Clyde Sana, who organizers the annual Tinley Park Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, was surprised when its traditional February dates were not available for 2025 at Tinley Park Convention Center.
But the expo will return for a third year to the venue, just a month earlier, running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12.
“We continue to pursue it because we believe the southwest community has a great deal of sports-minded people and that we would continue to make it a success,” said Sana, of Olympia Fields. “We’re hoping for even larger attendance than in the past.”
“Rather than always having to travel up north or out west or down south, this is a great location, a great spot to get to and travel from,” he said.
Sana launched the expo in 2023 as a private enterprise after officials with the Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor Show, which Rich Komar started in the 1990s as a fundraiser for Tinley Park High School’s football program, said the annual event would not continue.
“It was a very successful show at the high school,” Sana said, but the fundraiser for athletic programs and activities at the school was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a little risk, or gamble, to take (the show) to the convention center where obviously costs and expenses are considerably higher, but we’ve done very well,” he said. “Last year we filled the facility completely with exhibition space so that’s about 63,000 feet.”
Sana, president of Olympia Fields-based The Lorann Company of Illinois, estimated there will be about 125 exhibitors including charters, fishing clubs, fishing guides, manufacturers, tackle shops and vacation resorts from across the Midwest.
There also will be large displays by exhibitors such as The Anglers Outlet from Tinley Park, Bettenhausen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Tinley Park, Gina’s Motorsports of Monee and Water Werks Boat Sales from Country Club Hills.
“It does give a person an opportunity to get a break from the norm,” Sana said. “All the activities with the holidays will be behind them. They’ll be relaxed and looking for a little bit of something to do.”
He encouraged families to check out the Kids Corner including balloon artists, face painting and caricature sketch portraits from 9 a.m. to noon both days.
A kids trout pond, daily appearances by The Tallest Fisherman in the World and daily live performances by an Elvis Presley impersonator are among other family friendly fun.
“It’s to get the kids and children involved,” Sana said. “They need to understand that there’s other things besides the phone and electronic devices. They need to be able to enjoy the excitement of being outdoors.”
The expo, which also features casting contests and virtual reality simulators, gives back by making what he called “substantial” donations to Shriners Children’s and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“I chose those because the children are the future of this world. All the help that you can give them is something which everybody can do and should do,” Sana said. “Kids start fishing early and you’ve got to have kids to be fishing to have adults to enjoy the outdoors.”
He got into fishing thanks to his father, Frank Sana, taking him, his brother, Ken Sana, and his sister, Colette Sana, on trips to catch fish on Lake Michigan or at park district ponds.
“I love fishing and I take advantage of as many trips and as many adventures as I can,” Clyde Sana said.
The expo’s seminar speakers include Jeffrey Bailey from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 9th West Region; Mike Mladenik, who specializes in topwater smallmouth bass; Mike Norris, a fishing guide in Wisconsin and 2025 inductee into the Fresh Water Hall of Fame; and “MidWest Outdoors Podcast” host Jim O’Neil.
The Lorann Co. also coordinates The Fish & Hook Sports Show, a smaller event which started about 18 years ago in Rockdale and has taken place annually for about 10 years at Lockport Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5788, 1026 E. 9th St., where vendors will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 1.
Tinley Park Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo
When: Jan. 10-12
Where: Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park
Tickets: $5-$20; free ages 6 and younger
Information: 708-717-1215; tinleyfishexpo.com.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtow
