Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb 2015

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exhibits, conservation education, sporting demonstrations
and parties – we offer something for art lovers, wildlife and
outdoor enthusiasts and fun seekers of all ages.”
SEWE, held in February, has the distinction of being
the first major event in the area to take place during the
“off season.” With the construction of Charleston Place
Hotel and its thousands of square feet of exhibition
space, the original organizers of SEWE saw an opportu-
nity to create an event that complemented a major aspect
of Southern culture. According to Huggins, “Our local
hunters are our conservationists. They are the ones who
give the dollars to support organizations like Ducks Un-
limited and the South Carolina Waterfowl Association.”
With the support of the city of Charleston and the
Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, SEWE got
a foothold in the conservation world and made a name
for itself as the largest show of its kind in the country.
“We expanded the scope of our art exhibits from
cute dogs and ducks to fine art that depicts nature
and animals,” Huggins said. “We also expanded the
scope of our exhibitors.”
“While our local hunters and conservationists will
always be part of this event, SEWE draws a cross-sec-
tion of people to the Lowcountry,” Huggins continued.
“Many of those who attend are fairly affluent people
from out of town. They not only spend money at the
Expo, they also fill hotel rooms, eat at restaurants and
shop at retail stores in February, which has typically
been a slow time for tourism.”
Huggins said general admission tickets are available to
the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but VIP pro-
grams and activities begin on Wednesday before the official
kickoff of the event.
“The South Carolina Waterfowl Association holds a
major state event in Mount Pleasant during SEWE week-
end,” he noted.
Family
CirCle Cup
In 2001, the
Family Circle Cup
made a bold move
that would secure
its continued suc-
cess. After 28 years
in Hilton Head,
the tournament
moved to its new
BY THE NUMBERS
• Inaugural year: 2001 (in Charleston) **
• Number of years in existence: 14 (in Charleston)
• First year attendance: Not available
• Attendance in 2014: Not available
• Local economic impact in 2014: $40 million
• Date(s) of 2015 event: April 4-12
• Length of event: Nine days
• Website:
**The Family Circle Cup began in Hilton Head, South
Carolina in 1973.