Next weekend, a wonderful opportunity to see some of the best wildlife artwork in the nation presents itself at the 18th-annual East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival and North Carolina Decoy Carving Championships.

This three-day, annual event does not just happen. Many of your family members, co-workers, neighbors and other acquaintances put in plenty of time and sweat to present one of Washington’s signature festival. Many of those people are members of the East Carolina Wildfowl Guild, which has organized the festival each year.

The festival — decoy carving, retriever demonstrations, DockDogs, exhibitors — attracts thousands to the city. That means revenue for shops, lodging establishments, restaurants, gas stations and the list goes on. It also generates tax revenue for the city and Beaufort County.

Some of the most-beautiful carvings of hummingbirds, cardinals, owls and herons will be displayed at the festival, with many of those carvings for sale. The festival is not just for carver, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.

Those with an interest in excellent art should treat themselves to a day, or two, or three at the festival. You’ll be glad you did.