2026 Ward World Championship

Watching judging on the bay at the 2025 Ward World Championship [Photo by Alan Wycheck]

55th Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival Roland E. Powell Convention Center Ocean City, MD April 24-26, 2026 FLY HIGH with Us and have a Wildfowl Weekend! We’re spreading our wings in a fresh new layout at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in beautiful Ocean City, MD! Soar to new heights… Read more »

Waterfowl Festival

Wff Logo

Visit the Waterfowl Festival’s website for a full listing of events, hours, and tickets! We will be joining them with a Sam Dyke Memorial “Old Bird” Antique Decoy Contest in the Artifacts Exhibit, as well as Redhead Silhouettes and Soap Carving for the kids. (The location for the silhouettes and soap carving TBD; pre-registration for… Read more »

2025 Chesapeake Challenge

2023 Chesapeake Challenge

September 27, 2025, in Crisfield, MD, during the Crisfield Heritage Festival The Chesapeake Challenge is a decades-old tradition that includes competition in several categories of decoy making. Decoys can be mailed in or registered that morning, starting at 8 AM. The Contemporary Antique bird is a BRANT for 2025 and a BLACK DUCK for 2026…. Read more »

Folklife Apprentice Film Series

MSAC Film Series

Location: Waterfowl Festival Building, 40 S. Harrison St, Easton, MD Join us, the Ward Foundation, the Waterfowl Festival, and Maryland State Arts Council, for an evening of short films from the Maryland State Arts Councils Folklife Apprenticeship program and try your hand at a tradition by painting a bufflehead silhouette with Master Carver and National… Read more »