SEWE 2024 has gone to the DOGS!

WRITTEN BY ALYSSA HELMS, Media Manager

SEWE: The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition“A Celebration of the Great Outdoors”. This inaugural, dog-friendly, widely known event is back once again from February 16th through 18th and SEWE has so much in store to offer everyone! Two legs or four. Monumenting the kickoff of tourist season and Presidents Day weekend for the last 40 years, SEWE has continuously become more and more of a staple event in the Lowcountry, while being more and more recognized all over the country. SEWE ongoers look forward to this event every year in Charleston, South Carolina around the middle of February. Whether you are a dog lover like us over here, headed there as press for another year or just needing something to do over the weekend, SEWE has something for everyone in the whole family. This event has allowed thousands and thousands of like-minded people from all over to showcase, explore, and enjoy a weekend FILLED with great expositions, demonstrations, artists, vendors, and people connected through a shared passion and appreciation for wildlife and its preservation.

SEWE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is still around because of the dedication of all those involved. SEWE has created its own legacy through showcases of the nation’s finest wildlife art, awareness for the conservation of wildlife and the environment, the positive influence on wildlife and nature education, and an impact on local and statewide economies through increased tourism. Tickets can be purchased online for all the events right now on www.sewe.com/events! For events before the weekend fun begins, prices of tickets are limited and vary depending on what your group decides to do. (Feb 14/15th)

Friday through Sunday, upwards of 50,000 people will come out to enjoy DockDog competitions, artisans and vendors, food and drinks, fine art, plenty of demonstrations, exhibitioners and more at Brittlebank Park, Marion Square, the Galliard Center. All locations will be filled with animals and animal lovers, enthusiasts, and loads of activities. The two “dog friendly” spots are Brittlebank Park and Marion Square.

Brittlebank Park

Brittlebank Park will be open to attendees with one or 3-day admission passes. Lowcountry Dog has had a great spot in direct view of the DockDogs for the last three years (behind the huge crowd of dog lovers, die-hard fans, and curious people who are ready to be amazed and heartstruck). Brittlebank Park, located at 185 Lockwood Drive, is where the talented and hopeful dogs and fur parents of all levels of expertise, age, and breed compete in the DockDogs competitions. This is one of the most popular events of the entire weekend, starting on Friday and crowning the best doggos on Sunday. Registration is each day 9-10am. With your general admission passes, you will be able to check out all the talented pups and the dedicated owners at the DockDogs competitions. There are three main contests in DockDogs: Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve. Big Air, the most popular, has dogs from several divisions, compete for distance of the dock. A whippet named Sounder has the current world record of 36 feet 11 inches. Last year ar SEWE, the top dogs were jumping over 25 feet. Extreme Vertical is a high jump, with last years winner breaking over seven feet. Speed Retrieve measures the time the dog is released to the time the dog reaches the end of the pool. Winning times are usually under 6 seconds. If you are spending the day at Brittlebank Park, you can also see a number of sheep and duck herding and retriever demonstrations, check out different local vendors and brands, enter raffles, enjoy good food and drinks with great people, and lots more. There is also a zone at Brittlebank just for the kiddos, with everything from fun/ educational games to pony and camel rides, an exotic petting zoo, and inflatables. Brittlebank has something for everyone.

Marion Square

Marion Square is going to be very hard to pass by and not stop during SEWE weekend! On the corner of King Street and Calhoun Street you won’t be able to miss the hundreds of workshops, demonstrations, exhibits, and live presentations happening the entire weekend! The Center for Birds of Prey flight demos are some of the most entertaining, incredible and educational shows during SEWE. The disc throwing competitions at Marion Square are something us dog lovers do not want to miss. Lowcountry Dog will be set up in Marion Square this year, so stop by and say hello, grab a free magazine or some stickers, buy a 2024 calendar, or grab some merch to benefit local rescues!! Several local rescues will be set up in Marion Square as well including Carolina Coonhound and Boykin Spaniel Rescue.

SEWE activities, artisans and events will be taking over the streets of Charleston mid-February, and we as locals should be proud to call our city the original host of this highly-anticipated event. They promote many different rescues, beginning in 1983 with 100 artists, to now over 500. SEWE now brings in over 40,000 people to our city to take in all that we support and preserve for. If you have been, you know! If not, this is your sign to come out this year, there is no better place to be February 14th-18th. GA tickets for the weekend are $85 and day passes are also available. As they say, “...together, let’s keep the world wild. Now and forever. A wild weekend awaits, theres so much to SEWE.” If you have not got your tickets yet, go to www.sewe.com now. ■