Willow Area Community Organization hosting gun show. gear swap

The Willow Area Community Organization (WACO) will be hosting a winter outdoor gear swap and a fall gun show partnering with the Upper Susitna Shooters Association. Both events will utilize the event space at the Willow Community Center this November.

The gear swap will be the first of its kind, according to WACO Vice Chair Rodney McCambridge. He said that the community has reached out to WACO asking for an opportunity like this one to get rid of their old gear and the possibility of acquiring something new. McCambridge said this event will be good for young families looking to get rid of children’s clothes that they’ve grown out of and look for new clothes for this season. He also said this is a good way for new members of the community to acquire winter gear without breaking the bank.

“There's a need for it number one because people are like, what do we do with our stuff? And a lot of times it just gets thrown away when there's some people who need it,” McCambridge said. “Secondly, it's a community event. People get together, they get out, they see people, it's more things being done at the community center.”

Attendees are encouraged to show up with their gear, some cash and their bartering skills. Admission is $2 per person. Tables are available for $10 each for those who have a collection of used gear they wish to part with. Fees go towards WACO’s funds to operate and keep the community center open for hosting events.

WACO and the Upper Susitna Shooters Association will be hosting their gun show on November 15 and 16. The show has grown every year, McCambridge explained, and vendor tables sold out quickly for this show. Attendees can expect to find all varieties of outdoor gear from firearms, to fishing equipment, outdoor clothing and more.

Concessions will be open for the event and pull tabs will be available. Admission is $7 per person, $5 for seniors 62 and older, and youth 16 and under are free with a paying adult. Tickets will also be available for purchase for the Willow Winter Carnival in January.

The gun show is a way for the Upper Susitna Shooters Association to educate the community about their gun range. McCambridge explained how this event is a great way to bring the outdoor community of the Upper Valley together.

“We’re an outdoors community, this is part of the outdoor lifestyle,” McCambridge said. “It does promote gun safety being in conjunction with the gun club. And it's just another one of those events that hey, we have this beautiful building here, we’re utilizing it, there’s an activity here, come on down. Even if you just come in, walk around, say hi to your friends and neighbors because I'm sure you're going to see everybody in town that day, and grab something from the concession stand.”

McCambridge said he looks forward to people visiting the community center and having a good time attending the events. He hopes that more people will stop by the community center and Willow Historical and Wildlife Museum to learn about what the area has to offer.

“If you're doing nothing and you're doing a drive-through Willow, stop by the community center,” McCambridge said. “We have a copy of the arch that's in Nome at the community center with the history of the Iditarod on it. It’s just something for people to know that we do have there. And we do have a museum there that's helping generally on Fridays.”