The grand opening of the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Bristol, TN, expected to be the one of the company’s biggest, kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.

The event features an all-star cast of celebrities from the world of sports, entertainment and the great outdoors who will join together to help Bass Pro Shops celebrate a spectacular Evening for Conservation. The grand opening event will continue through Sunday, Aug. 24 with free concerts, interactive vendor exhibits, giveaways, and food sampling from a variety of grill vendors in the parking lot.

Celebrities scheduled to appear and sign autographs Aug. 20 from approximately 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. include:

  • Co-host for “Mike and Mike in the Morning” on ESPN radio, Mike Golic.
  • Driver of the 2014 No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Tony Stewart.
  • Racer, NASCAR broadcaster and host of “Track and Trail Adventures” TV show, Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
  • Driver for Faulk Racing late model team sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and SHE Outdoor, Kate Dallenbach.
  • Host of “Hank Parker’s Flesh and Blood” TV show, Hank Parker
  • Former Miami Dolphin NFL player and Bass Pro Shops/NITRO Pro team member, Kendall Newson
  • America’s Billiards star, “The Black Widow,” Jeanette Lee
  • Former PBR World Finals champion and PBR Last Cowboy Standing champion, Luke Snyder
  • RedHead pro hunting team member and host of “Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World” radio show, Rob Keck
  • RedHead pro hunting team member, John Paul Morris
  • Competitive shooter, “World’s Best All Around Shooter,” Doug Koenig
  • First Lady of Hunting and RedHead pro hunting team member, Brenda Valentin
  • SHE Outdoor pro staff member and host of the upcoming Outdoor Channel “Limitless with Theresa Vail” TV show, Theresa Vail.
  • Knight and Hale Game Calls, Harold Knight

Musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by rising country music artist, Chelsea Bain. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to meet “The Mayberry Deputy,” David Browning, and Camo, the camouflage clown. Visitors can get a hands-on experience as a member of a pit crew in the Coca-Cola Pit Crew challenge. In addition, the No. 25 Bass Pro Shops and SHE Outdoor Chevrolet race car will be on display.

Legendary angler and television host Jimmy Houston, of “Jimmy Houston Outdoors” will serve as emcee for the event.
Located at 1 Bass Pro Drive in Bristol, Tennessee, the 100,000-square-foot store will officially open its doors for a preview celebration during the fundraising event and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

For every dollar spent during the Evening for Conservation, 50 cents will be donated to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, Wonders of Wildlife, and the American National Fish and Wildlife Museum. Matching donation sponsors for the evening include Toyota Motor Sales and Johnny Morris Conservation Creel of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Local conservation groups and agencies on hand Wednesday evening will include Ducks Unlimited, Congressional Sportsmen Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Quality Deer Management Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. In addition, the Ducks Unlimited booth will be selling Coca-Cola products for $1 and the National Wild Turkey Federation will be offering hot dogs for $1. Monies collected for those sales will go directly to those conservation groups.

Special guests and displays throughout the event include:

  • Autograph sessions with Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, Kendall Newson, and Harold Knight Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – noon.
  • Country music artist, Billy Dawson, in concert, Aug. 21, 4 p.m.
  • Meet Richard Childress, owner of Richard Childress Racing, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.
  • Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.
  • Ty Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.
  • Season 12, top 5 finalist, American Idol, Janelle Arthur, in concert, Aug. 21, 7 p.m.
  • Fireworks, Aug. 21, 10 p.m.
  • Recording artist, songwriter, Liz Moriondo, in concert, Saturday, Aug. 23, 1 p.m.
  • Bass Pro Shops No. 14 Sprint Cup Series car, Aug. 20 – 24.
  • RCR’s No. 3 NASCAR Nationwide Series Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro, Aug. 20 – 24.
  • King of Bucks exhibit featuring world-record trophy white-tailed deer mounts, Aug. 20 – 24.
  • Other vendor displays include: Remington, Toyota, Beretta, Maui Jim, and Parker Bows, Aug. 20 – 24.

Bass Pro Shops, named as one of the “Top 10 Hottest Brands in America” by Advertising Age magazine, will continue to celebrate its 68th store’s grand opening Thursday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 24. The store will open at 8 a.m. Thursday and at 9 a.m. (normal opening hours) Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.