The dunes of the Little Sahara in Little Sahara State Park are the perfect place to ride ATVs. Every March, what's billed as the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup brings an estimated 25,000 visitors to Sweetwater,. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. 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. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. 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 "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 . 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. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. Make sure to contact Nancy High at (325) 236-5460 if you are . A mix of light freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late. 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. Yes, we're the rattlesnake town, they would say. 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. You The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. 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 Performance & security by Cloudflare. This does put us on the map, she said. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. This does put us on the map, she said. Is this your event? Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. 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. We want everybody to come and see us and see what we're doing.". The diamond rattlesnake managed to secure a festival of its own in Sweetwater, Texas, and people absolutely love it. 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. 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. 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. FNdocumentWrite("") 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. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. It's the biggest event in this town every year," Cumbie said. Windy with lots of sunshine. Events began at 4:30 p.m. Thursday with the Rattlesnake Parade, which was followed at 7 p.m. by the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant at Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. Theres no waste, he said. The World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup takes place in Sweetwater, Texas, every year. Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. Full hindquarter, seasoned and grilled. I'd love to have that discussion. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. The event is a fundraiser for local youth programs. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. 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. He's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. 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 To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. By accessing our site, you agree to the terms of Everfest's privacy policy. 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. Come join the fun and check it out. Children watched in awe as handlers tipped buckets of venomous snakes into a writhing pit. This does put us on the map, she said. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. But on the first weekend after Easter, they become a platform for this tough annual raceThe Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt. 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. 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. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. 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.. Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. 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. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Adults: $5. They come here every single year.". Windy with partly cloudy skies. 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.. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. Rattlesnake roundups take two paths, drawing praise and scorn by The Associated Press | March 12, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. SWEETWATER JAYCEES World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup March 10, 11, 12 2023 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. And in Sweetwater, Texas: cancel the rattlesnake festival? This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. 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. of chicken wings, thrown in our Hot, Mild, or Inferno wing sauce. But there is much more to the story that we need to tell. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. 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 . A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. Waurika and Waynoka will hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend. The granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. Rattlesnake roundups take 2 different approaches, drawing praise and scorn 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It's very much part of our culture.". In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Your User ID or Password reset link will be sent to you. McCann said: "If someone could come up with a better way of killing rattlesnakesso we can keep doing our event, then please come teach me. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. 2022, at the Rattlesnake Roundup Grounds in Whigham. 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.. 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. Since 1958, the Sweetwater Jaycees has hosted the largest rattlesnake roundup in the world. Your IP: The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . We will be donating the first month of each new vendor & artist subscription to the Austin Justice Coalition. 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. var username = "info"; | Austin, TX. 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. 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. 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.. FestivalNet is not the event & does not book the participants; we provide contact info to save you time in event research. TX Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . 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. Extra measures included hand sanitizer and regular wiping down of all areas and tour buses. 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. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. Free patch & pin with pre-registration by 4-04-2020. 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.. You Low 43F. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. Sweetwater, Texas 79556 325-235-3484 - Office nolancountycoliseum@gmail.com It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Service to humanity, is the best work of life. Mar 7, 2022 / . The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show. 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 began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . 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. The hungriest competitors went head to head in the eating contest. //-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. Heads are pickled in jars complete with exposed fangs, while the flesh is chopped into nuggets and deep fried. Thousands of people,. Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). The important thing for organizers is that the historic festival was able to go ahead. Its very much part of our culture.. . In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Guided Snake Hunt - Friday Friday, March 11th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. 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. Restrooms and free warm showers are available. 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. (Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, Chicken, Chili). 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Rattlesnake Roundup Parade March 10, 2022. 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. This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a great user experience. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan . The 64th Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Annual Rattlesnake Roundup is this weekend. 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. 209.239.116.57 Ronald Erdrich is the photojournalist and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. 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. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,