Arts of the Pamlico is counting down the days until the East Caroline Wildlife Arts Festival takes over downtown Washington.

This time, the arts nonprofit is running the show.

The Wildlife Arts Festival returns for its 22^nd year after a year’s hiatus. Washington Tourism Development Authority declined to continue hosting the festival in favor of focusing on tourism promotion. But Feb 8 – 10, the festival is back, and while it’s always had an arts element, with Arts of the Pamlico as host, wildlife arts are back in the spotlight.

The event starts on Feb. 8, as exhibitors check in early in the day at the Washington Civic Center. At 5:30 p.m., AOP will host a reception at the Turnage Theatre for the wildlife arts festival’s sponsors, feature music by eastern North Carolina guitar legend Steve Creech’s jazz quartet. Keeping with tradition, the 2018-19 waterfowl conservation stamp, or North Carolina duck stamp, will be unveiled at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 9, vendors of wildlife oriented arts and crafts will be on display at the Civic Center; classic cars will be on display on the waterfront and at the Turnage, the display will revolve around an exhibit of renowned watercolorist and Washington resident Pat Holscher.

Festival favorites are back on the schedule, as well: a children’s decoy-painting workshop at the North Carolina Estuarium, a silent auction at the Turnage and retriever demonstrations will all be held. Each day and event is punctuated with live music, AOP’s monthly Art Market, featuring local artists, will be set up in the Turnage the final morning of the event, and the festival continues that night with Art Walk, a gallery-crawl with new exhibits and receptions, in downtown Washington.

“A downtown Art Walk of nine downtown venues showing local art will occur from 5-7 p.m. after the exhibits close,” AOP Executive Director Debra Torrence wrote in an email.

The event comes to an official close with a free improv comedy show at the Turnage Theatre for festival ticketholders.

A three-day weekend pass to the festival can be purchased for $12, and one-day passes can be purchased for $7 on the day of the event. Children under 12 are free.