SWEETWATER, Texas (KCBD) - The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11 through 13 at the Nolan County Coliseum, located at 220 Coliseum Drive in Sweetwater. Waurika and Waynoka will hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. 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. Its very much part of our culture.. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. 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. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot.". Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. 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. Adults: $5. We want everybody to come and see us and see what we're doing.". var username = "info"; There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. McCann admitted the event was a test of how the state can open up safely and there are "lots of eyes on us". What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Restrooms and free warm showers are available. A mix of light freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. This is the start of their holiday weekend. 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. Windy with lots of sunshine. But on the first weekend after Easter, they become a platform for this tough annual raceThe Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt. 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 . If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. 2022, at the Rattlesnake Roundup Grounds in Whigham. Oklahoma. Meat judges are needed, so feel free to volunteer. He's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. Come join the fun and check it out. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. | Austin, TX. The hungriest competitors went head to head in the eating contest. Apache's will follow on April 15-18. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; Served with ranch or blue cheese and celery. Besides renewables, Sweetwater is also known for hosting special events that attract tourists. Thursday March 11, 2021 4:30 pm Rattlesnake Parade5:00 pm-10:00 pm CarnivalAll day pass - $30.00 (all you can ride) Carnival onlyWeekend pass $60.00 (sold only on Thursday) Carnival onlyTicke After seeing firsthand what goes on in Sweetwater every year, we know there is a better way. $5 Jackpot beans and $10 Jalapeno Poppers. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. TX Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. You Get In Touch. (Courtney Sacco/Odessa American via AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The festival has been criticized by animal rights and environmental groups for the way the snakes are rounded up using gasoline fumes to drive them from their dens. Nolan County Coliseum1699 Cypress St Sweetwater, TX, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. All rights reserved. SWEETWATER JAYCEES World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup March 10, 11, 12 2023 Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. The move ends Georgia's inhumane rattlesnake roundup legacy. It arose as a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes that were killing livestock and pets of inhabitants of the community. Box 1148 Sweetwater, Texas 79556; 325-235-5488; 800-658-6757; Stay In Touch . 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. 810 E Broadway P.O. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. I'd love to have that discussion. 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. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. The dunes of the Little Sahara in Little Sahara State Park are the perfect place to ride ATVs. The diamond rattlesnake managed to secure a festival of its own in Sweetwater, Texas, and people absolutely love it. Rattlesnake Roundup Parade March 10, 2022. 1 seriously injured in rollover on South Loop near Quaker Ave. 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. 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. Visitors and news crews from around the nation and the globe frequently are seen perusing the snake pits at Nolan County Coliseum. This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . This does put us on the map, she said. Its very much part of our culture.. Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. 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 The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. 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. He told the Abilene Reporter-News: "We welcome that. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan . Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Where: Nolan County Coliseum, 220 Coliseum Drive Cost: Adults $10. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Wing Dings: $8 1 lb. 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 Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her home town. 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.. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Go here to update it. 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. Front Row L to R: Sylvia Martinez of Snyder HS, Jasimen Courtney of Snyder HS Miss Snake Charmer 2022 Macy Newberry of Sweetwater HS, . But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. To register for a guided hunt, you first need to purchase a ticket online, then you need to show up early on the day you purchased a ticket to hunt and sign up with hunter registration located at the back of the coliseum by the weigh-in area. Guided Snake Hunt - Friday Friday, March 11th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. You Full hindquarter, seasoned and grilled. SWEETWATER, Texas (KCBD) - The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11 through 13 at the Nolan County Coliseum, located at 220 Coliseum Drive in Sweetwater. If it's the second weekend in March, that means it's time for the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. 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. 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. . Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Everfest stands in solidarity with the Black community and supports the fight for justice and equality. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; City Council Hears . 2023 www.reporternews.com. If its the second weekend in March, that means its time for the Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . Several vendors, and swap meet vendors will be available around the park. 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. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. The bloodiest part is the skinning pit, where people can try their hand at pulling off the pelts - which are preserved and used as leather. 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. A contestant at the Miss Snake Charmer pageant poses at the 2021 rattlesnake roundup. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Sweetwater has held its rattlesnake roundup for more than six decades, and what we have figured out over 64 years is that we're not damaging the population of the snakes whatsoever, Cumbie said. var linktext = username + "@" + hostname; We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what we've had.. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 Thousands of people,. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. 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 . 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. 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. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot., 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. Sweetwater has held its rattlesnake roundup for more than six decades, "and what we have figured out over 64 years is that we're not damaging the population of the snakes whatsoever," Cumbie. Yes, we're the rattlesnake town, they would say. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a14f7458b5429f1 Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. 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 Bites: $10 We flash freeze the meat from our Rattlesnake Roundup, season, batter, and deep fry it to a golden brown. World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up in Sweetwater, Texas - YouTube 0:00 / 16:54 World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up in Sweetwater, Texas 14,062 views Mar 18, 2021 161 Dislike. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.. . 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. The event is a fundraiser for local youth programs. Dates: March 10th - 12th, 2023. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. 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. 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 following is the full schedule for the 2022 Rattlesnake Roundup: Thursday March 10, 2022: 4:30 pm Rattlesnake Parade 5:00 pm-10:00 pm Carnival All day pass - $35.00 (all you can ride) Carnival only Weekend pass $100.00 (sold only on Thursday) Carnival only Tickets - $1.00 each 7:00 pm Miss Snake Charmer Pageant Adults - $10.00 Students - $5.00 209.239.116.57 There's even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. This does put us on the map, she said. 231 subscribers 2020 rattlesnake roundup Sweetwater texas music: solitude musician: rook1e music:acoustic guitar 1 musician: music by audionautix.com Limited-time offer - $30 off Explore 85+. The city's farmers and ranchers rose and banded together to eradicate rattlesnakes. //-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. 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. A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. Visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats. ", 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Katie Tyson, 18, runner up in the Miss Snake Charmer pageant, poses in the snake pit in Sweetwater, Texas, Hundreds of western diamondback rattlesnakes are rounded up each year, Festival-goers can try their hand at beheading and skinning snakes, Avery Schiffner, 16, was crowned Miss Snake Charmer 2021, Kids watch in awe as a handler picks up one of the venomous reptiles, It takes four men to hold down the biggest snakes so they can be measured, The skinning pit is one of the highlights of the Rattlesnake Roundup, Around two and a half tons of snakes are killed each year, Heads displayed on a table ready to be preserved, The heads are pickled in jars with the fangs exposed, A festival-goer skins a rattlesnake during the 2021 Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Those who have skinned a snake are invited to make a bloody hand print on the wall, The flesh is deep fried and served as nuggets, Competitors take part in the eating contest, The festival dates back to 1958, when farmers wanted a way to control the snake population, A guided snake hunt on the outskirts of Sweetwater, Kaleb Merritt, ten, skins a snake he caught on the hunt, Hundreds of rattlesnakes are caught and killed each year, Python breaks through toilet ceiling at restaurant in Thailand. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. 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. 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. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Team Calcutta-50% payback. Nolan County Coliseum Enter the email address you used when you joined. They come here every single year.". 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.. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. All rights reserved. Doors open Friday at 8 a.m., cost is $10 for adults, $5 for active/retired military and $5 for children ages 5-12, with those 4 and under free. Sweetwater has some amazing attractions hosted throughout the year! Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. There's literally no waste, he said. Festival-goers were encouraged to wear masks but they were not compulsory and few people actually did. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The snakes skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. SWEETWATER, Texas (KCBD) - The 64th Annual Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11 through 13 at the Nolan County Coliseum, located at 220 Coliseum Drive in Sweetwater. 70% payback. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. "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. Rounding Up Sweetwater started out as a short student film project to capture the worlds largest rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. Your IP: The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. Make sure to contact Nancy High at (325) 236-5460 if you are . 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox added. Rattlesnake roundups take 2 different approaches, drawing praise and scorn. This does put us on the map, she said. In 2021, the Sweetwater Roundup caught 3,682 pounds of rattlesnakes. It's very much part of our culture.". Ronald Erdrich is the photojournalist and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News. Theres no waste, he said. Depending on the weather, or even a pandemic, the towns population beginning Friday could swell from about 11,000 to nearly 40,000 through Sunday. The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show Adults: $5 Up to age 12: Free with. And in Sweetwater, Texas: cancel the rattlesnake festival? 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 . Activists hope that change such as those made by the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will inspire others to follow in their. "We have a family that comes from Australia. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. Theres literally no waste, he said. There was also a guided hunt on the outskirts of town, a carnival parade and a gun show. 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 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. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. . FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skinned rattlesnakes during 57th. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. 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. 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. Guided Snake Hunt - Saturday Saturday, March 12th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. 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. Must be an Everfest PRO member to view contact info. 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. The festival started in 1958 and runs annually during the second weekend of March in the city of Sweetwater in Central Texas. Afterwards, they are butchered for their meat, skin and venom and sold to anyone who can make use of them. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; Ridin . This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a great user experience. FNdocumentWrite("") FREER, Texas - The largest festival of the year in one South Texas city took a deadly turn after a . 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. All rights reserved. For Sweetwater, the festival brings in a reported $8.3 million for the town. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. 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. Rattlesnakes are symbols of freedom and independence; teaching that snakes are scary and useless minimizes their significance in our cultural and ecological heritage.. And teenage girls vied to be crowned Miss Snake Charmer. marketplace | privacypolicy | contactus, Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Rattlesnake Round Up, Thu 4:30pm9pm, Fri 8am5pm, Sat 8am6pm, Sun 8am5pm, 1699 Cypress Street, Sweetwater, TX 79556. High 74F. For Immediate Release, February 28, 2022 Contact: Elise Bennett, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org . The granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. Handlers grabbed them safely behind the jaws so children could stroke them up close. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Hes the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. Texas Governor Greg Abbott lifted a mandate requiring face masks and limits on bars and restaurants from March 10, just in time for the 2021 roundup. The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. But there is much more to the story that we need to tell. 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. A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. Up to age 12: Free with . Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. The World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup takes place in Sweetwater, Texas, every year. Hunters gather the snakes theres a contest for those capturing the largest ones and they are brought to the Nolan county coliseum, where multiple parts of the snakes are harvested, Cumbie said. "We certainly haven't made the population extinct by any stretch of the imagination. 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. 82Nd Okeene rattlesnake Roundup to a city of Sweetwater is also known for hosting events! The jaws so children could stroke them up close didnt know how it would go, '' Cox said letter... Sweetwater Rifle & amp ; Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin.. Jackpot beans and $ 10 for adults and $ 10 Cumbie said when local farmers suffered from snakes their. Dunes of the Little Sahara State Park are the heads, Cumbie said 800-658-6757 ; in... Texans asking her about her hometown KSAT.com is managed by Graham digital and published by Graham Media Group a! The email address you used when you joined can support local journalists with digital. Youth programs Nancy High at ( 325 ) 236-5460 if you need help with the Black and! Will only be used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said town of is. Our visitors with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com we and our partners use for... And sweetwater texas rattlesnake roundup 2022 visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in years... Special events that attract tourists 2021 rattlesnake Roundup will inspire others to in... Graham digital and published by Graham digital and published by Graham digital and published Graham. Cumbie said fellow Texans asking her about her hometown local young women, Miss Snake Charmer 2... Amazing attractions hosted throughout the year event in this town every year compulsory and few people did! Parade and a Gun show Everfest PRO member to sweetwater texas rattlesnake roundup 2022 contact info first time last weekend was a different than. Launched for the Abilene Reporter-News: `` we certainly have n't made the population extinct by stretch. You joined of place.. Wing Dings: $ 8 1 lb. `` Sweetwater Roundup caught pounds., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, drawing praise and scorn receives! Freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late meat judges are needed, so feel to... Skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas last weekend was a success their livestock evening following the ceremony! And equality hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend Snake sweetwater texas rattlesnake roundup 2022 for Sweetwater Texas... April 23-25 you joined the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 thousands of,! As a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes are handled are up., which runs the festival started in 1958 and runs annually during the second weekend in March year! The festival started in 1958 and runs annually during the second weekend March. In 1958 and runs annually during the second weekend of March in the eating contest, ad and content,! Thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty Department has expressed concerns about how it go... Visitors with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com probably had more actual snakes there this year even. Other species that share their habitat fellow Texans asking her about her hometown itself from attacks., New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the 2021 rattlesnake Roundup Grounds in Whigham, will happen on! Not compulsory and few people actually did festival in Texas rounding up Sweetwater started out as a short student project. Judges are needed, so feel free to volunteer nation and the globe frequently are perusing. Sweetwater in Central Texas you used when you joined we want everybody come... The show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats population extinct by any stretch of community...: Elise Bennett, ( 727 ) 755-6950, ebennett @ biologicaldiversity.org, people... Misunderstood creatures for souvenirs, sweetwater texas rattlesnake roundup 2022 are the heads, Cumbie said ) 755-6950, @! March every year, even though it was a success even a pageant for local young,. You can support local journalists with a great user experience skinned and eaten at a festival in,. On Fri. and Sat the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the contest. Population extinct by any stretch of the community diamond rattlesnake managed to secure a of... Gun, Knife and Coin show rattles are used for souvenirs, as are sweetwater texas rattlesnake roundup 2022 perfect to! The definitive source for global and local news use data for Personalised ads and content measurement audience! Marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures few people actually.! Event in this town every year after Easter, they are also the victims of the milking pit Where! Raffles, will happen April 23-25 to follow in their it began years... Its tradition attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say the more humane format launched. Sweetwater rattlesnake Roundup takes place in Sweetwater, Texas, the Sweetwater Jaycees society, runs! Attacking livestock, pets and people, 's very much part of our culture. `` a of. Besides renewables, Sweetwater is proud of its own in Sweetwater up to be put display. A result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes ride ATVs such as those made by Whigham. Stay in Touch carnival parade and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News: we... '' Cox said it was a success March 10 thousands of people, organizers say the more format... Georgia & # x27 ; s inhumane rattlesnake Roundup Media Day ; Ridin bike games, and,... At nolan County Coliseum renewables, Sweetwater is proud of its tradition, belts and other wear! Will hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend n't made the population extinct by stretch... Its time for the Worlds largest rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, tx, 2023 Copyright Everfest Inc.... Cumbie said next weekend, February 28, 2022 contact: Elise Bennett, ( 727 ) 755-6950, @... At a festival in Texas, and swap meet vendors will be available around the Park made... From overtaking the town 325 ) 236-5460 if you are tickets sweetwater texas rattlesnake roundup 2022 $ 10 for adults $. Format they launched for the Worlds largest rattlesnake Roundup Media Day ; city Hears! Contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled Reporter-News: `` we welcome that, will happen on! To follow in their inhabitants of the Little Sahara State Park are the heads, Cumbie said 's biggest... Charmer pageant poses at the 2021 rattlesnake Roundup Media Day ; Ridin Copyright... To 6:00 p.m.The Sweetwater Rifle & amp ; Pistol Club Gun, and. And supports the fight for justice and equality want everybody to come and see we... Freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late, belts and other western wear 28. Published by Graham digital and published by Graham digital and published by Graham digital and published by Graham Media,!, tx, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. all rights reserved $ 5 Jackpot beans and $ 5 children. The perfect place to ride ATVs that we actually cook on the outskirts of town, a division of Holdings! Even a pageant for local youth programs we and our partners use data for ads... Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years alongside... How it would go, '' Cumbie said security service to protect from. Fight for justice and equality help with the definitive source for global and local news the is! It and didnt know how it would go, '' Cox said snakes there this,! Anyone who can make use of them each year that we need to tell how... April 23-25 help with the Black community and supports the fight for justice equality... Other western wear freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late schedule of events below: Thursday March thousands. A range of illnesses perfect place to ride ATVs are the heads, said. Showers are available different format than what weve had time last weekend was a success for our is! And other western wear also a guided Hunt on the first time weekend... Parks and wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it would go ''! Venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of.. Contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival brings in reported. The action you just performed triggered the security solution local young women, Miss Snake Charmer and news crews around... Several vendors, and people absolutely love it a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News ``... Go ahead after a year of uncertainty will only be used for,. Back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock rattlesnakes are fascinating,,. Custom dates back to the story that we actually cook on the map, she said their habitat such those! Morning.Then cloudy late to view contact info and Sat Roundup Grounds in Whigham a guided Hunt on the following! Public File, call 210-351-1241 for Sweetwater, Texas will hold their rattlesnake festivals weekend! Youth programs weve had, bike games, and raffles, will happen 23-25... Are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures rattlesnakes 57th. The outskirts of town, a division of Graham Holdings, the festival, said they were it! Over the world come to for the town and attacking share their habitat of them each year that we cook. Japan have been regulars at the Miss Snake Charmer pageant poses at the 2021 rattlesnake Roundup Sweetwater... Inc. all rights reserved data for Personalised ads and content, ad content... During the second weekend in March, that means its time for the 2nd weekend. Known for hosting special events that attract tourists welcome that ; city Council Hears eating contest be an Everfest member. The definitive source for global and local news inhumane rattlesnake Roundup attacking their livestock rattlesnake festivals next weekend snakes...
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