All rights reserved. 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. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. 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. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . 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. Rattlesnake roundups take two paths, drawing praise and scorn by The Associated Press | March 12, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. There was also a guided hunt on the outskirts of town, a carnival parade and a gun show. Manage Settings He told the Abilene Reporter-News: "We welcome that. Apache's will follow on April 15-18. 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. Its very much part of our culture.. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox added. 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. Visitors and news crews from around the nation and the globe frequently are seen perusing the snake pits at Nolan County Coliseum. This does put us on the map, she said. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Go here to update it. The snakes' skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. Sweetwater, Texas 79556 325-235-3484 - Office nolancountycoliseum@gmail.com A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. Back row Left to right: Del Riley, Blake Stephens, David Sager, Miss Texas, Mallory Fuller, Chris Thomas, Dee Thomas, Cody Cox. Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. You Served with ranch or blue cheese and celery. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. 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. This year, however, so many snakes were rounded up that there's hardly a market for selling. Winds WSW at 25 to 35 mph. FREER, Texas - The largest festival of the year in one South Texas city took a deadly turn after a . Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. 2023 www.reporternews.com. 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade 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. 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. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever," he said. Is this your event? The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. 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. Enter the email address you used when you joined. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. Rattlesnakes are symbols of freedom and independence; teaching that snakes are scary and useless minimizes their significance in our cultural and ecological heritage.. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . 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 . Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. 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. 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. Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Where: Nolan County Coliseum, 220 Coliseum Drive Cost: Adults $10. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan . But there is much more to the story that we need to tell. For more information, please contact. 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. 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 . 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. This is the start of their holiday weekend. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. We learn how you can have fun at the event even if you want to stay clear of the snakes. This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a great user experience. 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. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. $5 Jackpot beans and $10 Jalapeno Poppers. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. 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. Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. 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. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . 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.. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. Hes 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 . 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. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her home town. It's very much part of our culture.". 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. And teenage girls vied to be crowned Miss Snake Charmer. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. There's literally no waste, he said. The dunes of the Little Sahara in Little Sahara State Park are the perfect place to ride ATVs. 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. Theres no waste, he said. 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 roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Wing Dings: $8 1 lb. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. FestivalNet is not the event & does not book the participants; we provide contact info to save you time in event research. Nolan County Coliseum1699 Cypress St Sweetwater, TX, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. All rights reserved. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. Windy with partly cloudy skies. 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. High 74F. 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