Wildfowl Expo 
13th Annual Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo
October 8 & 9, 2010
The fall air and beautiful grounds of the museum set the stage for two days of excitement, anticipation, and socialization among collectors and carvers from throughout the Mid Atlantic. The event pays tribute to the old decoy and encourages the carving of new ones. Admission to the event and museum is free!
Eastern Shore Pig Roast and Chicken Barbecue
The Friday night pig roast is always a favorite for all who attend. Tickets are $13 and can be purchased at the museum’s gift shop. For more information, call the museum at 410-742-4988, ext. 120. Saturday there is barbecue chicken for sale starting at 11 a.m.
Exciting Marketplace
On Friday and Saturday, the front parking lot becomes a festive marketplace. Over forty vendors participate in the buying, selling and trading of an eclectic mix of fine antique decoys, folk art, and collectible waterfowling and hunting items. The vendors are always eager to see what new gems will be brought to the buy, sell or trade. Visitors are encouraged to bring their decoys in for identification or appraisal.
Weekend of Competition
The weekend pays tribute to the old decoy while encouraging the carving of new ones through competition. The decoys entered by collectors into the "Old Birds" Antique Decoy Competition adorn the lobby of the museum. The Contemporary Antique Competition, also held in the lobby, challenges carvers try to emulate the appearance of old decoys. It is very interesting to compare the two competitions. This year, the contemporary carvers will be competing with golden eye ducks. The Chesapeake Challenge, a competition for contemporary decoys, is held in the backyard.
Backyard Activities
The backyard is full of activities. Chesapeake Challenge participants compete for prizes in the floating, shorebird, and woodpecker decoy divisions. There is a Youth competition in all divisions and they are the first to be judged. There are carving demos and a duck head carving contest. This year, the participants have 1 1/2 hours to carve a Goldeneye drake. There are also children’s activities which include make and take projects and educational nature activities. On Saturday, there will be guided nature and birding walks.
Exploring Tradition
New this year will be a panel discussion "Continuing the Decoy Tradition" on Friday night in the museum lobby after the Pig Roast. Guest speakers will include master carvers from the NEA sponsored project. Also, the exhibit in the LaMay Gallery will be The Decoys of Massachusetts.