from all over. New York, Virginia, Delaware, Pittsburgh. We get a pretty good pool from all around,” said the owner of Timber to Table Custom Woodworking, Jarrett Swartz.
Activities like archery and a scavenger hunt are meant to pique the interest of the younger guests attending.
“You’ll find the meaning of life by trying new things and witnessing new things and not be in a room or wrapped up in games,” said Swartz.
The Early Bird Sports Expo will open Thursday at 3:00 p.m. and will run the entire weekend, and all active duty military and veterans get in for free. You can learn more about this event by visiting their website.