INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A couple of years ago, David Dangerfield figured the area needed a festival to promote Indian River County’s nearly unlimited amount of outdoor activities and quality of life.
Today and tomorrow, the second annual Florida Outdoors Expo will be held at the Indian River County Fairgrounds at 7955 58th Ave., Vero Beach.
The gates will open each day at 9 a.m. The show will close at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 4 p.m. Sunday.
“I love fishing and hunting,” said Dangerfield, who is the promoter of the festival, which has been organized by Strike Team Productions. “I looked around the state and I didn’t see an expo that had everything. Our show will have such a variety of things. If you don’t like one thing, there’ll be 50 other things to do.”
John Godwin, who stars in the popular ”Duck Dynasty” television show on A&E Network, will be a special guest at this year’s festival.
He will meet and greet fans from 10 a.m. to Noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. each of the two days at the Aluma Tower Indoor Expo Stage.
“I’ve worked on getting someone from the show since October of last year,” said Dangerfield, who recently was promoted to captain at the Indian River County Fire Department. “This is quite a big deal. They closed out last season with 9.6 million viewers. It was one of the biggest reality shows on A&E.”
The show’s audience has grown and an estimated 12 million-plus people tuned in last week to this season’s premier.
Last week, the show began its fourth season. It focuses on the Robertson family, which became wealthy while developing and manufacturing products for duck hunters.
The Duck Commander, a duck call, became its most coveted item.
“It’s one of those reality shows where it’s cool to keep watching,” Dangerfield said. “The family business is about duck hunting, and that is up my alley. It’s a good family show. It has comedic value and there’s a lot of playing around as they make fun of each other. It’s guys getting together and feeding off of that. I know they turn down dozens of venues daily, and that’s why I was surprised when Godwin decided to come. They’re from Louisiana, and I’m sure they know about our beaches and what the area is like.”
Kayaking has been popular in Indian River County for years, but few know that fishing from a kayak often is more effective than venturing out in the traditional motorboat.
“You can fish out of most kayaks, but there are some that focus on kayak fishing,” said Malcolm Allen, the owner of Orchid Island Kayaks, which will conduct seminars both days on how to fish effectively from a kayak. “Some are more stable and they enable you to stand. A lot of folks don’t realize that kayaks can be more successful than power boats because they can get into areas that some small motorboats can’t get into. Economically, you don’t need a trailer. Boats run on fuel and that can be expensive. They’re also difficult to maintain.”
There also is no shortage of interesting area waterways to explore.
“It’s one of the fastest growing sports,” Allen said. “Folks will find kayaking is a great way to get out there and spend day fishing.”
Admission to the festival is $7 for those 12 and older. Children younger than 12 will not be charged.
“I have boys 10 and 16 years old,” Dangerfield said. “I like to take them out early to go fishing. My 10-year-old wants to take a kayak out. You have to take the time to do it. If you don’t get your kids involved, they’ll just sit there glued to the TV, Xbox or video games. You want to get outside where it’s healthy to do a good, clean sport. It could be hunting where it’s fun and bonding. Or, you could teach them not to throw things into the water. Catch and release is important in fishing because you don’t have to kill everything.”
Hands-on demonstrations will be given in casting, fly fishing and knot tying. There also will be opportunity to learn archery.
Outdoor survival skills will be emphasized both days for hikers and campers. A hunter safety course will be offered, as well as gun and knife shows.
Gatorland will send representatives to talk about alligator wrestling and the dangers of one of Florida’s most misunderstood reptiles.
“People will see a gator and think they need to feed it,” Dangerfield said. “Then, someone in that same neighborhood will be taking their dog for a walk. If the gator is hungry, they’ll just eat the dog off the leash.”
Dangerfield said proceeds from the festival will help the Indian River Firemen Benevolent Fund as well as local charities to help needy children.
