ELKINS – One of the most popular local spring events for kids will make its return Saturday when the 2026 Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) expo takes place at the Phil Gainer Community Center.

This year’s HOFNOD will get underway at 10 a.m. and will run to 3 p.m. The event is free and will feature more than 20 vendors, prize giveaways, and activities that promote outdoor recreation.

“Everything is coming together and moving forward for this Saturday’s big HOFNOD event,” Phil Gainer Community Center manager and HOFNOD board president Owen Peet told The Inter-Mountain Monday. “Everything is totally free and we are expecting another big turnout, like last year, when we had over 500 families that included probably 1,000 kids.”

Every 15 minutes door prizes will be given away, totaling more than $5,000. Local law enforcement representatives will be handing out items to children and talking about the dangers of drug use.

“We are going to be giving away 200 fishing poles and a bunch of other different prizes from all over,” Peet said. “Everything we will be giving away will be centered around outdoor activities. We have baseball tickets we are giving away, bike helmets, and a bunch of other stuff kids will love.”

The HOFNOD program began more than 20 years ago as a way to promote outdoor recreation, while educating local youth about the dangers of drug use. Those attending will have the opportunity to learn and try a large variety of different outdoor recreation activities.

“We are going to have a rock climbing wall, a fishing pond, gemstone mining, archery tag, a bow shooting simulator, and many other activities for children to enjoy,” Peet said. “We will also be introducing our shooting simulator that is partnered with the Izaak Walton League, so that will be our first time using that at HOFNOD.”

The Elkins HOFNOD organization has been recognized as an official non-profit organization since 2023, allowing them to apply for grants and offer the benefit of making donations tax-deductible to those contributing to the event.

For more information on HOFNOD, or to make a donation to the annual event, visit the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs – Randolph County Facebook page or call 304-642-8680.