Rattlesnakes are fascinating, beautiful, but often feared and misunderstood creatures. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. He's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. 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. We want everybody to come and see us and see what we're doing.". Thousands of people, including families with young kids, flocked to take part in festivities this weekend at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. Rounding Up Sweetwater started out as a short student film project to capture the worlds largest rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. This event runs alongside the Sweetwater Rifle and Pistol Club's gun and coin show, founded in the 1940s. Winds could occasionally gust over 50 mph.. . "We have a family that comes from Australia. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; Ridin . 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. The diamond rattlesnake managed to secure a festival of its own in Sweetwater, Texas, and people absolutely love it. Served with ranch or blue cheese and celery. Manage Settings Come join the fun and check it out. 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. Sweetwater, Texas 79556 325-235-3484 - Office nolancountycoliseum@gmail.com Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox said. This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. Windy with lots of sunshine. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Sweetwater Jaycees Rattle Staid State Capitol with Snakes Miss Snake Charmer 2023 Contestants Attend Pageant Tea Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, SEED, City of Sweetwater, NFC Partner to Bring Free Fitness Court to Newman Park SISD Transfers SHS Interim Principalship to Kathy Smartt Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. Apache's will follow on April 15-18. Active/retired military, $5 (with valid military ID); Ages 5-12, $5; 4 and under, free.. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. 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. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . 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 . 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. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Nolan County Coliseum|1699 Cypress St, Sweetwater, TX | Map. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. . The granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan County Coliseum, . In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. 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. The snakes skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. 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. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. 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. 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. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. In 2021, the Sweetwater Roundup caught 3,682 pounds of rattlesnakes. . In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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. 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. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; City Council Hears . Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Sweetwater, Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We have plenty of outdoor space for more vendors to enjoy the 65th World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup right here in Sweetwater, TX. 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. Nolan County Coliseum1699 Cypress St Sweetwater, TX, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. All rights reserved. If it's the second weekend in March, that means it's time for the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. It's very much part of our culture.". FestivalNet is not the event & does not book the participants; we provide contact info to save you time in event research. Yes, were the rattlesnake town, they would say. 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. Get In Touch. Publication of festival information does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with Everfest. Free patch & pin with pre-registration by 4-04-2020. 2022, at the Rattlesnake Roundup Grounds in Whigham. | Austin, TX. This does put us on the map, she said. Besides renewables, Sweetwater is also known for hosting special events that attract tourists. Ronald Erdrich is the photojournalist and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News. It arose as a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes that were killing livestock and pets of inhabitants of the community. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. 79556. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever," he said. A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. 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.. 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. 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. Make sure to contact Nancy High at (325) 236-5460 if you are . Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. 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. This is the start of their holiday weekend. Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . Wing Dings: $8 1 lb. 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 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. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . 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. 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. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. SWEETWATER JAYCEES World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup March 10, 11, 12 2023 World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up in Sweetwater, Texas - YouTube 0:00 / 16:54 World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-up in Sweetwater, Texas 14,062 views Mar 18, 2021 161 Dislike. You 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. "We certainly haven't made the population extinct by any stretch of the imagination. 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 Afterwards, they are butchered for their meat, skin and venom and sold to anyone who can make use of them. Adults: $5. 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. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot.". And teenage girls vied to be crowned Miss Snake Charmer. "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. Visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. 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 . I'd love to have that discussion. 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. Front Row L to R: Sylvia Martinez of Snyder HS, Jasimen Courtney of Snyder HS Miss Snake Charmer 2022 Macy Newberry of Sweetwater HS, . Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Dates: March 10th - 12th, 2023. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,