For over five decades, the Waterfowl Festival has drawn artists, collectors, conservationists, sportsmen and women, families and visitors from across the country to Easton, Maryland, for one of the Eastern Shore’s most popular events of the year. The 55th annual Waterfowl Festivalwill expand upon on long-standing traditions with the addition of new experiences curated to enhance engagement, accessibility and relevance to attendees of all ages. This year’s event takes place November 13 through 15 in various locations throughout historic Easton.
Mary Veiga, Hope Rises, oil on canvas, 30 x 30 in.
Central to the event, and its guiding purpose of conservation, is the art component which, in recognition of the landmark anniversary, will showcase 55 juried artists whose work is representative of the breadth and diversity of contemporary wildlife and sporting art. The 2026 featured artists are acclaimed sculptor Paul Rhymer, graphite artist Ray Brown and carver Randy Conner. Other nationally renowned artists to look out for include Nancy Tankersley, Eric Tardif, Matthew Hillier, Jill Basham and Walt Matia, to name just a few.
“From the very beginning of the festival we knew that if people could emotionally connect with the art of the wild around them—flora, fauna, open spaces—they would strive to protect it,” says executive director Deena Kilmon. Since its founding in 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has donated $6 million in art sales to conservation and education efforts.
The Great American Debate, by 2026 featured artist, carver Randy Conner.
Among the featured artists is Mary Veiga, who will be showing atmospheric landscapes, including Hope Rises. “I find peace, inspiration and a sense of belonging in nature,” says Veiga. “By painting light and atmosphere in ways that engage the senses, I hope to share that feeling with others and offer a sense of hope, beauty, and quiet connection to the natural world.”
Laura Hopkins’ landscapes, such as Autumn Fields,are evocative of the tonalism aesthetic. “I work most often from memory and imagination fueled by the Virginia countryside and my childhood in New England,” explains Hopkins. “I use silhouetted landforms and subtle color harmonies to suggest the fleeting light of dawn and twilight, and the mystery of night. I look for the poetic in intimate glimpses of fields, pastures, streams and marshes. I view each painting as a dialogue and let the painting lead me. Soft edges and expressively suggested landforms lend a sense of mystery, reverie and refuge, and enable the viewer’s own memories, experiences and emotions to engage with a place that feels familiar, yet new.”
Ray Brown, Reservoir Dogs, graphite on paper, 40 x 40 in.
In addition to the juried artists whose work will be on display across multiple exhibition spaces, including the Tidewater Inn, the festival will introduce a fine artisan pavilion called the Marshland Mercantile. Waterfowl Festival headquarters will also be home to the sporting Heritage pavilion where fine collectibles, including artworks, firearms, decoys and more will be on offer. Another new addition to the festival is the “Voices of the Chesapeake,” a series of educational presentations at the historic Avalon Theatre.
Squawk not, crowd favorites like the Talbot retriever club demonstrations, Dock dogs, live music and food vendors serving regional delicacies will be back once again for this milestone year.
Laura Hopkins, Autumn Fields, oil on linen on panel, 8 x 16 in.
“This event is so much more than a festival. It is an entire community coming together to not only celebrate the art but to really and authentically welcome people to our little corner of the world,” says an enthusiastic Kilmon. “With over 1,000 volunteers each year, many of them third or fourth generation family members of the original founders, we still retain an intimate and small feeling despite the tens of thousands of people joining us each year. The entire town gets involved, including the local public schools…We truly remind ourselves each year how beautiful, precious and fantastic the Eastern Shore is…and the Waterfowl festival was one of the first in the nation with this concept.”
The 55th annual Waterfowl Festival kicks off with a Premiere Night party on Thursday, November 12. For tickets, a full schedule of events, and artist information visit waterfowlfestival.org. —
55th Annual Waterfowl Festival
When: November 13-15, 2026
Where: Easton, MD
Information: (410) 822-4567, www.waterfowlfestival.org
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