A blacksmith works on a decorative piece during last year's Woods-N-Water Outdoor Show in Imlay City. The popular show returns to the Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds in Imlay City Sept. 5-7. Photo by MIKE MERCIER

That's when the 22nd annual Woods-N-Water News outdoor weekend will take place at the Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds in Imlay City 5-9 p.m. Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 6, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 6. Admission is $7 per person and kids under 12 are free.

Randy Jorgensen, publisher of Woods-N-Water News, an Imlay City publication, said the focus of the weekend is naturally the outdoors and it's something for the whole family.

"I was coming back from an outdoor weekend in Port Huron and thought we could do one at the fairgrounds," he said. "We've been running the weekend since 1986 and had approximately 15,000 people last year. It's turned into a family show."

The weekend has grown at a steady rate and Jorgensen said he never thought it would become as big as it is now. "We've been celebrating our outdoor heritage. We'll have kids' activities and good merchandise," he said.

Jorgensen said the weekend will include outdoor merchandise, 175 vendors, seminars, a puppy tent, a chili cook off, live animals such as deer, bobcats, hawks, eagles, and wild turkeys; entertainment, and food.

"We have a lot of the same as last year. SInce the fairgrounds have made improvements we're moving the (Civil War) encampment to the east," he said. "We'll have the ultimate air dogs with former Detroit Tigers pitcher Milt Wilcox and they'll have jumpers from all over."

Jorgensen said one of the most popular features of the weekend is a puppy tent and organizers go to such lengths as to make sure the animals are healthy. "We noticed some people were selling puppies out of their trucks," he said. "We don't want to be charged with running a puppy mart." So, show organizers set up a tent for hunting breed dogs, which will have up to 500 puppies available at a time - all of which have been checked by veterinarians.

Among the weekend's seminars will include outdoor personality Bill Yoder chatting about whitetails, Richard English will return with his white tails, birds of prey will be shown on Sunday, Charlie Linblade will conduct seminars on dog training tips. There will also be instruction on hunting and calling techniques.

In addition, the show will have more than 150 guns on display.

Show attendees can step back in time with a Civil War encampment, where they can learn about hide tanning, basket making, flintknapping, native lore, and edible plants.

Native American dance and storyteller Reg Pettibone will share his talents. Dennis Neely will present traditional black powder hunting and living history from a 1794 perspective.

"If they have an interest in the outdoors -- we have something to help them out. There's a trout pond and climbing wall. It's a family show and women are getting pretty involved," Jorgensen said.

For more information, visit the weekend's Web site at www.woods-n-waternews.com.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.