The 55th Waterfowl Festival runs Nov. 13–15 in downtown Easton. Children fifteen and under get in free.

For the first time, the festival named three featured artists: Ray Brown (graphite), Paul Rhymer (bronze sculpture), and decoy carver Randy Conner. Previous festivals named one. The exhibitor slate lists 55 artists for 55 years.

Five venue changes were announced in July. The restored Waterfowl Building — the former Easton Armory at 40 S. Harrison St. — reopens as a Sporting and Cultural Heritage Center. A Canvasback Courtyard takes over part of Harrison Street. The Tidewater Gold Room returns. A tasting pavilion sets up near the Tidewater Inn, and Voices of the Chesapeake, a new program, lands at the Avalon Theatre.

The Armory roof restoration was completed in July, funded by the festival's board with the Maryland Historical Trust, Preston Automotive Group, and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. The building had long served mainly as a three-day festival landmark; the heritage-center conversion is meant to support year-round use.

Outside festival weekend, the organization continues grantmaking. In June it awarded $30,259 in Perry Scholarships to twenty-one students. In March it granted $5,000 to the Talbot Retriever Club from the Shriver Sporting Heritage Endowment.