The East Carolina Wildfowl Guild isn’t the only entity in Washington making preparations for next weekend’s East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival and North Carolina Decoy Carving Championships.
Area restaurants, businesses and city facilities are getting ready for an influx of wildlife enthusiasts, whether they be appreciative of the wildlife art, the decoy carvers, the DockDogs competitors or other outdoor-related activities. With the First Christian Church of Washington no longer providing the food concession at the festival, the guild is encouraging festival-goers and exhibitors to satisfy their dining needs at area restaurants.
John LoGelfo, owner of La Bella Slices and Ices in downtown Washington, considers the festival an economic boost at a time when such a boost is needed.
“Historically, January and February … in our business is a slow time due to climate, economic reasons, overspending related to Christmas and vacations usually happen round this time of year,” he said. “What we’ve seen is it is definitely a well-welcomed event for our business.
Last year was La Bella Slices and Ices’ first exposure to the festival.
“We saw a very good increase in business for that weekend,” he said.
LoGelfo is trying something different this year.
“We bring in extra staff for that event. Last year, it was very advantageous for us to participate in it. Actually, this year we’re going to be opening up on Sunday for the event — we’re not normally open on Sundays — to accommodate the people who will be visiting the area,” LoGelfo said. “We’re even opening earlier on Saturday and Sunday to offer the people a quick type of breakfast — hot, fresh-made cheese biscuits and cinnamon buns. The cooks have been working on that.”
In 2006, a study estimated expenditures at the 2006 festival by visitors, competitors, exhibitors and the public at $163,000. With the festival growing since 2006, those expenditures have grown with the festival, with some tourism officials indicating that impact is now around the $300,000 range, if not higher.
“We have not done an economic impact analysis of the show since the 2006 show,” said Lynn Lewis, Washington’s tourism-development director. “One factor that wasn’t considered during that show was the spending done by the guild itself in the community for things like catering, tents, supplies, printing, etcetera. As the show has grown, so has that number.”
The guild adds to the local economy by purchasing goods and services, such as having brochures printed locally and hiring a local caterer to provide the food for the annual auction that’s part of the festival.
“With show attendees being encouraged to dine downtown this year, I believe the restaurants will have an even better year during this festival,” Lewis said.  “While visitors are walking downtown, there is no doubt that they will stop in a shop or two along the way. The impact of the show should remain strong this year.”
The city will not only receive revenue from sales tax, bit it will receive revenue from the occupancy tax charged for hotel, motel and bed-and-breakfast rooms
“Hotels are expecting next weekend to be busier than a typical winter weekend.  I’ve spoken to several today and learned that they are expecting higher than average occupancy for the weekend,” Lewis said.
The occupancy tax (per night) on a $100 room comes to $6. The revenue from the tax is split between the city and the Washington Tourism Development Authority.
State law dictates that occupancy tax revenues be used on programs intended to bring more people for overnight stays to areas served by agencies like the WTDA. Washington retains 3 percent of the occupancy-tax revenue for WTDA administration while the WTDA receives the balance.
The city’s 6-percent occupancy tax generated $239,560 in gross revenue in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, with $232,373 going to the Washington Tourism Development Authority and $7,187 going to the city for providing administrative services to the authority.

 

East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival

Friday, Feb. 8

DockDogs Venue – Kugler Field, corner of Hudnell and Third streets.

9 a.m. – Registration/Practice
10 a.m. – Big Air Wave Competition #1
Noon – Big Air Wave Competition #2
2 p.m. – Big Air Wave Competition #3
4 p.m. – Big Air Wave Competition #4

Saturday, Feb. 9

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Free Shuttles Provided

Main Festival Venue – Washington Civic Center, 110 N. Gladden St.

Diverse groups of exhibitors offering hand crafted items.

Carving Competition Venue – Peterson Building, 310 W. Main St.

10 a.m. Carving competition Judging Begins
10 a.m. Decorative life size
11 a.m. Charles Moore
11:30 a.m. Decorative miniatures
11:30 a.m. Shorebirds
Noon Decorative heads
1 p.m. River pairs (waterfront)
1 p.m. Decorative floating
2:30 p.m. Pamlico gunning

DockDogs Venue – Kugler Field, corner of Hudnell and Third streets.

8 a.m. – Onsite Registration / Practice  
9 a.m. – Big Air Wave Competition #5
10:30 a.m. – Big Air Wave Competition #6
Noon – Big Air Wave Competition #7
2 p.m. – Big Air Wave Competition #8
4:30 p.m. – Extreme Vertical Competition

Children Activities Venue – NC Estuarium, 223 E. Water St.

Children’s painting workshops: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call 252-948-0000 to register.
The Estuarium will be open to children and youth free of charge, adults at half price of $2 each.

Auction Venue – Washington Yacht & Country Club, 7155 River Road.

Auction & Seafood Buffet at Washington Yacht & Country Club, dinner reservations required (1-800-999-3857 ext. 3). Dinner begins at 6 p.m.  Live auction begins at 7 pm.  Auction is open to the public.

Sunday, Feb. 9

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Free Shuttles Provided

Main Festival Venue – Washington Civic Center, 110 N. Gladden St.

Diverse group of exhibitors offering hand crafted items.

DockDogs Venue – Kugler Field, corner of Hudnell and Third streets.

Onsite registration/practice – 8 a.m.
9 a.m. Speed Retrieve Competition
10 a.m. Big Air Wave Competition #9
12:30 p.m. Big Air Wave Competition #10
3 p.m. Speed Retrieve Finals
3:30 p.m Big. Air Finals (Amateur, Semi-Pro,Pro)

Carving Competition Venue – Peterson Building, 310 W. Main St.

11 a.m. Judging for N.C. Decoy Carving Championship Division
11:30 a.m. Judging for the Contemporary Antique Division
Noon. Judging for Tri-County Canvas Gunning Decoy Division
1:30 p.m. Judging for the O’Neal’s Drug Store Carolina Gunning Decoy Division
2:30 p.m. Judging for T.R.A.D.E. Carving Division
3:30 p.m. Carving Competition Awards Ceremony