The inaugural Ocracoke Waterfowl Festival was a success, according to the Ocracoke Island Decoy Carvers Guild, festival organizer.

About 500 people attended the event held Saturday at the Ocracoke School gymnasium. Islander Dave O’Neal, owner of the Down Point Decoy Gallery, was the featured carver. The festival included presentations on the art of decoy carving, raffles and local food.

“Waterfowling has been a dramatic part of Ocracoke’s heritage and this folk art needs to be kept from becoming a lost art,” said John Simpson about why the guild was formed.

The Ocracoke Foundation sponsors the nonprofit guild.