Everything outdoors-related will be at John A. Logan College this weekend

More than 35,000 hunting, fishing and outdoors enthusiasts will converge on the John A. Logan College campus in Carterville this weekend for the annual southern Illinois celebration of the great outdoors.

Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days is the largest celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day in the United States, with hundreds of vendors, plus nonstop seminars, displays and entertainment over two days.

Established in 1987, this event has hosted over 1 million sportsmen and their families in 32 years. The hours this year are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Besides drawing the crowds, Hunting and Fishing Days always draws some big names.

The Outdoor Channel's Drop Zone TV personalities Hal Shaffer and Ken Cobb will be here. Because of the crowds expected, they will do a meet and greet with fans on both days, plus an archery seminar both days, says Hunting and Fishing Days coordinator Barry Hancock.

Another big draw will be blade-maker Michael Kerley of West Frankfort, a 2018 champion of the History Channel's "Forged in Fire" series. He'll be demonstrating his skills in parking lot A.

Two local contestants of the NBC-TV show "American Ninja Warrior" will be a big draw, too. Caleb and Callie Vaughn, of Crab Orchard, will not only demonstrate their amazing strength and ability, they'll talk with the audience about their fitness routine.

The Vaughns, Hancock said, show what you can do when you put your mind to something. "They'll explain how they train, how they stay in shape."

Among the hundreds of vendors will be one selling sugar gliders, an Australian marsupial an increasingly popular type of "pocket pet." Sugar gliders live to be more than 15 years and are considered somewhat exotic in the U.S. even though they are bred here now. But they aren't cheap - be prepared to shell out $650 for one of the little critters.