The Mill on Etowah Gets Wild with the Etowah Wildlife Expo
The 2024 Wildlife Expo at The Mill on Etowah in Canton celebrated nature with a fantastic, cost-free experience for everyone. Since its inception in 2021, the event has grown with each passing year. The expo, North Georgia’s most extensive wildlife and outdoor event, is the perfect gathering for animal lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
![Etowah Wildlife Expo in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f2f8af59865354b78eff5beaf5e19ad7 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1c2cf8ef4b75386ce32a967c675c67c9 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=e992a579bac9778292c12ac840029895 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=ad1931f62bdc91a3556e74f87b784374 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=5b2484943ac5a9d199b525f4bbb3a43f 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b867a97efae043093b4c012c1490cf27 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e75c5f9b70791e797c8beed73e75dd13 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=45ec75cbf43fc694fea3a1d8b7f8a131 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/BASS-TUB-11.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=823ac528de895d0a4efb8347f6689051 3840w)
THE SIGHTS
With plenty of parking, no entry fees, and 250,000 square feet of space at the venue, the expo was hassle-free. Most visitors began by browsing the vendors, which offered unique goods such as handmade duck calls, handwoven goods and jewelry, local art, and top-of-the-line outdoor gear. The stands also offered face painting for the kiddies, spinner bait, and plants.
![](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0288426af516066d2dd737f7fd2b8014 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=e8f0661cefda4dbe67a0d1278f43c90b 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=bc6b0bed8c9cbeb274f77e25103f2760 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=efb4a60150f5929e31326a0a14112908 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=d183a27af298e1cc99dec4497a04e243 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=04d5f1731d5e7213839c8d75fc5b4880 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=995003b6f321063fbece3b56e09dd4ce 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=66aa0ab1875c96c799ea544ae7925d73 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/VENDORS-19.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=b5029cfdd086edc328ba0722984b1de1 3840w)
Tastes and Sips
Reformation Brewery, which anchors The Mill, released a special limited-edition IPA named Wild Life in celebration of the third annual Etowah Wildlife Expo. The ale has Mosaic, Summit, and Strata hops for a floral and earthy note, delivering a fresh taste to raise a glass to Mother Nature.
This year at the Wildlife Expo, The Little Sober Bar attracted new attention. Offering a line of carefully crafted mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, the truck served those wanting fun drinks while maintaining their sobriety, plus the fun flavors are also available for kids.
Plenty of Southern barbecue, gourmet grilled cheese from Cheez’d and Confuzed, and Japanese fried chicken from Ponko Chicken were just a few of the foods offered. For dessert, visitors could find craft donuts and homemade ice cream.
Have a Pet, Need a Pet?
Tito’s Pet Bakery, based in Canton, was at the expo. The bakery specializes in grain-free handmade treats for your furry friends, including adorable treats and birthday cakes.
Those considering adopting a pet could visit Wags and Wishes Dog Rescue. The volunteers at Wags and Wishes dedicate themselves to saving abused and neglected dogs.
The Shows
The interactive shows at the Etowah Wildlife Expo made the event memorable. A crowd favorite, the Dixie DockDogs Diving Competition, allowed local dogs to show off their retrieving skills. While some dogs look like they won’t jump two inches for a donut, others can jump eighteen feet and beyond.
![](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=604298cee33787db841c57de5e8b8434 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=64f3ccfd8ad3cfb75bbd76fb57b332be 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9b66878639414420ea50962cb3311859 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=2e9179890869b51d7f04a59d95144bc2 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=edf2760da9c71f64b9f67f8f9a21fc0d 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=ee4053a8a8e9a8bae10b0e56982b4877 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=e6024d3dded1f334fed9f49d62d12fa1 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=49557b3a71fcddbbfd7cee5db42391ea 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/DOCK-DOGS-31_2024-04-08-175300_yuie.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=4266eda1969fc5e7d4d5d0cdd6c6e43b 3840w)
Canton resident Taylor Uliana entered her dogs into the dock diving contest and shared, “We had so much fun! I’m so thankful we have events like this to look forward to in Canton now.”
The falconry show impressed the audience as birds soared overhead, eliciting “oohs” and “ahhs.” The reptile show featured massive slithering snakes and other less-cuddly members of the animal kingdom while the reptile handlers debunked many myths about reptiles.
![](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2779b484fb4253339954a8563ff90fa2 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=48329f5fc44f1050dc7536a7b77fdc72 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d465b2c41fb9fc2dbfd18c14bf18a584 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=6e7a000ed31859496338f3d6434dc227 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=17ba63c9b4ebd7760c1f3225681c98d5 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=8d86d470b102c7e83deaa3047cd39244 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=68c8f38951d9d607ef7f67dd87092b20 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=fa419ff44e03864ca80d747f3d45acde 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=3d1dab22a61bb985195e61d087c7d31b 3840w)
The Sounds
There was live music as the sun went down on the expo on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Saturday brought the exuberant sounds of Swamptooth, a bluegrass band out of Savannah, Georgia. Mixing bluegrass and traditional Southern strings, the band’s beats had people, especially the kiddos, up and dancing. On Sunday, singer Chad Patterson took the stage with his signature spin on his musical inspirations, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, James Taylor, and other classics.
Summing Up Etowah Wildlife Expo 2024
This year’s Wildlife Expo was a tremendous success! It was a diverse and exciting event catered to people of all ages and interests. The organizers are already hard at work planning to make next year’s expo even more spectacular.
![Etowah Wildlife Expo 2024 at the Mill on Etowah in Canton, GA](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=62c195cb348c306deb0cd9fa97278bdd 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=746072e96cf8b667a414023c2bc28afa 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5031ba650de1b9caf5c5b536dbe90677 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=30ba13d375494b3e3db3b7a737d44c59 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a5d54364f1b4d43982b1c057ea948f27 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=20cf765774f54975514e23582626e8cc 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=ebfc9aeba0cedd3b19c230367ac5c45b 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=36d2032deafa5da9ee63ebdac202a818 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/SAFARI-SHOW-5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=f616884669e2eb359b20c2693aa1aa08 3840w)