Get In Touch. And teenage girls vied to be crowned Miss Snake Charmer. 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Theres no waste, he said. I'd love to have that discussion. 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. Adults: $5. Rattlesnake Roundup Parade March 10, 2022. Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. This is the start of their holiday weekend. All Rights Reserved. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Rattlesnake roundups take 2 different approaches, drawing praise and scorn. Visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 1.8 miles away from the Sweetwater city center killed one person and injured 100 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.. On 5/24/1968, a category F3 tornado 15.9 . Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. 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. The dunes of the Little Sahara in Little Sahara State Park are the perfect place to ride ATVs. Extra measures included hand sanitizer and regular wiping down of all areas and tour buses. Publication of festival information does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with Everfest. "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. 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. Admission: none Days/Hours Open: All Days 8am6pm Address: 110 E. 15th Street, Sweetwater, TX 79556 Other Activities: sweetwater lions club car show, sweetwater rattlesnake roundup Attendance: 9,000 # Food Booths: 20 # of Exhibitors: 235 Juried: no Prize Money: na Deadlines: Art & Craft: 03/01/2023 Music: na Food: 03/01/2023 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 . A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. This does put us on the map, she said. Handlers grabbed them safely behind the jaws so children could stroke them up close. FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skinned rattlesnakes during 57th. There was also a guided hunt on the outskirts of town, a carnival parade and a gun show. Visitors and news crews from around the nation and the globe frequently are seen perusing the snake pits at Nolan County Coliseum. The Fascinating Underwater World and the Legacy of Jacques Cousteau Free High-Quality Documentaries 50th Annual Freer Rattlesnake Round-Up Wolters World 2.2M views 6 years ago 10 Most Beautiful. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . Restrooms and free warm showers are available. For more information, please contact. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Apache's will follow on April 15-18. 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. The 21st Annual Jaycee Roosters Motorcycle Rally and Cook-off and Swap Meet will be held atSweetwater Lake Park in Sweetwater, Texas from April 15, 2022 to April 17, 2022. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. | Austin, TX. What is advertised as the "World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup" draws about 25,000 visitors annually to the town of Sweetwater, a community in Texas made up of a little over 10,000 people. For Immediate Release, February 28, 2022 Contact: Elise Bennett, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org . Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. The 63rd World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup - which also sees the crowning of a Miss Snake Charmer beauty queen - went ahead after the state lifted virtually all Covid restrictions last week. Theres 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Several vendors, and swap meet vendors will be available around the park. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Is this your event? 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. Rounding Up Sweetwater. You "We certainly haven't made the population extinct by any stretch of the imagination. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. But perhaps most importantly, we will show theres a better way, that it is possible to stop slaughtering snakes without losing their festivals or the income they generate. It arose as a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes that were killing livestock and pets of inhabitants of the community. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. And it took four men to hold the largest wriggling reptiles down on a table so they could be measured for the biggest snake contest. 209.239.116.57 Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). NOLAN COUNTY COLISEUM Sweetwater, TX Terry Locklar General Manager - Marketing Director 220 Coliseum Drive. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. 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. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her home town. Thousands of people,. FREER, Texas - The largest festival of the year in one South Texas city took a deadly turn after a . There's literally no waste, he said. Sweetwater has some amazing attractions hosted throughout the year! Your User ID or Password reset link will be sent to you. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. Active/retired military, $5 (with valid military ID); Ages 5-12, $5; 4 and under, free.. Back row Left to right: Del Riley, Blake Stephens, David Sager, Miss Texas, Mallory Fuller, Chris Thomas, Dee Thomas, Cody Cox. The town of 11,000 is expected to swell to about 30,000 during the festival, which runs from Friday through Sunday, said Dennis Cumbie, one of the organizers. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP) An annual rattlesnake roundup in south Georgia recently changed the format of this months event to celebrate living snakes without skinning and butchering them, earning plaudits from animal rights activists. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. (Courtney Sacco/Odessa American via AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . This year's winner, Avery Schiffner, 16, greeted festival-goers with a live rattlesnake coiled round her neck. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. Depending on the weather, or even a pandemic, the town's population. 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. But on the first weekend after Easter, they become a platform for this tough annual raceThe Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt. This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a great user experience. Heads are pickled in jars complete with exposed fangs, while the flesh is chopped into nuggets and deep fried. Emergency crews responding to southwest Lubbock apartment fire, Woman trapped in vehicle after crash on I-27 involving semi, Semi crash on South Loop leaves one person moderately injured, Noon Notebook: LFR to participate in 48-marathon, Noon Notebook: 34th annual Mayors' Beans & Cornbread Luncheon, Tell Me Something Good - Wednesday, March 1. //-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. "That's my favorite part because they've got such neat stories to tell," McCann said. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; Ridin . Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. 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. Theres literally no waste, he said. $5 Jackpot beans and $10 Jalapeno Poppers. SWEETWATER, TEXAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP - YouTube 0:00 / 8:15 SWEETWATER, TEXAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP 37,579 views Apr 10, 2018 330 Dislike Share Save Mark Lotterhand 2.13K subscribers Unchecked. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Box 1148 Sweetwater, Texas 79556; 325-235-5488; 800-658-6757; Stay In Touch . There's even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. Dates: March 10th - 12th, 2023. 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. Exact attendance figures are unknown because many people such as children are admitted free, but Ive heard anywhere from 7,000 to 15,000, said longtime volunteer Jeffrey Cox, who has been helping to organize the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup for the past four decades. If it's the second weekend in March, that means it's time for the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. Meat judges are needed, so feel free to volunteer. It's the biggest event in this town every year," Cumbie said. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. 79556. 2022, at the Rattlesnake Roundup Grounds in Whigham. Winds WSW at 25 to 35 mph. 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 of the organizers. Exact attendance figures are unknown because many people such as children are admitted free, but I've heard anywhere from 7,000 to 15,000, said longtime volunteer Jeffrey Cox, who has been helping to organize the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup for the past four decades. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. Rattlesnakes are symbols of freedom and independence; teaching that snakes are scary and useless minimizes their significance in our cultural and ecological heritage.. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever," he said. FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skinned rattlesnakes during 57th Sweetwater Jaycees World Largest Rattlesnake Round-up at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater Texas, March 14, 2015. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a14f7458b5429f1 TX 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.. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. Up to age 12: Free with . 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. Mar 7, 2022 / . The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan . 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. 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. The snakes' skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Begun in 1958 as a means for controlling the rattlesnake population in the area, the roundup has become a major annual driver for the Sweetwater economy. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot.". 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. Festival-goers were encouraged to wear masks but they were not compulsory and few people actually did. We learn how you can have fun at the event even if you want to stay clear of the snakes. A mix of light freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late. Nolan County Coliseum A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. Go here to update it. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. But there is much more to the story that we need to tell. 1 seriously injured in rollover on South Loop near Quaker Ave. This does put us on the map, she said. The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. The event is a fundraiser for local youth programs. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. Courtesy photo The Sweetwater Jaycee's famed Rattlesnake Roundup is set for March 11-14 at Nolan County Coliseum, where just west of Abilene this weekend, scores of snake wranglers will risk a . Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Join Now: Vendors | Artists | Already PRO? Cumbie is the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. 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. 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.. Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . Feared and misunderstood creatures historically, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup Media day ; Ridin the largest festival of Little... Raffles, will happen April 23-25 heads are pickled in jars complete with exposed fangs, the! This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com festival... 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