13th Annual MVS Show this weekend

WASILLA — The 13th Annual Matanuska Valley Sportsmen Gun Show is Saturday, Feb. 19, and Sunday, Feb. 20 inside Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

MVS is a non-profit organization that promotes shooting sports and education.

All proceeds from the gun show go towards MVS range development, educational programs, and general local shooting sports efforts.

MVS Gun Show director, Kelly Mears said this is their biggest fundraising event of the year. He said they’ve sold out vendor space 11 years in a row due to the show’s popularity.

“Mat-Valley Sportsmen pretty much have the best show in the state,” Mears said. “It’s well advertised and well put together. We try to focus on hunting, shooting, fishing, outdoors, reloading, and Alaskana. We don’t really have a lot of art and crafts. It’s a gun show, not an everything else show.”

According to Mears, the gun show has helped them pay for a classroom, a reloading room, and other upgrades at the range.

Mears said they had about 2,500 attendees last year. He said they raise an average of around $15,000 each year. He said that 2013 was one of their most highly attended shows with lines stretching to about 300 yards.

“We’re expecting a pretty good turnout this time,” Mears said.

Mears has been directing the MVS Gun Show since its inception. He said they typically hold it the weekend after the Super Bowl.

He said they were still able to put on the 2020 show, unlike many other events that were canceled.

“We were the first gun show to come out of the COVID mandates. We spent a lot of money and a lot of time trying to keep it hygienic,” Mears said.

Raven Hall has been the MVS Gun Show’s staple location for many years. Mears said that ASF staff have been accommodating and effective partners all this time.

“They’re pretty good folks to work with,” Mears said.

There are about 90 vendors participating in this year’s show, featuring a wide range of wares and services. Whether it’s a vintage rifle, a modern scope with the latest technology, or anything in between, Mears said there’s always something interesting to discover at this show.

“It’s well represented. We’re doing pretty well with it,” Mears said.”That’s kind of the excitement when you go to a gun show, you never know what you’re going to find.”

The MVS Gun Show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $7. For more information, call 907-232-3447, email idpaak@yahoo.com, or visit matvalleyrange.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com