The International Sportsmen’s Fair will be held in Riihimäki Sports Park from 9 to 12 June 2022, following a four-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The upcoming Sportsmen’s Fair will address the fair themes of hunting, fishing, trekking and nature from the perspective of sustainability. The first International Sportsmen’s Fair was held in 1972, meaning that the fair is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
“It feels very good to be preparing for this event in earnest after a long time”, says Ninni Manninen, Fair Director of the Sportsmen’s Fair in Riihimäki. “Exhibitors are really looking forward to coming to the Sportsmen’s Fair to meet their customers, which is the basic idea of the fair. In addition, we will have a great programme focused on hunting, fishing, trekking and nature”, Manninen continues.
The Sportsmen’s Fair is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, as the first fair was held in 1972. Then President of the Republic Urho Kekkonen was the patron of the event, and this year President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö has pledged to be the patron of the Sportsmen’s Fair. The fair organiser Riihimäen Messut has published photographs from the fair in different decades on its website. The Hunting Museum of Finland is organising a 50th anniversary exhibition to celebrate the long journey of the magnificent event that is the International Sportsmen’s Fair. This exhibition is the main event of the fair’s anniversary year. More information about the exhibition is available here: https://www.metsastysmuseo.fi/nayttely/eramessut-50-vuotta/
Riihimäen Messut merged with Riihimäen Tilat ja Kehitys Oy on 1 January 2022. A fair team was set up to guide the fair activities. The purpose of the team is to bring the latest news from the hunting, fishing and trekking sectors to the attention of the organisers of the Sportsmen’s Fair. This allows the International Sportsmen’s Fair to further ensure that future fairs will serve visitors and the outdoor industry in the best possible way. Learn more about the fair team here: https://www.eramessut.fi/messuryhma.html
Taloustutkimus conducted a survey on the economic and employment impacts of the fair nationwide and by region in April 2022. According to the survey, the economic impact of the fair will be EUR 3.7 million in the Riihimäki region this year, with visitors bringing EUR 2.8 million and exhibitors accounting for EUR 0.9 million. The revenue is divided between cafes and restaurants, hotels and other accommodation, train and bus traffic, durable consumer goods trade, and other income. The employment impact is as many as 50 person-workyears. More information about the survey is available here: https://www.eramessut.fi/messujen-puuttuminen-vie-tuloja-jarjestamispaikkakunnilta.html
The June programme of the Sportsmen’s Fair will be very extensive and varied. Celebrity outdoorsman and journalist Mikko “Peltsi” Peltola will host the Sportsmen’s Fair. In total, Peltsi will be visiting seven programme locations at the fair. Long-time outdoor journalist Joppe Ranta will head the Retkinikkari stage named after him. His programme covers trekking in a very diverse way and features various celebrities from the industry. The programme is published online and can also be searched by programme location, day or theme. The fair programme is available here: https://www.eramessut.fi/ohjelma.html
More information: www.eramessut.fi
Ninni Manninen, Fair Director, Riihimäen Tilat ja Kehitys Oy / Riihimäen Messut, ninni.manninen@riihimaenmessut.fi, +358 50 362 6051
Pauliina Lindgren, Marketing and Communications Manager, Riihimäen Tilat ja Kehitys Oy / Riihimäen Messut, pauliina.lindgren@riihimaenmessut.fi, +358 50 516 4004