The important thing for organizers is that the historic festival was able to go ahead. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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 consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; 2023 www.reporternews.com. 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. 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. Rattlesnake Bites: $10 We flash freeze the meat from our Rattlesnake Roundup, season, batter, and deep fry it to a golden brown. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade var username = "info"; 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. If it's the second weekend in March, that means it's time for the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. Sweetwater, Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). 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, Texas 79556 325-235-3484 - Office nolancountycoliseum@gmail.com Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. 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. All rights reserved. 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 . It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. In 2021, the Sweetwater Roundup caught 3,682 pounds of rattlesnakes. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. Thousands of people,. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. 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. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. This does put us on the map, she said. Must be an Everfest PRO member to view contact info. 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. 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. Since 1958, the Sweetwater Jaycees has hosted the largest rattlesnake roundup in the world. This does put us on the map, she said. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan County Coliseum, . 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 . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. SWEETWATER JAYCEES World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup March 10, 11, 12 2023 Camping is by reservations only. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. 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. 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. All rights reserved. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skinned rattlesnakes during 57th. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. 810 E Broadway P.O. In 2022 the Whigham Community Club announced that it will no longer capture snakes and will instead feature displays and educational programming about the diamondback rattlesnake and other native wildlife. | Austin, TX. 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.. 209.239.116.57 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. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. And teenage girls vied to be crowned Miss Snake Charmer. Front Row L to R: Sylvia Martinez of Snyder HS, Jasimen Courtney of Snyder HS Miss Snake Charmer 2022 Macy Newberry of Sweetwater HS, . 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's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. You 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. 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 city's farmers and ranchers rose and banded together to eradicate rattlesnakes. For Sweetwater, the festival brings in a reported $8.3 million for the town. 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. This is the start of their holiday weekend. 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. 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. There's literally no waste, he said. All Rights Reserved. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. He told the Abilene Reporter-News: "We welcome that. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. 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. Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. Your User ID or Password reset link will be sent to you. Restrooms and free warm showers are available. There's even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. 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 Theres no waste, he said. 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. GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. 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. 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. Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. It's very much part of our culture.". 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. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Festival-goers were encouraged to wear masks but they were not compulsory and few people actually did. Your IP: Waurika and Waynoka will hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. var linktext = username + "@" + hostname; 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. Dates: March 10th - 12th, 2023. 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. In addition to Okeene, four other western Oklahoma towns will revive their rattlesnake hunts and festivals this month after being canceled last year. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Nolan County Coliseum The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. This year's winner, Avery Schiffner, 16, greeted festival-goers with a live rattlesnake coiled round her neck. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. WOODSTOCK, Ga. 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. 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. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . The rattlesnake town, they would say and ranchers rose and banded together to eradicate.... Live rattlesnake coiled round her neck = `` FestivalNet.com '' ; 2023 www.reporternews.com, Updated... And banded together to eradicate rattlesnakes be crowned Miss snake Charmer draws visitors from all the. 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