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. Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. "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. FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skinned rattlesnakes during 57th. 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. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox said. Free patch & pin with pre-registration by 4-04-2020. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Several vendors, and swap meet vendors will be available around the park. This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a great user experience. 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. Mar 7, 2022 / . 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. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. All Rights Reserved. The 21st Annual Jaycee Roosters Motorcycle Rally and Cook-off and Swap Meet will be held atSweetwater Lake Park in Sweetwater, Texas from April 15, 2022 to April 17, 2022. 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. "We certainly haven't made the population extinct by any stretch of the imagination. Active/retired military, $5 (with valid military ID); Ages 5-12, $5; 4 and under, free.. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when local farmers suffered from snakes attacking their livestock. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Afterwards, they are butchered for their meat, skin and venom and sold to anyone who can make use of them. Oklahoma. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 Tornado activity: Sweetwater-area historical tornado activity is near Texas state average.It is 28% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 4/19/1986, a category F3 (max. 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. Up to age 12: Free with . 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. 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 Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade 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 learn how you can have fun at the event even if you want to stay clear of the snakes. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Come join the fun and check it out. Windy with partly cloudy skies. This does put us on the map, she said. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. . var linktext = username + "@" + hostname; Every March, what's billed as the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup brings an estimated 25,000 visitors to Sweetwater,. The roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. Festival information may not be up to date due to COVID-19, but you can view our list of cancellations here. . Adults: $5. Children watched in awe as handlers tipped buckets of venomous snakes into a writhing pit. Service to humanity, is the best work of life. 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. 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. Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Where: Nolan County Coliseum, 220 Coliseum Drive Cost: Adults $10. Rattlesnake roundups take two paths, drawing praise and scorn by The Associated Press | March 12, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. This does put us on the map, she said. "We have a family that comes from Australia. 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. It's very much part of our culture.". Visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats. Festival-goers were encouraged to wear masks but they were not compulsory and few people actually did. 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. This is the start of their holiday weekend. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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 . 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. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. 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. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. 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. 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 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 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. For more information, please contact. And in Sweetwater, Texas: cancel the rattlesnake festival? It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. The important thing for organizers is that the historic festival was able to go ahead. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Make sure to contact Nancy High at (325) 236-5460 if you are . 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. Everfest stands in solidarity with the Black community and supports the fight for justice and equality. McCann admitted the event was a test of how the state can open up safely and there are "lots of eyes on us". Box 1148 Sweetwater, Texas 79556; 325-235-5488; 800-658-6757; Stay In Touch . All rights reserved. The 63rd World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup - which also sees the crowning of a Miss Snake Charmer beauty queen - went ahead after the state lifted virtually all Covid restrictions last week. Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. of chicken wings, thrown in our Hot, Mild, or Inferno wing sauce. ", 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. 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 . Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. //-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. Guided Snake Hunt - Saturday Saturday, March 12th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show. Winds WSW at 25 to 35 mph. 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. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Guided Snake Hunt - Friday Friday, March 11th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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. 209.239.116.57 They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. Visitors and news crews from around the nation and the globe frequently are seen perusing the snake pits at Nolan County Coliseum. You People of the small town of Claxton, Georgia transformed their rattlesnake roundup into the Claxton Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival, a festival where they promote conservation and education instead of fear and misconceptions. Its very much part of our culture.. Go here to update it. Click to reveal 70% payback. We want everybody to come and see us and see what we're doing.". It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; City Council Hears . Must be an Everfest PRO member to view contact info. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. 2023 www.reporternews.com. Activists hope that change such as those made by the Whigham Rattlesnake Roundup will inspire others to follow in their. For Immediate Release, February 28, 2022 Contact: Elise Bennett, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org . Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. 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. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; Ridin . Camping is by reservations only. 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. 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.. Low 43F. 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. But there is much more to the story that we need to tell. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan County Coliseum, . In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). 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. 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. 1 seriously injured in rollover on South Loop near Quaker Ave. Ronald Erdrich is the photojournalist and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 79556. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. (Courtney Sacco/Odessa American via AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Sweetwater, The event is a fundraiser for local youth programs. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. 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. Waurika and Waynoka will hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. Windy with lots of sunshine. The hungriest competitors went head to head in the eating contest. 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. 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.. 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. Besides renewables, Sweetwater is also known for hosting special events that attract tourists. The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show Adults: $5 Up to age 12: Free with. NOLAN COUNTY COLISEUM Sweetwater, TX Terry Locklar General Manager - Marketing Director 220 Coliseum Drive. For Sweetwater, the festival brings in a reported $8.3 million for the town. Depending on the weather, or even a pandemic, the town's population. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. 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. 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. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. 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 Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. There was also a guided hunt on the outskirts of town, a carnival parade and a gun show. In addition to Okeene, four other western Oklahoma towns will revive their rattlesnake hunts and festivals this month after being canceled last year. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Join Now: Vendors | Artists | Already PRO? The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. 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. 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.. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. 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. Rounding Up Sweetwater. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. It's the biggest event in this town every year," Cumbie said. Our feature-length documentary, Rounding Up Sweetwater, will debunk both the pseudo-science used to justify roundups as well as negative . Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Cumbie is the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. The city's farmers and ranchers rose and banded together to eradicate rattlesnakes. Wing Dings: $8 1 lb. By accessing our site, you agree to the terms of Everfest's privacy policy. If its the second weekend in March, that means its time for the Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. Restrooms and free warm showers are available. Publication of festival information does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with Everfest. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what we've had.. Your User ID or Password reset link will be sent to you. 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