Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival scheduled for next month

The second annual Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival returns to the banks of the Coosa River in downtown Wetumpka next month.

The event will be presented by the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts and is set for November 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival has quickly become one of the state’s top events dedicated to outdoor recreation and conservation,” said Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association founder Thomas Harris, whose family partnered with The Kelly and the City of Wetumpka to create the festival. “This year’s schedule of events is nothing short of spectacular, and we hope people will take part in this event designed to showcase Wetumpka and offer a day of family fun.”

“We are so pleased to welcome nationally known wildlife artists from around the Southeast and are especially excited to have Dirk Walker, Sue Key, Jeanie Edwards and Bucky Bowles present during the festival,” said Jennifer Eifert, executive director of The Kelly.

“We are so honored and pleased to partner with The Kelly and be a small part of the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival,” ALBBAA Director Pam Swanner said. “Last year’s inaugural event was amazing, and we expect this year to be bigger, better and more enjoyable for everyone who comes to downtown Wetumpka for this year’s festival.”

The festival will feature cooking demonstrations by James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Chris Hastings, animal exhibitions by the Alabama Wildlife Federation, “build your own wood duck box” provided by Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association, sporting dogs demonstrations by Wildrose Kennels, and DockDogs, a new canine competition.

The schedule of events and activities for the day is as follows:

9:30 a.m., Saturday, November 11: Opening ceremonies at Elmore County Courthouse

Competition Gone Wild DockDogs

Location: Orline Street Parking Lot

Friday’s schedule

· 4 p.m., Big Air Wave No. 1

· 5 p.m., Extreme Vertical Competition

Saturday’s schedule

· 10 a.m., Big Air Wave No. 2

· 11:30 a.m., Big Air Wave No. 3

· 1:30 p.m., Speed Retrieve Competition

· 3 p.m., Big Air Finals (pro, semi-pro and amateur divisions)

Demonstrations Gone Wild

Location: On the Banks of the Coosa River

Saturday’s schedule

· 10-10:45 a.m., Wildrose Kennels Sporting Dog Demonstrations

· 10:45 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Alabama Wildlife Federation Animal Exhibition

· 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s “Build Your Own Wood Duck Box”

· 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m., Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Casting Workshop

· 1-1:45 p.m., Wildrose Kennels Sporting Dog Demonstrations

· 1:45 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Alabama Wildlife Federation Animal Exhibition

· 2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m., Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s “Build Your Own Wood Duck Box”

· 3:15 p.m.-4 p.m., Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Casting Workshop

Chefs Gone Wild

Location: Green space behind The Kelly

Saturday’s schedule

· 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Chef Chris Hastings Cooking Demonstration with cocktail ideas by Redmont Distilling Co. mixologist

· 12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m., Chef Alex Hoefer Cooking Demonstration

· 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Chef Chris Hastings Cooking Demonstration with cocktail ideas by Redmont Distilling Co. mixologist

· 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Chef Alex Hoefer Cooking Demonstration

All-day Activities

Location: On the Banks of the Coosa River

Saturday’s schedule

· 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Vendors Gone Wild on W. Commerce Street

· 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Food Trucks Cone Wild, in Merchants Alley

· 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Art Gone Wild, fine art exhibit at The Kelly

· 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Kids Gone Wild: Children’s activities and games

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.