Now in its 41st year, the annual Waterfowl Festival will take place in historic Easton November 11-13, 2011. More than 15,000 visitors will experience a time-honored Eastern Shore tradition that pays homage to the annual migration of geese through the Atlantic Flyway and supports wildlife conservation throughout the region. The thousands of geese that fill the skies during the event each year are a vivid reminder for visitors of the Festival’s mission. Rain or shine, the Waterfowl Festival holds a multitude of attractions for all ages, whatever their interests may be.
“The energy is building for this year's event,” comments Ron Flohr, Waterfowl Festival Board President. “We look forward to presenting another year of family fun and showcasing the art and other Festival traditions inspired by our Eastern Shore heritage.”
This year’s Festival will feature perennial favorites such as the Delmarva DockDogs® competition and Retriever and Fly Fishing demonstrations. Visitors can sample the very best in Maryland wines and local delicacies at the Tasting Pavilion and also indulge in traditional Eastern Shore fare by local food vendors and restaurants. For the retail enthusiasts, the Wildlife Emporium and Festival Shoppes provide unique, regional gifts to jump-start the holiday shopping season.
As the original and premier wildlife art and sportsman’s expo in the country, the Waterfowl Festival gives art enthusiasts and sophisticated sportsmen much to rave about. Artists and their work will be showcased in six galleries spread across historic Easton featuring world-class paintings, carvings, sculpture and photography. Outdoorsmen will be delighted at the array of vendors offering everything from big-game adventure trips to the smallest fishing lure in the always popular Sportsman’s Pavilion. The long-running World Championship Duck and Goose Calling Contests also continue this year where junior and senior callers will try their skills against the best.
Younger visitors can learn how to cast a line at the Kids’ Fishing Derby and learn more about wildlife at the Horn Point Lab Touch Tank and Skyhunters in Flight Birds of Prey Demonstrations. The smallest art enthusiasts can also paint a miniature Canvasback decoy and much more at the Kids’ Art exhibits.r
Waterfowl Festival visitors enjoy the Tasting Pavilion.
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Flohr continues, “While the Festival continues to be an annual tradition, returning visitors will undoubtedly notice some changes this year. We will introduce our new Festival logo and premiere new gallery locations for many of our downtown art exhibits. We are also proud to partner with this year's Featured Artist, sculptor Don Rambadt who has created a signature piece for the Festival, ‘Blackwater Woodies' which is the inspiration for this year's poster and marketing theme. We hope these enhancements will oaden the Festival's appeal to reach a larger audience, but rest assured that the Waterfowl Festival spirit is alive and well and remains the inspiration for this annual event.”
All the proceeds from the Festival, from food sales to art sales, support the preservation of the Eastern Shore's outdoor heritage. Since the Festival's founding in 1971, more than $5 million has been invested in wildlife conservation and education projects throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. This year the Festival premieres its Waterfowl Chesapeake exhibit in downtown Easton which will highlight the conservation mission of the Festival and feature the organizations the Festival has supported through the years.
The 2011 Waterfowl Festival will be held November 11-13 in Easton, MD. Tickets are $10 for all three days. For the complete schedule of events and other information, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org, the Festival's Facebook page, or call 410-822-4567.
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PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Megan Miller, Events & Communications Coordinator
mmiller@waterfowlfestival.org | 410-822-4567
