LANCASTER—The 43rd annual Rappahannock River Waterfowl Show (RRWS) will be March 16 and 17 at the White Stone Firehouse. Despite a rough start in 1980, this show evolved into one of the longest running wildlife art shows on the east coast.
However, this is the final year, said coordinator Pat Bruce.
History
The first Rappahannock River Waterfowl Show was held on March 1, 1980, at Windmill Point, sponsored by the Windmill Point Yacht Club. Phil Cross, manager of the yacht club, asked William and Pat Bruce of White Stone to help him organize the show. They agreed and are still at the helm of this 43rd show. About 30 exhibitors were scheduled to attend the one day show, but due to a severe snow storm, which eventually dropped about 14 inches of snow on the area, only about half of these artists and carvers actually attended, said P. Bruce.
The second RRWS was scheduled for March 14 and 15, 1981, again at Windmill Point. Due to a sudden relocation of the Windmill Point Yacht Club about two months before the show, they were unable to remain the sponsors, and the show had no home. W. Bruce, a member of the White Stone Volunteer Fire Department, asked the fire department if it would like to become the sponsor. The fire department agreed and the show moved to the firehouse. Twenty-seven exhibitors attended this show along with about 1,200 visitors, she said.
In 1982, the show expanded to the auditorium of the old White Stone School and had 46 exhibitors and an attendance of about 2,000. Over the years the show expanded into other areas of the school building. In 2004 the show no longer had the use of the old school building and became “under one roof” for the first time since 1982, continued P. Bruce. A very large tent was erected off the back of the firehouse and eventually the show grew to have around 95 exhibitors and an attendance of about 3,000 from an average of 12 states annually. In 2018 the show moved across the street into the new firehouse.
William Bruce of White Stone, Art LaMay of Palm Coast, Fla., and Bill Bolin of Midlothian all exhibited at the very first show in 1980 and are the featured artists for the final show March 16 and 17 at the White Stone Firehouse.
In 1984, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the show, Bill Bolin was named the first Artist of the Year. He created a special painting of buffleheads flying by the old Windmill Point Lighthouse. Prints were given to visitors attending the show and the annual “show print” was born. The early prints were black and white, but since 2000, when W. F Booth and Son Inc. became sponsors of the show print, color prints have been given away each year. Copies of many of these prints are available for purchase at the show, she said. This year’s print is by Art LaMay.
In 1999, a Preview Night Gala was added to the festivities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show. The Preview Night was so successful that it has been continued each year since and will be held this year on March 15. Advance tickets are required for this evening event and must be reserved by March 8. For a preview night invitation, email patbruce@rrws.org or visit www.rrws.org.
Celebration!
“This celebration of the 43rd year is truly a feat that during the snowstorm in 1980 no one would ever have predicted,” said P. Bruce. “Mark your calendars to help celebrate this wonderful event as it comes to a close.”
The Preview Night door prize is an original painting by Bolin. The weekend door prize is a hand carved decoy by W. Bruce.
Major show sponsors are W. F. Booth and Son Inc. for the show prints, W. E. Kellum Seafood Co., Rappahannock Rentals, Currie Funeral Home and Willaby’s Catering.
Special features include a raffle with items donated by the artists and carvers participating in the show.
During the weekend, the fire department will sell a variety of lunch items including oyster sandwiches, clam chowder, barbecue and homemade desserts. There will be tables for eating.
The Virginia Waterfowlers Association will host a children’s paint-a-decoy area on Saturday and Sunday. The Rappahannock Decoy Carvers Guild will hold its decoy carving contest on Saturday at the Woman’s Club of White Stone, 560 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone. Judging will begin at 11 a.m.
Show hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 and is good for both days. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free with an adult. Proceeds benefit the White Stone Volunteer Fire Department.
