Texas Parks & Wildlife Expo Set for October

Outdoor lovers can’t miss the Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, the country’s largest free, family-oriented festival of the outdoors. This year’s event is scheduled for October 6-7 at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department headquarters in Austin. Now in its 16th year, this event draws over 35,000 visitors.

“Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is like the world’s fair for the great outdoors,” said Ernie Gammage with TPWD’s Urban Outdoors Program. “If you’ve never tried these activities, it’s a great chance to see and do it all in a safe setting with expert guidance. In everything, you’ll find a message of stewardship, the idea that we all have role to play in the conservation of the natural world.”

Activities: One new offering this year is the Personal Watercraft Simulator, an interactive and educational device which employs technology similar to arcade video games. Visitors will strap on a life jacket, climb on, rev ‘er up and head out on the water, threading obstacles as they zip along the coastline. It’s fun and challenging, and participants will learn a thing or two about boating rules and water safety.

Country rock music star Kevin Fowler comes to Expo for the first time this year, signing autographed posters in the popular Wet Zone kayaking area on Sunday. Kevin is the new celebrity spokesperson for the Nobody’s Waterproof™ boating safety initiative.

Experienced boaters and anglers can take part in the Anglers’ Legacy program at the Expo for the first time this year. Launched in 2006 by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), this program encourages avid anglers to share their passion by visiting AnglersLegacy.org. There participants are asked to “Take the Pledge” and promise to take one new person fishing each year. In its first year, the program garnered nearly 10,000 pledges.

Another new activity at the Expo is geocaching. After a brief orientation, participants will be loaned Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units and will head out on the grounds to find cached items. This increasingly popular activity comes to Expo courtesy of Central Texas Geocachers.

For Spanish-speaking visitors, a new series of Outdoors 101 brochures translated into Spanish will be available at the International Pavilion, ones covering topics such as how to get started in freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, camping and hunting.

Longtime favorite activities such as the Birds of Prey Show will draw crowds noon and 3 p.m. daily in the Birds of Prey Arena. SeaWorld’s Chris Bellows will also bring the popular “Amazing Animals” show to the Main Tent twice a day, with shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Kids’ Activities: For kids, the Casting Kids activity in the Fishing and Aquatic area invites young people ages 7-to-14 to test their flipping, pitching and casting skills, learn about fishing, conservation and protection of the great outdoors and win prizes. Participants will also have a chance at competing for a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships and prizes to be given away nationwide.

Price: All events on Saturday and Sunday are free, as are water and air-conditioned shuttle bus service and parking. Although food may be brought in, coolers are discouraged because of the long walk to the grounds. Special shuttles on site will serve people with disabilities. Sorry, no pets allowed.

Parking and Shuttle: There is limited free parking near the grounds, but the best way to get to the Expo is to catch a free shuttle bus at Highland Mall (Macy’s side) near I-35 and Highway 290. If rain shuts down on-site parking, all visitors must catch shuttle buses, which run from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

For more information:
• visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expo/
• call (800) 792-1112