I'd love to have that discussion. 209.239.116.57 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. The 64th Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Annual Rattlesnake Roundup is this weekend. Copyright 2022 KCBD. Enter the email address you used when you joined. 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. Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Festival-goers were encouraged to wear masks but they were not compulsory and few people actually did. Besides renewables, Sweetwater is also known for hosting special events that attract tourists. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. All rights reserved. This does put us on the map, she said. Rattlesnake roundups take 2 different approaches, drawing praise and scorn 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. Rattlesnake roundups take two paths, drawing praise and scorn by The Associated Press | March 12, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. 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. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade 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. ", 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 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. Cumbie is the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. 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 . Publication of festival information does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with Everfest. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Served with ranch or blue cheese and celery. . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Thousands of people,. Meat judges are needed, so feel free to volunteer. 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 . Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. Rounding Up Sweetwater started out as a short student film project to capture the worlds largest rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. 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 action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie 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+. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Rattlesnake roundups take 2 different approaches, drawing praise and scorn. GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. Sweetwater, Texas 79556 325-235-3484 - Office nolancountycoliseum@gmail.com Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The city's farmers and ranchers rose and banded together to eradicate rattlesnakes. 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. Sweetwater has some amazing attractions hosted throughout the year! Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. 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. Rounding Up Sweetwater. Theres literally no waste, he said. The snakes skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Camping is by reservations only. Oklahoma. There's even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. 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. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. For more information, please contact. FestivalNet is not the event & does not book the participants; we provide contact info to save you time in event research. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever," he said. If it's the second weekend in March, that means it's time for the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. 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 two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. We learn how you can have fun at the event even if you want to stay clear of the snakes. 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 . 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. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . 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 . The snakes' skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. After seeing firsthand what goes on in Sweetwater every year, we know there is a better way. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. This year's winner, Avery Schiffner, 16, greeted festival-goers with a live rattlesnake coiled round her neck. The hungriest competitors went head to head in the eating contest. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. 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. All rights reserved. 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.. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. Activists hope that change such as those made by the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will inspire others to follow in their. 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. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. 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. Make sure to contact Nancy High at (325) 236-5460 if you are . They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. "That's my favorite part because they've got such neat stories to tell," McCann said. He told the Abilene Reporter-News: "We welcome that. Guided Snake Hunt - Friday Friday, March 11th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. Low 43F. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Back row Left to right: Del Riley, Blake Stephens, David Sager, Miss Texas, Mallory Fuller, Chris Thomas, Dee Thomas, Cody Cox. 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.. | Austin, TX. But there is much more to the story that we need to tell. 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; Ridin . 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. Service to humanity, is the best work of life. 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. Apache's will follow on April 15-18. Its very much part of our culture.. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. of chicken wings, thrown in our Hot, Mild, or Inferno wing sauce. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "We certainly haven't made the population extinct by any stretch of the imagination. You Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. 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 weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . And teenage girls vied to be crowned Miss Snake Charmer. 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. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. (Courtney Sacco/Odessa American via AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan . 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. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 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. Handlers grabbed them safely behind the jaws so children could stroke them up close. Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. They come here every single year.". 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. For Immediate Release, February 28, 2022 Contact: Elise Bennett, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org . Rattlesnake Bites: $10 We flash freeze the meat from our Rattlesnake Roundup, season, batter, and deep fry it to a golden brown. There was also a guided hunt on the outskirts of town, a carnival parade and a gun show. The granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . Every March, what's billed as the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup brings an estimated 25,000 visitors to Sweetwater,. Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. 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. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. FNdocumentWrite("") With two historical museums, the famous rattlesnake roundup, and much more, Sweetwater has fun attractions that will keep you busy! . The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. Mar 7, 2022 / . Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. McCann admitted the event was a test of how the state can open up safely and there are "lots of eyes on us". By accessing our site, you agree to the terms of Everfest's privacy policy. 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. "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. He's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. 810 E Broadway P.O. We have plenty of outdoor space for more vendors to enjoy the 65th World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup right here in Sweetwater, TX. 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