In need of a weekend of skilled retrievers, duck decoys, and Southern cooking? Look no further than Charleston’s Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition, slated for Feb 12–14. This coastal extravaganza offers travelers a weekend of Southern charm, from art exhibits to a sportsman’s ball.
The Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition, aka SEWE, emphasizes its “W” with more than 500 renowned wildlife artists scheduled to exhibit original works or demonstrate their talents. From zebras to hummingbirds, the animal kingdom is gloriously represented via the talents of visual artists from across America (Idaho to New York) and even South Africa’s Limpopo (yes, Rudyard Kipling fans—that Limpopo).
In between SEWE’s stunning art exhibitions, there are opportunities to interact with the natural world, from a birds of prey demonstration to a Saturday morning seminar on fly fishing. There’s even interaction of a different sort—the kind that takes place on a plate. Demos by Lowcountry chefs with local ingredients pepper the weekend schedule.
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PLAY FETCH // Duck decoy auctions, a staple at the Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition, are supplemented by decoy demonstrations.
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Of course, SEWE wouldn’t live up to its name if it overlooked the sacred bond between a Southerner and four-footed companions. In addition to duck decoy auctions and decoy shows, there’s also a weekend-long DockDogs® competition, where canine aquatic performance dogs (many of them retrievers) will go head-to-head in jumping events leading up to Sunday’s finals. You will likely spy talented whippets, border collies, Belgian Malinois, Dobermans, and Dutch Shepherds as they strive for “Big Air” titles.
Friday’s events are capped by the swanky South Carolina Waterfowl Association Sportsman’s Ball, while Saturday evening offers an old-fashioned oyster roast and then a memorable boots-and-jeans fête revolving around more oysters, barbecue, live music, and new friends. Sunday winds down in time for revelers to pack up their duck boots, pearls, pooches, and any newly acquired artwork, and head home.
For the Southern sportsman and woman, hunting is never easier than during this festive February weekend. Just point yourself toward the Lowcountry, and go see what moves you.
You may purchase tickets at sewe.com. Prices are $15-$25, depending on the day, or $50 for a three-day pass. Certain events are limited seating, and a few shows offer individual tickets.
{ WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS }
ART // Look for Charleston’s own Jennifer Black, Rick Reinert, Kevin LaPrince, and Karen Hewitt Hagan, whose work will include familiar subjects and places. Two are featured in Friday night’s Southern Exposure show.
FOOD & DRINK // Multiple chef demos will showcase South Carolina ingredients and offer tastings of SC- sourced food products. Saturday night’s casual oyster roast promises a heap of Southern fun and an open bar.
THE SPORTING LIFE // Anglers won’t want to miss the fly- fishing and cast-net demos, which run throughout the weekend. Dog folk can hang around for retriever demos and the DockDogs® competition. Who knows? You might go home contemplating possibilities for you and your pup.
WILDLIFE // Sunday’s Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Show affords attendees a close look at bobcats, alligators, and other hard-to-find critters.
