By Greg Ellison, Staff Writer

(Oct. 26, 2017) The Delmarva Discovery Center & Museum in Pocomoke will celebrate the storied decoy carving and hunting traditions of the region during the 2nd annual Delmarva Heritage Days, this weekend.

Waterfowl enthusiasts will have the opportunity to watch as dozens of blue-ribbon carvers demonstrate techniques and share insights into their artistry.

The event is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4p.m.

Barbara Tull, Discovery Center founder and board member, said Delmarva Heritage Days was launched to promote the history and folklore of Lower Shore hunting culture.

In addition to gleaning decoy production skills during live carving demonstrations, Tull said experts like Bennett Scott, Don Briddell and Cameron McIntyre would be available to provide feedback or appraisals on individual pieces or entire collections.

After the inaugural event in 2016 was well received, Tull said new partners, including the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art and the Museum of Chincoteague Island, were solicited to build on the initial success.

“We drew about 150 [people] last year and we hope to build on that,” she said. “We tweaked it here and there [this year].”

To open the weekend of activities, Tull said another new partner, the Pocomoke Indian Nation, would share traditional Native American techniques for attracting ducks.

Afterwards, the Assateague Island and Barrier Island Hunt Clubs will share hunting tales from yesteryear, at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday

The Delmarva Days Heritage Awards presentation is scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday. Tull said bronze statues would be given to three “carvers whose artistic achievements will perpetuate America’s original art form.”

She said last year’s honorees were luminaries of the field, including Oliver “Tootsie” Lawson, Grayson Chesser and Delbert “Cigar” Daisey.

Saturday’s slate of activities closes with a Legend Carvers Symposium at 1:15 p.m., to be followed by a Market and Outlaw Gunning Waterfowl Conservation presentation at 2:30 p.m.

Tull said C.L. Marshall, author of “Chesapeake Bay Duck Hunting Tales,” and former sports editor for Eastern Shore News, would take part in the Market and Outlaw Gunning segment.

Sunday’s highlights include a Carver’s Symposium at 12:30 p.m. One hour later, the Barrier Islands Center, in Machipongo, Virginia, will screen a documentary and host a subsequent discussion session.

The day closes with a presentation from the Ward Museum Carving Club at 2:30 p.m. and a taxidermy lesson at 3:15 p.m.

Numerous children’s activities are planned throughout the weekend, and appetites can be satiated with oyster sandwiches, hotdogs and hamburgers.

Among the artists returning from last year’s event are the Briddell, a native of Crisfield, whose work is included in the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection.

Tull said Briddell sounded suitably impressed after taking part in carver symposiums during the inaugural Delmarva Heritage Days.

“Don Briddell said, ‘I’ve been to 350 shows in my life and this is the first time anyone asked me to comment on what motivated me to pursue the art,’” she said. “It’s an event we’re kind of proud of at the museum.”

Two day passes cost $15 for adults and $8 for children. One-day admission cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. Discovery Center members receive half price admission.

For more information, visit www.delmarvaheritagedays.com or call 410-957-9933.