The celebration of an interesting and unique creature in a county named for it is one of the main ideas behind the “Elk Expo” held in the appropriately named Elk County, the weekend of July 25 and 26. It is located at the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette, Pa.
The Elk Expo, started in 2001 by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance, has since been celebrated as the largest celebration of Elk East of the Mississippi River. Taking place this year on Saturday, July 25th, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, July 26th, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., the event is dedicated to bringing together elk enthusiasts, hunters, conservationists, outdoor families, and industry professionals for a weekend of education and entertainment.
It offers FREE Seminars all weekend long, including Bass Fishing, Rifle Accuracy, Dutch Oven Cooking, Pennsylvania Game Commission K-9 Demonstrations, Snake Programs, and more.
A few more highlights of the Elk Expo include the drawing of both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Keystone Elk Country Alliance Elk Tag Raffle drawings, along with a meet and greet with Punxsutawney Phil and even a chance to spot BIGFOOT.
More than 120 vendors will be in attendance, ranging from hunting and fishing outfitters, wildlife artisans, taxidermists, concealed carry companies, to e-bikes and more. This “Family Friendly” event is great for all ages.
According to organizers of the Keystone Elk Country Alliance’s annual Elk Expo, the event has become an important contributor to economic development in the Elk County region, particularly by strengthening tourism, supporting local businesses, and promoting long-term investment in the area’s outdoor recreation economy. It is an event that no doubt has placed Elk County on the tourism map. It highlights this interesting and unique area that features unspoiled natural beauty.
“I look forward to the interaction between the guests and the vendors. I love to see the relationships built between the two. This may just be a one-time sale or help to create a long-time customer and friend.” Morgan Lovenduski, Director of Marketing, Keystone Elk Country Alliance, told Webb Weekly.
For further information about the Elk Expo, you can contact the Keystone Elk Country Alliance at 814-787-5167.
About Keystone Elk Country Alliance
KECA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) wildlife conservation organization that focuses their resources on Pennsylvania’s elk herd and the Elk Country Visitor Center located in Benezette. Our mission is “To Conserve and Enhance Pennsylvania’s Elk Country for Future Generations.” We accomplish our mission in three priorities, Conservation Education, Habitat Enhancement and Permanent Land Protection. Conservation Education is our number one priority. We accomplish this through our scheduled programs at The Center, participation in Outdoor Shows, County Fairs and other venues where we can interact with the public. In addition, our Distance Learning program allows us to take Elk Country to schools and civic groups that are unable to visit due to geographic or fiscal constraints. Our Conservation Education staff reaches out through online technology via Zoom to complete our unique programs with the participants live. Our traveling elk trunk is shipped to the groups in advanced and packed full of antlers, hides, skulls and other informative items. We truly are a leader in conservation education and working hard every day to bring the Elk Country experience to people everywhere.
Our efforts of wise habitat enhancement are spreading across Elk Country. We are working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to enrich habitat for elk and other wildlife through mowing, planting and other projects. We also have expanded these efforts by working with private land owners on a number of projects.
We are committed to working with our partners and regional and local communities to make the Elk Country Visitor Center a success. Our lead volunteer group has many years of experience raising private dollars to enhance elk country across the US. The Elk Country Visitor Center is an exceptional venue that provides a consistent conservation education message for tens of thousands of visitors to our region. We strongly believe that the Elk Country Visitor Center will be a world class experience to build bridges of education and understanding between urban and suburban environments.
