8 Things to Look Forward to at the 2022 Waterfowl Festival

Note: the 2023 Waterfowl Festival is held November 10-12. 

I’ve attended the annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, countless times—it’s become a fall tradition I look forward to every year. The event draws upwards of 20,000 visitors to Talbot County for three days of Eastern Shore wildlife, sporting heritage, art, food, children’s programming, and more. It’s lively, a bit quirky, and just downright fun.  The 2022 Waterfowl Festival will be held from November 11-13th and marks the 51st anniversary.

$20 gets you access to all three days of events, and kids ten and under get in free! The first 1,500 people to purchase tickets online by Oct 31st can get them for $15. Veterans and members of the military can also get their tickets for $15 if purchased in person on November 11.

To get you excited (because trust me, you don’t want to miss this), I’m sharing eight things you won’t want to miss at the 2022 Waterfowl Festival:

Diving Dogs

The dock diving competition is hands down one of the most fun parts of the festival. Some dogs leap off the dock into the elevated pool while others chicken out at the edge.

Regardless of pup courage levels, the competition is incredibly entertaining and provides endless laughs. This is a can’t-miss event for dog lovers.

World championship duck and goose calling competitions

If you’ve never seen a calling competition, it’s pretty insane to watch. Callers either imitate the natural sound of a whole flock of ducks or geese, or they imitate the calls they would use to bring a flock of geese into decoys.

You might see team members calling back and forth to create realistic scenarios or an individual caller performing a range of sounds. Watching people who are the very best in their craft is an inspiring experience.

The tasting pavilion

If your idea of a good time involves a tasty Maryland-made beer, wine, or spirit, the tasting pavilion is the place for you. Warm up in the craft beverage tent and get to know some of the locals. 

Art, art, and more art

You could spend the whole time at the festival wandering the various art exhibits. From beautifully carved nature-themed sculptures to artifact exhibits of old boats and beautifully painted outdoor art from some of the best artists in the region, there’s no shortage of Eastern Shore art to appreciate here.

This year’s featured art exhibition is a painting entitled “Wind and Waves” by Richard Clifton. 

Fly fishing casting lessons

The fly fishing casting lessons are one of my personal favorites from the festival. I came to the demonstration years ago when I was just getting into the sport, and I wanted to work on my casting and meet some like-minded fishing folk. I met Brett Gaba, who had just finished writing his book “Fly Fishing the Tidewaters of the Chesapeake Bay” and have been inspired by his work ever since. These kinds of interactions keep me coming back year after year to the festival, and I can’t imagine I will ever get bored of it. 

Retriever demonstrations

The retriever demonstrations are another must-see. Stop by the Bay Street Ponds to watch dogs find and retrieve items on their trainer’s command. 

Decoy painting

Are you bringing your kids along to the Waterfowl Festival? This fun and educational event for all ages reveals how wooden decoys on the Eastern Shore were created in the past.

I overlooked this activity for years and thoroughly enjoyed it when I finally gave it a try. I will certainly be back this year. 

Kids fishing derby

Right beside the fly casting lessons and retriever demonstrations, you’ll find two ponds stocked with rainbow trout by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Kids will learn about setting up fishing rods and what bait to use. Plus, the fishing derby offers a rare opportunity for your kids to enjoy pretty easy pickings, and it’s a guaranteed good time.

Watching dogs jump into a pool, slurping crab soup, and watching the best duck and goose callers in the world compete are just a small part of what this special event has to offer. What will you discover at the 2022 Waterfowl Festival?

For updates and more info, check out the festival’s website or visit their Facebook and Instagram. View the schedule of events here, and buy tickets here. If you’re planning to explore the Eastern Shore before or after the event, check out these spots to eat and a unique place to stay. 

Lead Photo: Courtesy of the Waterfowl Festival