The same is true in the south Alabama town of Opp, where an annual rattlesnake festival that has drawn thousands for nearly six decades opens on 25 March. var linktext = username + "@" + hostname; Guided Snake Hunt - Friday Friday, March 11th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. The festival started in 1958 and runs annually during the second weekend of March in the city of Sweetwater in Central Texas. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Plans for the "World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup" this weekend in the Texas town of Sweetwater are full-scale ahead, with snakes set to be skinned and others "milked" of their venom . There's literally no waste, he said. Since 1958, the Sweetwater Jaycees has hosted the largest rattlesnake roundup in the world. Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Plans for the Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Roundup this weekend in the Texas town of Sweetwater are full-steam ahead, with snakes set to be skinned and others milked of their venom. Theres no waste, he said. Served with ranch or blue cheese and celery. Active/retired military, $5 (with valid military ID); Ages 5-12, $5; 4 and under, free.. Go here to update it. Activists hope that change such as those made by the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will inspire others to follow in their. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. A few rattlesnake roundups still persist, the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said in a statement full of scorn for the Texas festival, which is notorious for openly killing and skinning western diamondback rattlesnakes by the hundreds in front of crowds.. Nolan County Coliseum1699 Cypress St Sweetwater, TX, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. All rights reserved. Sweetwater, Texas 79556 325-235-3484 - Office nolancountycoliseum@gmail.com Snake hunts are offered throughout the day at nearby locales, and audience members will alsohavethe chance to skin a rattlesnakeas well asdine on the reptile's deep-fried meat. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. 209.239.116.57 Sweetwater has held its rattlesnake roundup for more than six decades, and what we have figured out over 64 years is that were not damaging the population of the snakes whatsoever, Cumbie said. Rattlesnake Roundup Parade March 10, 2022. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what we've had.. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. Hunters gather the snakes there's a contest for those capturing the largest ones and they're brought to the Nolan County Coliseum, where multiple parts of the snakes are harvested, Cumbie said. Windy with lots of sunshine. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. Now, as director of the Sweetwater and Nolan county chamber of commerce, Hunt fields calls from people in England, Germany and other parts of the world inquiring about the festival and making plans to visit. 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . Depending on the weather, or even a pandemic, the town's population. Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. They also show the huge divide in how they are seen by some, with the Georgia festival heralded by animal advocates and the Texas roundup shamed. They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. All Rights Reserved. Our feature-length documentary, Rounding Up Sweetwater, will debunk both the pseudo-science used to justify roundups as well as negative . McCann admitted the event was a test of how the state can open up safely and there are "lots of eyes on us". Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. We want everybody to come and see us and see what we're doing.". What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Windy with partly cloudy skies. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. We will be donating the first month of each new vendor & artist subscription to the Austin Justice Coalition. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend, Saturday March 12, 2022 in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. Hunters gather the snakes theres a contest for those capturing the largest ones and theyre brought to the Nolan County Coliseum, where multiple parts of the snakes are harvested, Cumbie said. Sweetwater Jaycees Rattle Staid State Capitol with Snakes Miss Snake Charmer 2023 Contestants Attend Pageant Tea Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, SEED, City of Sweetwater, NFC Partner to Bring Free Fitness Court to Newman Park SISD Transfers SHS Interim Principalship to Kathy Smartt Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; City Council Hears . Publication of festival information does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with Everfest. The snakes' skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. All rights reserved. Rattlesnake Bites: $10 We flash freeze the meat from our Rattlesnake Roundup, season, batter, and deep fry it to a golden brown. Visitors and news crews from around the nation and the globe frequently are seen perusing the snake pits at Nolan County Coliseum. Yes, we're the rattlesnake town, they would say. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. For Immediate Release, February 28, 2022 Contact: Elise Bennett, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org . In 2021, the Sweetwater Roundup caught 3,682 pounds of rattlesnakes. The roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Mar 7, 2022 / . I'd love to have that discussion. Sweetwater, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Sweetwater Jaycees visited the Texas State Capitol Building this week to promote public awareness of rattlesnakes in advance of the 63rd World's Largest Rattlesnake Round up. Nolan County Coliseum FNdocumentWrite("") The 21st Annual Jaycee Roosters Motorcycle Rally and Cook-off and Swap Meet will be held at Sweetwater Lake Park in Sweetwater, Texas from April 15, 2022 to April 17, 2022. While 24,262 pounds of rattlesnakes were bought at the expo in Sweetwater, there were still about 75,000 pounds of rattlesnakes left over, as reported by the . They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. FREER, Texas - The largest festival of the year in one South Texas city took a deadly turn after a . He's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. Click to reveal All rights reserved. The snakes skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Roundup visitors will see educational programs about the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake common to West Texas, as well as watching handlers milk the snakes of their venom. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. People of the small town of Claxton, Georgia transformed their rattlesnake roundup into the Claxton Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival, a festival where they promote conservation and education instead of fear and misconceptions. Dates: March 10th - 12th, 2023. A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. Its very much part of our culture.. Performance & security by Cloudflare. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Continue with Recommended Cookies. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. "We were the biggest event going on in the country, which was rather scary when you think about it, before everything kind of shut down," said Rob McCann, public relations director for the Sweetwater Jaycees. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. . "That's my favorite part because they've got such neat stories to tell," McCann said. Plans for the Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Roundup this weekend in the Texas town of Sweetwater are full-scale ahead, with snakes set to be skinned and others milked of their venom. There's even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. We encourage you to join us and consider supporting the Austin Justice Coalition or the organization leading the ongoing movement for accountability and change in your community. Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. Join Now: Vendors | Artists | Already PRO? Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. The same is true in the south Alabama town of Opp, where an annual rattlesnake festival that has drawn thousands for nearly six decades opens March 25. Texas rattlesnake butchering festival continues despite objections A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition A. But on the first weekend after Easter, they become a platform for this tough annual raceThe Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Theres literally no waste, he said. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. While organizers say the snake hunters who bring in big rattlers get rid of nuisance reptiles, opponents say Eastern diamondback snakes are declining in population. Full hindquarter, seasoned and grilled. Our feature-length documentary, Rounding Up Sweetwater, will debunk both the pseudo-science used to justify roundups as well as negative stereotypes about rattlesnakes used to demonize them. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. There's even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer.The town of 11,000 is expected to swell to around 30,000 during the festival that runs Friday through Sunday, said Dennis Cumbie, one . In addition to Okeene, four other western Oklahoma towns will revive their rattlesnake hunts and festivals this month after being canceled last year. Every March, what's billed as the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup brings an estimated 25,000 visitors to Sweetwater,. "We certainly haven't made the population extinct by any stretch of the imagination. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. This is the start of their holiday weekend. Visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats. Around two and a half tons of western diamondback rattlesnakes are rounded up each year for the festival, which was founded in 1958 as a way to control the population. Wing Dings: $8 1 lb. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. It's the biggest event in this town every year," Cumbie said. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot.". Sweetwater Jaycees Rattlesnake Round Up 2023 Nolan County Colisuem 220 Coliseum Drive, Sweetwater, TX Sat 11 March 11 Downtown Lions Club Car Show Thu 23 March 23 - March 25 Ranger College Rodeo at Nolan County Coliseum Nolan County Colisuem 220 Coliseum Drive, Sweetwater, TX Fri 24 March 24 - March 26 Rattlesnake Gravel Grind 810 E Broadway P.O. Animal rights activists praised an annual rattlesnake roundup in south Georgia that recently changed the format of this months event to celebrate living snakes without skinning and butchering them. Sweetwater Rattlesnake RoundUp March 10 - 12, 2023 Nolan County Coliseum Sweetwater, TX 79556 Status: Updated 12/5/2022 Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Rattlesnake Round Up Admission: none Days/Hours Open: Thu 4:30pm9pm, Fri 8am5pm, Sat 8am6pm, Sun 8am5pm Address: 1699 Cypress Street, Sweetwater, TX 79556 Entertainment: 1 stage - Local. Ronald Erdrich is the photojournalist and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Plans for the "World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup" this weekend in the Texas town of Sweetwater are full-scale ahead, with snakes set to be skinned and others "milked" of their venom.. Enter the email address you used when you joined. The dunes of the Little Sahara in Little Sahara State Park are the perfect place to ride ATVs. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. This does put us on the map, she said. Come join the fun and check it out. And in Sweetwater, Texas: cancel the rattlesnake festival? Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Where: Nolan County Coliseum, 220 Coliseum Drive Cost: Adults $10. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.. . 64th Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater March 11-13, 5:00-10:00 carnival - $35 all day pass (carnival rides only) or $100 all weekend pass (carnival only), 7:00 PM Miss Snake Charmer Pageant at Municipal Auditorium 201 E 4th Street - adult ticket $10, student ticket $5, Tickets prices: adults $10, active/retired military $5 with valid ID, children 5-12 $5, children 4 and under free, 9:00-6:00 Sweetwater rifle and Pistol Club Gun, Knife, and Coin Show with $5 entry, children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult, 8:00-5:00 Sweetwater Lions Club Flea Market, 10:00 Guided Snake Hunts - Must sign up prior and must have valid hunting license, 2:00PM - 12:00 AM Carnival - $35 all day pass for rides and tickets $1, 9:00-6:00 Sweetwater Rifle and Pistol Club Gun, Knife, and Coin Show with $5 entry, children 12 & under free when accompanied by an adult, 10:00AM - 12:00 AM Carnival - $35 all day pass for rides or tickets $1, 8:00 PM Dance at the Jaycee Barn at 307 W 4th Street - $20 per person and cooler charge $5 small $10 large, 4:00 Longest Snake Contest and Most Pounds Entered Awards, 9:00-5:00 Sweetwater Rifle and Pistol Club Gun, Coin, and Knife Show - $5 entry fee, children 12& under free when accompanied by an adult, 10:00AM-8:00PM Carnival - $35 day pass for carnival rides or tickets $1. 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