The Waterfowl Festival returns to historic Easton, Md. for its 46th year on November 11 -13, 2016. A celebration of the arts and life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Festival supports wildlife and habitat conservation throughout the region. More than 18,000 visitors are expected to experience and enjoy the skills of nationwide artists, sportsman and crafters assembled for this legendary event.
2016 Featured Artist, David Turner has created a signature sculpture for the Festival, “Tidewater Terrapin”, which stars the Diamondback Terrapin. Well known as the Maryland State Reptile and University of Maryland mascot,this piece and additional works will be for sale and on display in the Art at the Pavilion Gallery on Harrison Street.
VIP guests will have an opportunity to preview the art galleries in advance of the crowds at the Premiere Night Celebration on Thursday evening, November 10th. Guests will enjoy a traveling cocktail party at each of the Festival’s five downtown art galleries. Paintings, sculpture, carvings and photography can all be found at the Harrison Street galleries.
During Festival weekend, November 11-13, in addition to the downtown art galleries, our Eastern Shore heritage is remembered at the Buy Sell Swap Decoy and Waterfowling Artifacts venues at Easton High School. Exhibits feature antique decoys, waterfowling memorabilia and other relics that tell the colorful history of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and its sporting and hunting traditions.
Enhancing the Festival atmosphere, live music and a variety of Eastern Shore food can be found throughout. The Craft Brew Pub at the Easton Elks Lodge offers local and national craft beer tastings and traditional Chesapeake fare, and the ever-popular Wine Pavilion on Harrison Street serves tastings from local wineries and breweries.
Perennial favorites include the popular Dock Dogs® Competition at Easton Middle School, the Retriever Demonstrations at the Bay Street Ponds, World Championship Goose and Duck Calling Contests at Easton High School and the Sportsman’s Pavilion at the Easton Elks Lodge. This pavilion features hunting, fishing and marine sports and a special Calling Tent that attracts duck and goose callers from across the country. New for 2016 is the Sporting Heritage Experience that highlights stories, songs and cooking of the Chesapeake and an exciting Duck Hunting Video Game.
For a complete schedule of events Festival visitors are encouraged to visit www.waterfowlfestival.org.
Over the past 45 years, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly $6 million for the creation, restoration and conservation of waterfowl and their habitat throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the Atlantic Flyway.
About the Waterfowl Festival
Waterfowl Festival Inc., a partner of Waterfowl Chesapeake Inc., is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of life on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 46th Festival will be held November 11-13, 2016 in historic Easton, Md. General admission tickets are $15 for all three days and Premiere Night packages are also available. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.