Photo by Jim Heim A typical carving example from a previous year's waterfowl festival. This carving depicts a drake and hen pintail ducks.

Starting on Friday, Nov. 13, and ending on Sunday, Nov. 15, the festival crams a lot of serious entertainment and education into a brief three days. For $10 (kids under 12 are free) you can get a pass that lets you into all of the exhibits and a free ride to all 12 exhibition sites in town on shuttle buses. You can buy your pass at the festival, online at www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.

The town is locked down and normal activities are put on hold as streets are blocked to vehicular traffic and pedestrians and dogs take over. I don't think that I have ever seen that many black Labs in one place.

There are vendors selling all manor of Eastern Shore favorites from good chicken to oysters presented in a myriad of ways. If you can't get what you want to eat, it's your own fault. There is also wine tasting and musicians all around providing music.

More than 300 artists from around the country and Canada display their work. Artists, including those painting in oils and watercolors, and sculptors working in several mediums are on display. Photographers are there, offering some really excellent images of wildlife and nautical scenes. Craft artists are also in attendance.

The premier artists on display are, of course, the decoy carvers. When I visited the festival the first time many years ago, my wife and I wandered into a large room full of gorgeously displayed ducks and geese. I told my wife that we were in a wrong exhibit; we came to see carving, not taxidermy. Then, it dawned on me that we were looking at carved images not stuffed birds. As a beginning carver, I found it a humbling experience.

Dealers from all over the country come to sell and buy antique and contemporary decoys and other memorabilia. Some exhibit extensive collections of decoys, old guns and more, that make you wonder how much they left home. I have taken the opportunity to engage some of these folks in conversation and discovered that most have a base of knowledge about the subject that is incredibly wide.

If you take a bus out to some of the ponds, you will be treated to fly-casting and retriever demonstrations. I never tire of good casting demos, but the dogs just blow me away. The training, the intensity and pure enthusiasm that are shown as handlers and dogs show off for the audience are riveting. The dogs are unruffled by the crowds and sit patiently as hunting situations are simulated. Guns are fired, retrieving dummies are thrown and not until they are released do the dogs go like they are shot out of cannons to make difficult, multiple retrieves.

The energy and enthusiasm they show are infectious. Most hit the water about 20 feet from shore with their feet pulled up. Of course, it is always fun to watch the dogs shake off the water in their coats right next to their trainer.

Yesterday, I came across a quote in a small book about Labrador retrievers. It said, "When God created Labradors, he was showing off." Don't get me wrong, I have had the privilege of living with two golden retrievers over the years. I loved them both and they were bright, hard workers and usually there will be a golden or two represented at the festival, but the Lab seems to be the king of the Shore.

Another dog-oriented competition is the Dock Dog. This one has a variety of breeds entered. The object is to let the dog get a running start on a simulated dock to see which dog can jump the farthest into a pool. Last year I positioned myself at the end of the pool for a good photo opportunity. What I got was wet.

There are numerous hands-on activities for the entire family. For the kids, there are nature arts and crafts demonstrations and up close wildlife education.

Do you think you are good with a goose or duck call? Here is your opportunity to see the best of the best compete for top honors. I have a friend who has served as a judge and he tries to make a good caller out of me. It's a waste of his time. I can do OK with my old call making single notes that work well when another mediocre caller is in the blind with me. My friend with a new, modern, up-to-date call sounds like a whole flock of geese.

At the festival, top callers from the U.S. and Canada will compete in the World Championship Goose Calling Contest. First-place winner gets $10,000. There will also be the Mason-Dixon Regional Duck Calling Contest, the World Champion Live Duck Calling Contest and the World Champion Live Goose Calling Contest. All have cash prizes.

What outdoor person doesn't like a chance to see the latest and greatest gear? All you need to do to make your mouth water is visit the Sportsman's Pavilion. Recently a smart aleck neighbor, when she saw my fishing rod rack, asked if I have enough fishing rods. My immediate reply was, "No, never." I am glad that she didn't see the inside of my gun safe.

The Waterfowl Festival is produced annually by the Waterfowl Festival Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art and the celebration of life on the Eastern Shore. In the 39 years of its existence it has raised more than $5 million and donated it all to various conservation projects.

Contact Jim Heim at castsandshots@cs.com.