CARLISLE - Last year the Carlisle Sports and Outdoor Show was organized to fill the void left by the cancellation of the annual February outdoors show in Harrisburg . As it turned out the first-year show stood on its own merit and is back again this year, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 5-7, at the Carlisle Fairgrounds.

As was the case in 2013, this year's show will feature dozens of hands-on activities, numerous displays and overall, fun for the entire family with activities and events that are suited for sports and outdoors enthusiasts of varying skill sets, ages and interests. In particular there are activities specific to those interested in hunting, camping, fishing and water/power sports.Featured again this year is several contests, and none is more popular for participants and spectators alike than Casting for Kids Contest conducted by the Capitol City Bassmaster out of Harrisburg . Not only are champions crowned in various age groups, but all the participants receive a packet of fishing-related items donated by various tackle manufactures.Headlining the contests is the return of the Pennsylvania Fly Casting Championship and Pennsylvania State Fly Tying Championship. Both events are conducted by the Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited with co-sponsorship by the Chesapeake Council of the International Federation of Fly Fishers and the Antietam Fly Anglers.Casting a fly with accuracy and distance will determine the winners as contestants will cast simulated flies at 30-inch targets arrayed between 20-65 feet and then move to the distance range where they will attempt to place their flies within a narrow 10-foot wide lane as far as they can cast. Adult men and women will compete in expert and intermediate categories, and boys and girls will compete in the youth category.Contestants will compete in one of three divisions in fly tying youth, amateur and open. Trophies will be awarded for the top three finishers in each category, the winner in the Open Division will receive a cash prize of at least $100 from Cumberland Valley TU, and prizes for the youth and amateur divisions are provided by Bass Pro Shops of Harrisburg.Other contests is the waterfowl competition by Susquehanna River Waterfowlers, turkey calling by the National Wild Turkey Federation and knife and tomahawk by the Pennsylvania Federation of Muzzleloaders. There will also be a 3D fun shoot held by NWTF and antler scoring conducted by Boone and Crockett Club members.Through arrangements with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunter-trapper education course classes will be held at the show, and once again the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association will hold its auction of outdoors-related merchandise, hunting and fishing trips, wildlife art and collectables, Sunday at 1 p.m. All the money raised is used by POWA to fund various outdoors educational events and for two college scholarships.Those looking to book an outdoors adventure, from hunting and fishing trips to travel and camping, will find more outfitters and guides at this year's show. There are also vendors with all types of outdoors gear for hunting, fishing, camping, boating and even RVs and ATVs.Other attractions is a gun show by Eagle Arms Productions, the hosts of the Pursuit Channel TV program "World Went Dark Outdoors," an exotic animal display by Bwana Jim, monster truck rides by Virginia Giant and demonstrations of power equipment by Smith's Implements. In addition there is a variety of family outdoors entertainment, including dog training, antler shed retrievals, snake handling, a catch and release trout pond for kids, a vintage camper display, world champion Frisbee dogs with the Disc-Connected K9s, a swap meet for used and new gear and a corral for selling hobby-specific items like RVs, tractors, boats and ATVs.Information about the Carlisle Sports and Outdoor Show is available on the Web at

www.CarlisleSportsOutdoor.com or by calling 717-243-7855.