In 1997, the Wings Over Water (WOW) Wildlife Festival was established as a way to encourage and offer the public opportunities for wildlife and wildland interpretation, education and experiences on regional national wildlife refuges. This annual fundraising event for national wildlife refuges has grown from offering just a few activities in 1997 to now featuring over 60 birding, paddling, photography, art, and natural history programs. Wings Over Water is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society (CWRS), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting regional national wildlife refuges. In addition to providing funds for educational grants to schools, WOW contributes to many CWRS projects, such as maintaining trails, signs, and other refuge structures. Also, WOW helps CWRS provide volunteers and staff who are essential to the maintenance and operation of the regional national wildlife refuges visitor centers and refuges.

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival began in 1997 to connect the public with wildlife and wildland experiences in regional national wildlife refuges. Hosted across six refuges in northeastern North Carolina, the festival features about 60 programs, including birding, paddling, photography, and natural history, making it one of the premier East Coast wildlife festivals. It also supports refuge conservation and education through the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society. Keynote event will be at the historic Pioneer Theater downtown Manteo, North Carolina. Festival runs October 13-18, 2026 with WOW Encore December 4-6, 2026.

WOW Encore is an extension of the Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival, running December 4-6, 2026. This encore event continues the wildlife and conservation programming offered during the main festival.