Despite the addition of a small admission fee this year, the
sixth annual Kinzua Outdoor and Travel Show was a success, bringing
in 200 more people than last year’s show.

Diane Sheeley, executive director of the Bradford Area Chamber
of Commerce, said Sunday she was really pleased with this year’s
KOTS and the turnout, adding about 1,900 people were in attendance
Friday night, with just under 7,300 in attendance for the two days
of the show – an increase of 200 people from last year.

“I don’t think (the admission fee) was a deterrent,” Sheeley
said. “The (public), exhibitors and vendors were very pleased.”

Sheeley said the change in the layout of the show, using more of
the Bradford Mall and the main entrance to the mall, threw a little
curve for people attending the show.

“A lot of people were just used to going into the Ames store,”
Sheeley said. “I heard more about the door change than anything
else. But they were very pleased (with the show) once they were
inside. By expanding out into the mall and moving some of the
programs into the other stores, exhibitors had the extra space they
needed for traffic flow.”

Sheeley said she did not know if next year’s KOTS will use as
much or more of the mall as this year since the show expands based
on the number of exhibitors, vendors and actual activities they
have. She added S&S Archery’s extravaganza was part of the
reason organizers were prompted to expand into more of the mall
this year.

“They needed to be kept separate for safety and for their
performance and activities,” Sheeley said. “And because our
children’s programs were so popular, by taking those and holding
those in a separate area, it was better for the children and
presenters. It allowed more focus and was easier for their
safety.”

Sheeley said the archery extravaganza had a great turnout. She
said the former Fashion Bug store in the mall, where it was held,
was packed on Saturday when the extravaganza hosted professional
archers competing against the public in an one-arrow shoot-off and
competing against each other by shooting a life-saver, a pill and
an apple off a dummy’s head from a distance, among other events in
the competition.

“Because of the length each (archery) event lasted, it presented
the opportunity for different people to watch,” Sheeley said.
“During the youth clinics that were held (as part of the
extravaganza), I heard some of the kids talking about it being the
first time they were able to shoot a bow.”

Sheeley said organizers provide vendor evaluation forms to get
feedback from vendors to use as they’re planning next year’s
show.

“They all (marked they) were pleased with the event and with the
crowd coming through,” Sheeley said. “Another question we ask is
‘Would you recommend this to another business?’ The response
resoundingly that everyone turned in was ‘yes.’ And we’ve had
vendors give us the names and addresses of other businesses to add
to our database. They’re the best (source) to increasing that
database.”

Sheeley said a man from Dover, who was up at a camp in Potter
County, saw advertising for the KOTS and attended. Afterwards, he
compared the KOTS with other outdoor shows he visited and exhibited
in and was interested in being a part of KOTS next year.

Sheeley said vendors relayed that the show met their
expectations and remained true to an outdoor and travel show for
both the public and exhibitors when asked by organizers.

“We certainly hope the exhibitors we had (this year) come back
(to the show next year) and provide a way again to keep the
children, keep the youth involved,” Sheeley said. “And we hope they
participate in the Bragging Wall again.”

Sheeley said those that have attended the show feel comfortable
coming up to a chamber member or committee member and making
suggestions about what they want to see at the show or how they
want to be involved with it. Sheeley said organizers are open to
almost anything that can be considered an outdoor activity and will
take it into consideration at future meetings.

“Working with an event, part of it is to change,” Sheeley said.
“We don’t want to continue to present the same event each year. We
look forward to next year. (We provide) the same opportunity (as
bigger city outdoor and travel shows) at an affordable price, and
you don’t have to travel outside the area to get it.”