Photo courtesy of sewe.com

The first Southeastern Wildlife Exposition took place in February of 1983, with approximately 100 exhibitors and 5,000 people in attendance. Today, over 40,000 people gather to view 500 exhibitors. That’s an increase of roughly 700% over the last 35 years-a truly incredible turnout!

Photo courtesy of instagram.com/sewechs

The 2018 Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is slated for February 16th through February 18th, and will feature a variety of all-day events. The events will be held at some of the best spots in the Charleston area, including Brittlebank Park, Marion Square, and the Gaillard Center.

Joseph Sulkowski, Karla Mann, and Kathryn Mapes Turner are only a few examples of incredible artists to be featured in this year’s SEWE Festival.

Kathryn Mapes Turner’s “The Secret of Patience,” courtesy of sewe.com

Joseph Sulkowski’s “The Quail Rig,” courtesy of sewe.com

Karla Mann’s “Who’s the Fairest of All,” courtesy of sewe.com

The DockDogs® Competitions will be making a return this year, so get ready to watch dogs of all kinds compete in water jumping competitions in side-by-side tanks. If the dogs aren’t enough to keep your attention, there will also be a breathtaking Birds of Prey presentation, displaying a variety of large birds in flight.

Photo courtesy of dockdogs.com

While most of the VIP admission packages sold out shortly after sales went live, visitors are still able to purchase general admission tickets here. For a full schedule of events, complete lists of artists and exhibitors, and an online souvenir shop, check out the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition website.