Mill Spring, North Carolina • November 19–21, 2026
Three days. Two specialties. Hundreds of Pembrokes, sweepstakes, juniors, Fast CAT, and herding — the Carolinas’ biggest Corgi weekend, all at Tryon.
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What is this show?
The Palmetto Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club, Inc. — an AKC-licensed regional affiliate of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America serving the Carolinas — holds its 36th and 37th independent specialty shows November 19–21, 2026, at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. It is the region’s biggest Pembroke weekend of the year.
The weekend opens Thursday with puppy and veteran sweepstakes, followed by two full days of conformation — the 36th specialty on Friday and the 37th on Saturday — plus Junior Showmanship (offered for the first time this year), 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy, a three-day Fast CAT trial, and herding testing with CGC and Trick Dog. All conformation judging is indoors.
At a glance
- Where: Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Boulevard, Mill Spring, NC 28756 (all judging indoors)
- When: Thursday, November 19 – Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Entries close: 12:00 noon, Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Superintendent: MB-F Inc. (entries via InfoDog)
- Entry fee: $38 first entry, $28 each additional entry; $28 sweepstakes; $15 4–6 Month Puppy & Juniors
- Friday judge: Diane Sprung · Saturday judge: Joanne McCann
- Show hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM each day
Why go?
You don’t have to be showing a dog to get something out of specialty weekend. Here’s what makes it worth the trip:
Two specialties, one trip. The 36th specialty (Friday, Diane Sprung) and the 37th (Saturday, Joanne McCann) give you two full days of breed judging — plus Thursday’s puppy and veteran sweepstakes (Linda Williams).
Meet breeders, not just dogs. Regional specialty weekends draw the Carolinas’ Pembroke breeders in force. If you’re thinking about adding a Corgi to your family — or your breeding program — this is where you meet them in person.
Fast CAT on the Derby Field. A three-day Fast CAT trial (Time To Fly) runs Friday through Sunday alongside the specialty — and Pembrokes get entry preference, so your dog can run between rings.
More than conformation. Herding testing, CGC, and Trick Dog with On The Lamb on Friday and Saturday; Fit Dog; a welcome party Thursday evening; and a closing banquet Saturday night at an on-site restaurant.
Tryon itself. The Tryon International Equestrian Center is one of the premier horse-show venues in the country — world-class facilities, on-site lodging, and the Blue Ridge foothills as a backdrop.
Day by day
The schedule is subject to change — the club posts updates at ppwcc.org/club-events/specialty-info.
- Thursday, Nov. 19 — Puppy Sweepstakes & Veteran Sweepstakes (Judge Linda Williams, time to be announced); Welcome Party in the evening at the show site.
- Friday, Nov. 20 — 36th Specialty Show conformation (Judge Diane Sprung); Fast CAT trial day 1; herding testing, CGC, Trick Dog with On The Lamb.
- Saturday, Nov. 21 — 37th Specialty Show conformation (Judge Joanne McCann); 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy; Junior Showmanship; Fast CAT trial day 2; Closing Banquet in the evening at an on-site restaurant.
- Sunday, Nov. 22 — Fast CAT trial day 3 (no conformation).
Who’s judging?
The judging panel, announced by the Palmetto Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club:
- Friday conformation — 36th Specialty: Diane Sprung
- Saturday conformation — 37th Specialty: Joanne McCann
- Puppy & Veteran Sweepstakes (Thursday): Linda Williams
- Junior Showmanship: John Schoeneman
- 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy (Saturday): Joanne McCann
Note: Novice and Amateur-Owner-Handler conformation classes are not offered this year. Full ring times arrive with the official judging program. Find it on the ThePetAdvisor show page for this event.
How to enter (entries close November 4)
Entries close at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, through superintendent MB-F Inc. — online at InfoDog or by mail to Barbara Hughes, Event Secretary, c/o MB-F, Inc., P.O. Box 22107, Greensboro, NC 27420.
For reference, 2026 entry fees: $38 for the first conformation entry (includes the $4.50 AKC recording & service fee) and $28 for each additional entry of the same dog; puppy, Bred-by-Exhibitor, and veteran classes $28 as a first entry; sweepstakes and veteran sweepstakes $28 (dogs must also be entered in a regular class Friday or Saturday); 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy $15; Junior Showmanship $15. Sweepstakes are open to Pembrokes 6 months and under 18 months; champions at closing are not eligible. The full fee table is in the official premium list (PDF).
Staying at Tryon
The specialty is held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Boulevard, Mill Spring, NC 28756 — in the Blue Ridge foothills, about 90 minutes west of Charlotte.
Book all Tryon IEC lodging (hotel rooms, cabins, RV sites) and golf cart rentals by calling the facility directly at (828) 863-1015 and referencing discount code 2611PEMBRO — the discount applies only to direct phone bookings, not online reservations.
- Host hotel — Overmountain Lodge (on site): $149 per night including breakfast and WiFi, plus a one-time $30 pet fee per room.
- Cabins: one, three, and five-bedroom cabins available through the same booking number; a block of rooms at the Stable House Inn is also available at a lower rate.
- RV sites: full hookup, $50 per night.
Reserved grooming spaces (about 4 × 6 feet, with electricity) and specialty catalogs can be reserved through the club’s RSVP page, along with spots at the welcome party and closing banquet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Palmetto Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club specialty?
It is the annual independent specialty weekend of the Palmetto Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club, Inc., an AKC-licensed regional affiliate of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America serving the Carolinas. The 2026 edition is the club’s 36th and 37th specialty shows.
When and where is the 2026 Palmetto Corgi specialty?
November 19–21, 2026, at Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Boulevard, Mill Spring, North Carolina. Puppy and veteran sweepstakes run Thursday, November 19; the 36th specialty is Friday, November 20, and the 37th specialty is Saturday, November 21. All judging is indoors.
Are entries still open for the 2026 Palmetto Corgi specialty?
Yes — entries close at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, through superintendent MB-F Inc. (entries online at InfoDog or by mail to the event secretary). Conformation entry fees are $38 for the first entry and $28 for each additional entry; puppy and Bred-by-Exhibitor classes are $28 as a first entry.
Who is judging the Palmetto Corgi specialty in 2026?
Diane Sprung judges the Friday conformation (36th specialty) and Joanne McCann judges the Saturday conformation (37th specialty) plus the 4–6 Month Beginner Puppy competition. Linda Williams judges the puppy and veteran sweepstakes, and John Schoeneman judges Junior Showmanship.
Can I attend the Palmetto Corgi specialty if I did not enter a dog?
Yes. Dog shows are open to the public, and spectators are welcome at the rings. If you love Pembrokes, this is one of the best places in the Southeast to see top dogs and meet breeders.
Where do exhibitors stay for the Palmetto Corgi specialty?
Book all Tryon IEC lodging (hotel rooms, cabins, RV sites) by calling the facility at (828) 863-1015 and referencing discount code 2611PEMBRO — the discount applies only to direct phone bookings. The host hotel is the on-site Overmountain Lodge at $149 per night including breakfast and WiFi, plus a one-time $30 pet fee. RV sites with full hookups are $50 per night.
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