Community impact breakfast at Waterfowl Festival is Friday, November 8
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Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community
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Waterfowl Festival Inc. and Burnish Brewing Co. announce the limited edition release of “In Flight” a fall brew produced in collaboration with Bird Nickel Brewing of Easton, MD. This spiced winter lager will complement delicious fall food pairings and evoke warm memories of a crackling fire, good friends, and brisk outdoor fun – the perfect companion to help celebrate Waterfowl weekend!
The beer’s concept was developed with Doug Greene of Bird Nickel Brewing, who grew up in Easton and has a deep passion for the mission and vision of the Waterfowl Festival. Greene approached the festival in spring 2024 and the collaboration with Burnish soon followed. The beer’s eye-catching label is designed by Maggii Sarfaty, an Easton-based artist who also painted the background for this year’s festival map.
During the festival, the beer will be available at Premier Night on Nov. 7 in all of the art pavilions, free to all VIP ticket holders while supplies last. Through the weekend, VIP ticket holders can request the beer in the VIP hospitality suite. “In Flight” can be purchased at the new Duck Blind Bar located within the Avalon Theatre. This venue will also feature seasonal craft beers from RAR, Big Truck, and Burley Oak. Festival participants will also be able to sample the beer in the tasting pavilion located on Dover Street with the purchase of a tasting pavilion ticket.
Parking and Transportation – Enjoy free parking and bus transportation with a festival ticket. Ample accessible parking, ticket booths, and bus stops will be located at Easton High School, Easton Elementary School, and Easton Middle School. Transportation and parking are available free with the support of Londonderry on the Tred Avon, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, Benson and Mangold, and the Talbot County Public School System. Four bus routes this year will get your where you need to go, fast!
Questions? Please contact us at the Waterfowl Festival office, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00PM. Volunteers are needed for all venues and will earn a free ticket good for all three days of the festival!
For tickets please visit: https://waterfowlfestival.org/
About the Waterfowl Festival
Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships, and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.
The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen. We gratefully acknowledge the support of our 2024 Legacy Conservation Partners – PNC Bank, Guyette and Deeter, Ducks Unlimited, and the Maryland State Arts Council.
For more information about the Waterfowl Festival, including ticket sales and a full schedule of events, please visit www.waterfowlfestival.
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The Waterfowl Festival Conservation Committee is delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s Community in Conservation Grants. As part of our ongoing commitment to preserving our rural environment and supporting wildlife conservation, we are pleased to award grants to three outstanding organizations: Ducks Unlimited Inc., Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, and ShoreRivers. Each organization created exceptional projects that will educate and have a positive impact on our community.
“For over fifty years, we have supported organizations whose mission is to acknowledge the importance of our natural environment and open spaces, and work to preserve it,” remarked Chip Heaps, Conservation Committee chairman. “We congratulate Ducks Unlimited, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, and ShoreRivers for their exceptional contributions to this work and are excited to see the positive results of these funded projects.”
Every year, our Community in Conservation Grant Program accepts funding requests from non-profits and community organizations across the region whose mission is to make a difference in supporting our shared mission of environmental conservation. The program supports projects that are at the intersection of waterfowl and habitat conservation and how this impacts our community, whether they are focused on education and outreach, science and research, or restoration. Ideally, projects include aspects of each focus area and benefit our waterfowl, their habitats, and the people of our community. Past awardees include University of MD- Horn Point, University of Delaware, and Talbot County Public Schools. The grant cycle will re-open in spring 2025.
Non-profit organizations that impact the environment or the education of our community in this space are welcome to exhibit this year in our Chesapeake Bay Pavilion during this year’s Waterfowl Festival November 8-10, 2024. Please contact the Waterfowl Festival for more information on how your organization can participate by emailing [email protected] or by calling our office, 410-822-4567.
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[Easton, MD] – August 29, 2024 – The Waterfowl Festival, one of the nation’s premier events dedicated to the celebration of waterfowl and the natural environment, returns to Easton, Maryland, on November 8-10, 2024. The festival, now in its 53rd year, offers a diverse range of activities that highlight the art, culture, and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay region and beyond.
This year’s festival promises an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages, with activities that cater to art enthusiasts, wildlife lovers, and outdoor adventurers alike.
1. Fine Art and Photography Exhibits:
Renowned wildlife artists and photographers from across the country will showcase their work in a series of exhibits spread throughout Easton. Visitors can expect to see stunning paintings, sculptures, decoys, and photographs that capture the beauty and majesty of the natural world. The works will be available for purchase, providing a unique opportunity to own a piece of art that reflects a deep appreciation for the outdoors. This year’s featured artist is acclaimed Texan sculptor and painter, Ronnie Wells. Wells is a crowd favorite and his works will shine in the newly expanded PNC Art Pavilion in the middle of the historic downtown.
2. Going to the Dogs!
All of our outdoor venues are dog friendly! Three amazing exhibits specifically focus on our lovable furry friends. Dog lovers will be thrilled by the retriever demonstrations at the Bay Street Ponds, the incredible competition between professionals and amateurs alike at the Delmarva Dock Dogs exhibit, and the lightning fast field trial dog demonstrations at the Chesapeake Bay Pavilion. At each pavilion, visitors can enjoy a variety of beverages and foods to help make their experience tasty and fun.
3. Quackin’ Trail for the kids!
The Waterfowl Festival is a family-friendly event with a range of activities designed to engage and educate children. New this year is the Quackin’ Trail! Parents can pick up a map for their kiddos at our ticket kiosks. The trial will lead kids to educational activities such as the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, “Skyhunters in Flight” raptor show, The live Mermaid Mermaid story times, face painting, and art activities throughout the festival. Kids 10 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Don’t miss the kid’s calling contest at the Sportsman’s pavilion.
4. Shop ‘til you drop!
If you need something to play outdoors, the festival will have it! Shopping pavilions include the Sportsman’s pavilion featuring the ever-popular Molly’s Place Sporting Goods, the Chesapeake Bay Pavilion full of crafts and items you need for water sports including some great boats from Northpoint Marina, the Marshland Mercantile with artisans and festival store merchandise, multiple fine art pavilions, and the incredible Buy, Sell, Swap collector’s venue. New this year is the Guyette & Deeter auction and tailgate swap, complete with an incredible display this year of Cobb Island decoys in the Harry M. Walsh Waterfowling Artifacts exhibit. Easton’s downtown merchants will also be stocked and ready for visitors, visit DiscoverEaston.com for current business listings.
6. Conservation Corner:
The Waterfowl Festival is committed to the conservation of our wild open spaces and will feature presentations and exhibits from leading organizations in the Chesapeake Bay Pavilion. Learn about the latest efforts to protect and preserve vital habitats, and find out how you can get involved in local initiatives.
7. Eastern Shore Feast!
No festival is complete without great food, and the Waterfowl Festival is no exception. Enjoy a variety of culinary delights throughout downtown. Local restaurants will feature incredible Chesapeake Bay fare and the food trucks scattered throughout will offer something delicious for everyone. Thirsty? Our guests over 21 can enjoy our new Duck Blind and Decoy bars, the famous Bullitt Garden Tasting Pavilion and the ever-popular Beer Wetlands.
About the Waterfowl Festival
Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships, and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.
The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen.
For more information about the Waterfowl Festival, including ticket sales and a full schedule of events, please visit www.waterfowlfestival.org.
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For over fifty years, the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD, has supported dozens of projects across the region aimed at preserving our natural landscapes for all to enjoy. On June 13, 2024, the organization will host a unique evening to celebrate our commitment to the Eastern Shore’s heritage of abundant waterfowl and bountiful wetland resources. Nearly six million dollars of funds have been raised over the years and donated to mission-aligned organizations that help restore lands, educate the general public, and provide rich programming to our community’s children and students.
The event will feature a seasonal menu directed by celebrated Chef Paul Shiley and Tidewater’s outstanding culinary team led by Executive Chef Hampton Turner. Guests will enjoy a specialty cocktail, wonderful cuisine, and most especially fellowship with those who share a passion for our mission. During the evening, guests can explore displays of conservation projects funded over the years and engage in conversation with their stewards. Representatives from Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, ShoreRivers, and Pickering Creek will be on hand to discuss their funded conservation projects.
“The Waterfowl Festival has a long tradition of partnering with organizations across the region to celebrate, support, and enhance our outdoor heritage and traditions,” remarked Chip Heaps,
Conservation Chairman, “This event will serve to celebrate this legacy and provide an insight into the work ahead of us in coming years.”
The evening will end with keynote speaker Dr. Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer, Ducks Unlimited. Dr. Waldrop will highlight some of the work funded over the years by the Waterfowl Festival as well as discuss innovative ways organizations are working on conservation projects at the national level. All proceeds from this dinner will be used for our Community in Conservation grant program.
Limited seating is available. For tickets, please visit: waterfowfestival.org/conservationdinner or email Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, [email protected].
About the Waterfowl Festival:
Since 1971, Waterfowl Festival, Inc. has faithfully supported the principal tenet of waterfowl and wildlife conservation. Led by hundreds of dedicated volunteers, the Waterfowl Festival has contributed over six million dollars to conservation organizations across the nation. The 2024 Festival will be held Nov. 8-10 in historic Easton, MD. For more information, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.
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The Waterfowl Festival is excited to match resources with environmental needs across the region through its annual “Community in Conservation” funding program. These grants, supported by proceeds from annual Waterfowl Festival weekend, annual donors, and the Conservation Dinner Series, offer non-profits and community entities the chance to receive monies for projects and initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community.
“We are pleased to offer this grant opportunity for our mission-aligned organizations here on the Delmarva peninsula,” remarked Eric Milhollan, President, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we provide support and encouragement to those organizations who are working hard to celebrate the natural environment and preserve it for future generations.”
Over the past five decades, dozens of organizations have been supported by the Waterfowl Festival, creating a legacy of education, leadership, and engagement in the conservation space. Recent projects and grantees include Ducks Unlimited, the Wellington Wildlife Management Area, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, University of MD Center for Environmental Science – Project: Enhancing the Horn Point Nature Trail Experience, and the ShoreRivers – Project: Underwater Grasses Restoration.
“The Waterfowl Festival has been a long-time conservation partner of Ducks Unlimited,” said Regional Biologist Ed Farley. “Right now, we are restoring a 40-acre wetland that was historically drained for row crops at Wellington Wildlife Management Area. The work could not have been done without funding from the Waterfowl Festival.”
Maryland, Virginia, or Delaware organizations are encouraged to reach out to the Waterfowl Festival with their unique projects needing crucial funding through this grant program. The 2024 grant cycle will begin April 1, 2024 and continue through July 31, 2024. Grantees will be announced and funds distributed by November 7, 2024 in advance of the 53rd Annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD.
The 2024 Conservation Dinner will be held in June in Easton, MD. Those interested in sponsoring or attending this dinner are encouraged to reach out to the Festival via marketing@waterfowlfestival.
Please submit your application via our online portal (mailed copies will not be accepted)
Application portal: https://waterfowlfestival.org/
Deadline: July 1, 2024
With this focus on connecting our financial resources to local environmental needs we now support projects in these four priority areas:
Initiatives at the intersections of waterfowl conservation and community
Education programs on Delmarva focusing on current and future generations of conservationists, enthusiasts and educators
Research and scientific work of graduate students, volunteer groups
and non-profits on Delmarva
Restoration and conservation of projects that benefit waterfowl and
regional habitat enhancement in ways that connect with larger bay habitat
restoration goals
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Waterfowl Festival, Inc. is pleased to recognize Eric Milhollan as the new President of its Board of Directors. Eric brings invaluable experience as a strong community and business leader. He currently is a senior project manager and part-owner at Willow Construction LLC, and has served as a volunteer for the Festival for many years along with his wife Victoria and their children.
Eric has over twenty-eight years of experience with Willow and has witnessed the growth of Easton from a sleepy town to a thriving and growing regional destination for businesses and families alike. He graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Other boards he has served on include the local Associated Builders and Contractors, Talbot County Chamber of Commerce, and Shore Leadership, and he is a 2019 Leadership Maryland graduate. Utilizing skills from his professional and business experience, Milhollan is poised to take the Waterfowl Festival into 2024 successfully.
“Eric’s wealth of experience and his deep-rooted connection to the Waterfowl Festival makes him an ideal candidate for the role of President,” remarked Charles Wrighton, 2023 president. “We are confident that under his guidance, the festival will continue to thrive, allowing us to continue to support conservation efforts in our region.”
Milhollan’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Waterfowl Festival as it continues to evolve and adapt to support the community as well as its mission of conservation of our natural landscapes. With a consistent economic impact of millions of dollars each year, the Festival continues to be an event that has a considerable positive effect on the region after five decades.
The 53rd Waterfowl Festival is now accepting applications for vendors, artists, and sponsors! To connect with the Waterfowl Festival directly, please visit our website or email [email protected].
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Deena Kilmon of Easton has recently been named Executive Director of Waterfowl Festival, Inc. For more than 50 years, the Waterfowl Festival, Inc. has staged an annual event, the Waterfowl Festival, that has raised $5.7 million for wildlife and habitat conservation, education, and research. The organization is committed to creating an environment to restore and conserve the presence of vibrant, stable, and diverse populations, flourishing in clean and productive aquatic and wetland habitats. The expanded position will enable the Waterfowl Festival to have a greater impact in the next 50 years of its conservation and education activities.
Kilmon is an accomplished and enthusiastic marketing and communications leader with broad experience in all levels of marketing, advertising, and brand management having served in several positions on the Eastern Shore. Most recently, she served as Director of Strategic Initiatives for Easton Economic Development Corporation. Before this job, Kilmon served as Director of Engagement for The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. For several years, she was owner and operator of Foxy’s Harbor Grille in St. Michaels.
She completed a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is currently working on an MBA with a Marketing Concentration at Longwood University. She is a graduate of Leadership Maryland and Shore Leadership. She has received several community awards, including APG Women to Watch in 2022 and 2023.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself, we are thrilled to have Deena Kilmon as our new Executive Director. The excitement comes from what we think she will bring to the Waterfowl Festival, everything from new ideas, collaboration with existing and new festival partners, and a chance to build and expand our current festival to allow it to continue for years to come. I am not sure there is a limit to what we can accomplish together and look forward to working with her,” Eric Milhollan, President of the Waterfowl Festival, Inc. Board of Directors.
Kilmon’s current volunteer activity includes serving on the Easton Rotary Marketing Committee, Shore Leadership Board of Directors, Chesapeake Neighbors (The Arc subsidiary), Phillips Wharf Board of Directors, Optimist Club, and 100 Women Talbot.
“The Waterfowl Festival has been an iconic part of the Eastern Shore experience for over 50 years. To be chosen to be a part of its next 50 years is an incredible responsibility, one that I do not take lightly. I am honored to be a part of the legacy of the work that we do during the festival and throughout the year, helping to preserve our natural resources for generations to come.”
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The Waterfowl Festival’s 2023 Featured Artist has been announced, naming the talented Pati Stajcar. A favorite at the Festival for 17 years, Pati is excited about her selection as Featured Artist. However, the only hint she provides about her featured art piece is that “it comes from one of Aesop’s Fables, all stories about nature translating into morals for humans to follow.”
While the bronze sculpture won’t be revealed until later in the year, it promises to be heartfelt and stunning. Waterfowl Festival’s Featured Artist Program was created in 2010 to generate excitement about a chosen artist and their visual interpretation of the bounty of our natural habitat. It encourages visitors to meet the artist and see the featured piece “up close.”
In fact, Pati encourages the public to run their hands over her work to understand the feeling she has when she creates a piece. Pati hopes “you share in the experience from my heart to yours.”
“We are excited to announce that Pati Stajcar is the Waterfowl Festival’s 2023 Featured Artist,” said Charles Wrightson, Waterfowl Festival President. “She is an amazing artist and a valued member of the arts community in Easton. Pati is someone who understands the value of the organization and its mission to support conservation efforts on the Shore. We couldn’t be more pleased to have Pati as this year’s Featured Artist. It’s exciting for us to both celebrate our history of waterfowl in art and also evolve each year to showcase new and different artistic interpretations of nature.”
Working in wood, bronze and marble, life’s experiences reflect themselves in Pati’s sculptures. Energy, flowing from and around each piece, guides the gift she presents to you. Each design begins and ends in abstract but blends with the representation. Flow and balance are her subject matter expressed through nature. Her pieces excite the viewer and fit comfortably in any setting.
Pati was born in Southeastern Pennsylvania but has been a Colorado resident for many decades.“I have my choice of living anywhere in the world and Golden, Colorado is that place,” she says. “The abundance of wildlife, sun, snow and art make this the place I call home.”
After more than 10 years in the airline industry, she left in 1985 to pursue sculpting as a professional career. Her inspiration is nature, which she finds near her home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She allows nature to be her guide.
Pati is an elected member of Academic Artists Association, Allied Artists of America, National Sculpture Society, The Bennington Collective and Society of Animal Artists and regularly participates in exhibitions nationwide. She volunteers as a docent with Natures Educators and as a firefighter with Foothills Fire and Rescue.
Look for the release of Stajcar’s 2023 Featured Art piece this summer.
About the Waterfowl Festival
Waterfowl Festival Inc. is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of the life and culture of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 52nd Festival will be held November 10-12, 2023 in historic Easton, Md. VIP and corporate sponsorship packages are also available. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.
To learn more about Pati and view some of her stunning sculptures, visit https://stajcar.com.
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Friends, fun, and food come together at the 51st annual Waterfowl Festival November 11-13, 2022, in Easton, MD.
See the latest in hunting and fishing equipment, browse collectables and decoys, participate in children’s activities, talk with conservation groups working to save the Bay, watch retriever demonstrations, thrill at the diving dog competition, and see the best in wildlife art. Did we mention art?
Paintings, sculptures, carvings, and photography from more than 100 world-renowned artists, including this year’s featured artist, Richard Clifton.
Tickets are just $20 for three days available at waterfowlfestival.org. The first 1,500 people to purchase tickets get $5 off until October 31, 2022.
This year Waterfowl Festival is also saluting veterans with $5 off tickets purchased in person on November 11. Veterans also get a free beer! The tickets are good for all three days of the festival.
For an extra treat, start the weekend at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 10, with opening ceremonies (free) and Premiere Night (a ticketed event) where you can get a first look at what’s for sale and meet the artists. Enjoy food and drinks with a Premiere Night ticket, while browsing the galleries. It’s a magical night in downtown Easton. Tickets are $200 per person and include a discount on art purchases as well as a gift bag.
While you’re here, stroll the quaint streets of Easton, St. Michaels, and Oxford. Browse the shops and enjoy lunch or dinner at one of our world-class restaurants.
Talbot County offers more than 600 miles of shoreline, unspoiled countryside, and first-class hospitality. It is consistently listed as one of the best places to visit in the U.S.
Just 65 miles from Baltimore, 75 miles from Washington, DC, and a little over 100 miles from Philadelphia, Waterfowl Festival is the perfect weekend getaway.
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