An attendee of the U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo examines a pair of mittens from Humboldt Fur at a booth manned by Bob Smith of McFarland, Wis. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)

ESCANABA — The second annual Upper Peninsula Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo, organized by the Daily Press, kicked off yesterday at 3 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event, which brought 55 vendors to the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, is free for the public to attend.

Occupying the largest spaces of the Ruth Butler Building are Blade’s Bait and Tackle, L&M Fleet Supply — both of whom are the major sponsors of the event — and Barnes Hide and Fur. Blade’s is also conducting sales for Jay Outdoor Gear, as the owner is in the military and was called upon for duty, Daily Press Publisher Sarah Maki reported.

Maki said that there are about 20 more vendors than last year, which brought the first U.P Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo to Esky.

A handful of vendors, mostly food trucks, are parked outside the Ruth Butler Building, but most line the space within.

“We made everybody fit, and there’s still lots of room,” said Maki, who added she’s pleased with the layout. Attendees needing a break may visit the vendors outside — which include Camping World, Jimmy Crack Corn and The Grateful Cheese — or inside, such as Express Coffee, and sit at one of the handful of tables near the front, before making the rounds to shop for outdoor gear, chat with members of various organizations and discover businesses from around the Midwest.

C and J Custom Rods from Plover, Wis., is a brand-new business attending their first ever show, said Chris Christianson and Joe Cordy of C and J, beaming from behind custom wooden racks displaying colorful fishing rods. Deer Camp and Buck Baits, which partners with other businesses like Up North Journal — the podcast that interviewed many participating individuals leading up to the expo — is selling award-winning coffee and other specialty items.

Escanaba’s own Lakestate Industries, a provider of “vocational services for persons with barriers to employment” for 50 years, is selling carved wooden products made at the Rustic Room. Children’s author Bob Allen is up from Wisconsin selling and autographing vibrant, hardcover copies of titles such as “Walter the Wily Walleye” and “Monica the Muskie.”

The booth for Blake’s Baits, run by young Blake Lakosky, sat in wait for the first hour or two of the expo on Friday until Lakosky got out of school. Now that the expo is in full swing, so is Lakosky’s table.

At a table full of fuzzy wares — can cozies, mittens and hats made from beaver, otter, and skunk pelts — Bob Smith of Humboldt Fur said he learned about the expo while attending the convention for the National Trappers Association, one of the many events held at the fairgrounds this year.

Minnow races, using fish and tanks supplied by Blade’s Bait and Tackle and racing lanes by ADS Seamless Gutters, offer kids the opportunity to partake in a fun activity and get the chance to win prizes donated by L&M Fleet Supply and the Daily Press. The minnow races are run by the Boy Scouts. Organizations such as the Delta County Cancer Alliance, Lions Clubs from Perkins and Wells, Bays de Noc Great Lakes Sportsfishermen, Youth Empowering Services (Y.E.S.), Women Hunt Too and more also occupy booths and are ready to engage with expo attendees.