Celebrate Waterfowl This Weekend

by

By Lisa A. Lewis

It’s a time-honored tradition on the Eastern Shore: Every November, thousands of visitors “flock” to Easton to enjoy the Waterfowl Festival. And this year is no exception. More than 18,000 people are expected to attend the 44th Annual Waterfowl Festival, so make sure you’re one of them.

The festival, which opens to general admission visitors on Friday and runs through Sunday, cele ates the annual migration of ducks and geese through the Atlantic Flyway and supports wildlife and habitat conservation. The fun-filled event features wildlife paintings, sculpture, photography, carvings, decoys, calling contests, fly fishing demonstrations, children’s activities, and much more.

So what can you expect at this year’s festival?

For the first time in its history, the festival combines paintings and sculpture in the Art at the Armory, Art at the Avalon, and Art at the Pavilion galleries.

The works of the festival’s featured artist, sculptor Ken Newman, including his signature onze, Confluence of Blue, is on display in the Art at the Pavilion gallery on Harrison Street.

Returning this year are the popular features you’ve come to love, including these special highlights:

  • The Craft Brew Pub at the Easton Elks Lodge, which offers local and national craft beer tastings and traditional Chesapeake fare
  • The Wine Pavilion on Harrison Street
  • The Dock Dogs® Competition at Easton Middle School
  • The Retriever Demonstrations at the Bay Street Ponds
  • The Sportsman's Pavilion at the Easton Elks Lodge.

For the complete schedule of events, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org.

General admission tickets are $15 for all three days. This not-to-be-missed event offers something for everyone and fun for the entire family.

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*Way to Go!

Over the past 44 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.

Source: Waterfowl Festival

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If you love fishing, you definitely won’t want to miss Rocksgiving. This exciting Striped Bass Fishing Tournament takes place on Saturday at Chesapeake Harbour Marina in Annapolis. The tournament begins at 7 a.m., and boats must be dockside by 4 p.m.

To register, simply visit www.rocksgiving.com. The fee is $300, and the deadline to register is Friday by 5 p.m.

All fish must be caught in the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay, as allowed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Cash prizes are awarded in two categories: length and weight.

Following the tournament, enjoy the post-tournament party from 4-8 p.m., featuring an awards ceremony, music by “A Classic Case,” Striped Bass Ale, and Papa’s Pilar Rum. Tickets are $35 in advance and $50 at the door. The party is open to the public.

Rockgiving is made possible by its many generous sponsors and promises to be a lot of fun. All proceeds benefit the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Bowen Foundation for Autism.

Don’t miss this exciting event. You may just take home a cash prize.

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*Did you Know?

The current Maryland state record for a Striped Bass/Rockfish is 67 pounds, 8 ounces. That’s one big fish!

Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Looking for a fun way to end the weekend? Bring your family and friends and enjoy a performance by the Golden Dragon Acrobats on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. This awe-inspiring show features award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music, and theatrical techniques.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago and are recognized throughout the United States and a oad as the premier Chinese acrobatic touring company.

Tickets are $21 for non-members, $16 for members, and $12 for children.

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*Fun Fact

The acrobatic arts have a long history. Minoan depictions of acrobats in art and murals date back as early as 2,000 B.C.

Source: Aerialists.org

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Cele ate Thanksgiving by participating in the 26th Annual AACC Turkey Trot at noon on Wednesday, November 26. Choose either a 5K or a one-mile jaunt. Early registration fees for the 5K are $20 and $15 for the one-mile jaunt. After November 21, the fees increase to $25 for the 5K and $20 for the one-mile jaunt.

Pick up your race packet from the registration table on the day of the event beginning at 10:30 a.m. The race starts and finishes at Siegert Field on the Arnold campus.

Refreshments are served after the race, courtesy of the sponsors. You must finish the race in less than 60 minutes. An awards ceremony begins at 1:15 p.m. in the David S. Jenkins Gymnasium. Prizes include turkeys, pies, gift cards, and more. An added bonus? Everyone who finishes the race receives a Turkey Trot T-shirt.

AACC has a food pantry on campus in the Student Life office for students who come to school hungry and cannot afford to buy food. Please ing canned goods to help stock the pantry.

For more information or to register for the race, call 410-777-2303 or 410-777-2347.

Check out some other exciting events taking place this weekend:

Annapolis/Anne Arundel County:

Eastern Shore:

Regional:

To view more events taking place this weekend, please owse our online calendar. And be sure to follow What’s Up? on Twitter and like us on Facebook.