More than 150 corgis from eight states will trot, waddle and sprint across Renaissance Park next Saturday as the Charlotte Corgi Club hosts a racing championship, a community event that has quietly grown from a small meetup into one of the East Coast's largest gatherings dedicated to the short-legged breed. The club has donated more than $5,000 to local rescues and organizations since it launched in 2019, and this year's event continues that mission, with raffle proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of Charlotte.
The racing championship, set for October 17 at Renaissance Park on West Tyvola Road, will include more than 120 corgis and kicks off at 10 a.m. with food trucks and vendors on site, according to WBTV. The event has expanded into the largest Corgi racing event on the East Coast, drawing competitors from eight states, per Partners For Parks. The race is co-organized alongside Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and features an All Breeds / Friends of Corgis division so dogs of any pedigree can join the fun, according to the county's recreation listing.
From a Chicago Move to a Charlotte Community Staple
Julie Sippy founded the Charlotte Corgi Club in 2019 shortly after she and her husband relocated from Chicago, bringing her own two corgis along for the ride, per WBTV's report. Sippy said all dogs are welcome at club events, not just corgis, and the group has hosted everything from a Corgi Prom to a Halloween parade, along with races that routinely draw more than 100 of the stubby-legged dogs. Members have also shown up together at Charlotte Knights games and hockey matches, turning the club into a fixture of local sports crowds as much as dog parks.
Caroline Johnston, a member of the club, said it provides a community for people who love corgis, while fellow member Rob Berongi said he has made new friends through the group, according to the same WBTV account. Sippy described the club's goal as helping people feel connected to Charlotte and build a sense of community, and the organization has continued to grow each year since its founding.
Helene's Toll Still Shapes the Club's Fundraising
The club's charitable focus traces back to the destruction Hurricane Helene caused in Asheville in late September 2024, when floodwaters completely destroyed Brother Wolf Animal Rescue's physical shelter and forced the emergency evacuation of all 150 animals housed there, according to Bloomerang. In the storm's aftermath, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of Charlotte coordinated an emergency relocation that transported 44 rescued dogs and cats from Brother Wolf in Asheville to Charlotte for adoption, per the ASPCA. The Charlotte Corgi Club donated to Brother Wolf and other rescues across the Asheville area in response, according to WBTV, and the group hosts raffles and fundraisers to support local rescue organizations.
This year's championship will direct raffle proceeds to the Humane Society of Charlotte, which operates out of a 26,000-square-foot Animal Resource Center at 1348 Parker Drive that opened in 2022 following a $15 million donor-funded capital campaign, according to Pride Magazine. The need remains significant: 10,800 animals entered the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control shelter in 2025, even as the Humane Society of Charlotte achieved a 99% live release rate, per data cited by fftc:FWD. In Charlotte, the annual licensing fee is $10 for dogs, cats and ferrets.
A Big Park Built for a Big Crowd
Renaissance Park's 135 acres make it well suited to host the growing spectacle, with a dedicated off-leash dog park, mountain bike trails, disc golf and a 4,000-square-foot skate park rounding out the regional facility, according to Fun 4 Charlotte Kids. The club's event attendance has grown year after year. Food trucks and vendor booths line the park on race day.
The breed's popularity helps explain the community's staying power. The club posts updates about the race and other corgi events on its Instagram page for anyone hoping to join in or just watch the chaos unfold.
