Attending a duck calling contest may not be the top item on your Bucket List, but a Fall daytrip or weekend getaway may be. If you are looking for a new experience, consider attending the 52nd Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland. The festival is an annual event and takes place this year November 10-12, 2023. This three-day event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the Eastern Shore to highlight the unique heritage, waterfowl culture, and promote conservation. Over 1,00 volunteers are needed to create the festival which has distributed over $6 million in proceeds to environmental, conservation and education projects throughout the Delmarva Peninsula to preserve wildlife, waterfowl, habit, and heritage for future generations.
This year’s festival will feature displays of wildlife paintings, sculptures, photographs, and decorative and working decoys. The festival events include demonstrations of fly fishing, retrievers, and field dogs, competitions for Breeo grilling and antique decoys. Dock Dogs are exhibiting an impressive display of canine talent. View the Federal & Maryland Duck Stamp Winners. The three-day pass for most festival events is available online for $25. The profits support local waterfowl non-profits.
If you prefer seafood and shopping to waterfowl, the festival is still a wonderful chance to experience historic Easton. Free parking is available outside of town and free buses will take you to any exhibit or drop you off near the town center where the roads are open only to pedestrian traffic, shopping, and food stands of all kinds. Just like our Poolesville Day, no festival ticket is needed to enjoy the downtown shops, restaurants, street booths, or street fare. You may find the perfect Christmas gift in one of the many eclectic antique, art, and clothing shops.
This is a very popular event so if you are interested in attending for multiple days, make lodging reservations early. More information on the festival and its schedule of events is available at waterfowlfestival.org