Upcoming events

Switch to Calendar View

• 2025 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

  • Start
    18 Sep 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • End
    19 Sep 2025
  •  
    3:30 PM
  • Location
    National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708

  2025 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

  September 18 and 19, 2025
  10AM to 3:30PM

  The 2025 Contest will be held at the Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitor Center in Laurel, Maryland, on September 18 and 19, 2025. Doors open at 9am.

  Watch the Federal Duck Stamp Contest live! 

  • Day 1 of the Contest begins at 10:00am ET on Thursday, September 18th.  
  • Day 2 of the Contest begins at 10:00 am ET on Friday, September 19th. 

  Doors will open at 9:00 am each day. For the first day of the contest, the estimated finish time is 3:30 pm. For the second day of the contest, we hope a winner is announced by *12:00pm.

  *All end times listed are approximate and will vary according to the number of entries in each round of judging and the length of time the judges need to do their scoring.

  Visit 2025 Federal Duck Stamp Contest | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for more details about this event.

  Show details
• Urban Wildlife Conservation Day

  • When
    4 Oct 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708

  Urban Wildlife Conservation Day

  October 4, 2025

  10AM to 2PM

  In partnership with Patuxent Research Refuge, we invite you to join us for a day dedicated to celebrating our connection to nature.

  Plenty of fun activities are scheduled for that day!

  • Arts & Crafts
  • Native Plant Freebies
  • Live Birds
  • Youth Fishing Day (Ages 15 & Under)
  • Campfire Storytime
  • Archery & More!

  Plus, the Friends of Patuxent will be showcasing the film Flight of the Butterflies, which tells the story of the discovery of monarch wintering sites.

  For a full schedule of events, visit Urban Wildlife Conservation Day | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Wildlife Holiday Bazaar

  • When
    1 Nov 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708

  Friends of Patuxent Wildlife Holiday Bazaar

  Saturday, November 1, 2025
  9AM to 3PM

  Our Wildlife Holiday Bazaar vendors will offer unique nature-and-wildlife-themed jewelry, finely crafted handbags, wallets, other textile art and functional wares; kiln-formed glassware; artisanal home goods, beautiful and functional totes, photographs and notecards, original wares in cedar and other woods; prints and paintings, bird houses, honey and bee products, handmade soaps, sachets, and more!

  • Shop over 30 local vendors offering distinctive gifts
  • Local honey
  • Bake sale
  • Pick-a-new-plant with any donation
  • Free demos and crafts
  • Lunch at the Crane Café
  • Meet live animals
  • Door prizes every hour

  Cash is highly encouraged but checks & credit cards will be accepted.

  Supports the Patuxent Research Refuge and Eastern Ecological Science Center.

  For questions or more information, please call 301-497-5772.

  
  

  Show details