Waterfowl Festival supports conversationists on the Eastern Shore

EASTON, Md. – Thousands of people from all different walks of life took a trip to Easton this weekend for the annual Waterfowl Festival.

“Everybody in the midshore knows the Waterfowl Festival is the second weekend of November,” said the President of the Waterfowl Festival, Kevin Greaney.

“They rely on it, and they get excited for it,” said Greaney.

“It’s just a beautiful day,” said Keith Thomas, a visitor.

“We figured it was a good opportunity to have our dog interact with other dogs and we always enjoy the carvings and the dock dogs down here,” said Thomas.

Each year, visitors can stroll through art exhibits, participate in competitions and get a taste of delicious food — all things that characterize the Eastern Shore.

“It’s about the community’s love of nature and love of the Eastern Shore and we do that through conservation, we do through art, we do it through celebrating sport and heritage,” said the Executive Director of the Waterfowl Festival, Margaret Enloe.

“It’s the carving competition,” said Thomas.

“I think they do a nice job of capturing the natural beauty of the Eastern Shore with the carvings,” Thomas said.
According to Greaney, as of now, the annual event has raised millions of dollars to support local organizations that help protect wildlife.

“Through our 47 years of the festival, we’ve been able to raise over six and a half million dollars that we’ve been able to distribute to various causes,” said Greaney.

“Each of the food vendors is a particular charity cause in themselves, and so in order for them to be a vendor for us they have to be representing a certain organization,” Greaney said.

The President adds the festival helps to remind the community what makes the Eastern Shore so special.

“We’ve been able to survive for 48 years, and I mean how many other festivals in the state of Maryland can say that?” said Greaney.

According to the President, the festival also contributes to restoration at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Greaney said he hopes even more people will visit the festival in the coming years to continue to help support these conservation efforts.