Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). 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. 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. A contestant at the Miss Snake Charmer pageant poses at the 2021 rattlesnake roundup. Copyright 2022 KCBD. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Windy with lots of sunshine. 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. By accessing our site, you agree to the terms of Everfest's privacy policy. 2023 www.reporternews.com. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. of chicken wings, thrown in our Hot, Mild, or Inferno wing sauce. Depending on the weather, or even a pandemic, the town's population. 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. Rattlesnake roundups take two paths, drawing praise and scorn by The Associated Press | March 12, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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 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 addition to Okeene, four other western Oklahoma towns will revive their rattlesnake hunts and festivals this month after being canceled last year. 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. 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. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. 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 A poker run is scheduled for Saturday morning with the cook-off beginning at 9:00. This does put us on the map, she said. 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. 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. 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. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. It's the biggest event in this town every year," Cumbie 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. It arose as a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes that were killing livestock and pets of inhabitants of the community. We will be donating the first month of each new vendor & artist subscription to the Austin Justice Coalition. Its very much part of our culture.. Manage Settings Oklahoma. 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 . 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. For Immediate Release, February 28, 2022 Contact: Elise Bennett, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org . 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. Hes the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. Your User ID or Password reset link will be sent to you. 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 granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. 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. 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. 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. But on the first weekend after Easter, they become a platform for this tough annual raceThe Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox added. 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. 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. Get In Touch. . Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. 70% payback. This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. 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. Back row Left to right: Del Riley, Blake Stephens, David Sager, Miss Texas, Mallory Fuller, Chris Thomas, Dee Thomas, Cody Cox. All rights reserved. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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.. Box 1148 Sweetwater, Texas 79556; 325-235-5488; 800-658-6757; Stay In Touch . The roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. FREER, Texas - The largest festival of the year in one South Texas city took a deadly turn after a . Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. Guided Snake Hunt - Saturday Saturday, March 12th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. The event is a fundraiser for local youth programs. A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show Adults: $5 Up to age 12: Free with. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; Ridin . "That's my favorite part because they've got such neat stories to tell," McCann said. A bike show, bike games, and raffles, will happen later on the evening following the awards ceremony. Sweetwater has some amazing attractions hosted throughout the year! The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. Besides renewables, Sweetwater is also known for hosting special events that attract tourists. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Mar 7, 2022 / . Since 1958, the Sweetwater Jaycees has hosted the largest rattlesnake roundup in the world. 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. This does put us on the map, she said. Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup Where: Nolan County Coliseum, 220 Coliseum Drive Cost: Adults $10. 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. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. 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.. "We have a family that comes from Australia. 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. Your IP: Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. 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. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. var username = "info"; Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 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 . It's very much part of our culture.". Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. Rounding Up Sweetwater. Its very much part of our culture.. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 810 E Broadway P.O. 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. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. Rounding Up Sweetwater started out as a short student film project to capture the worlds largest rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. 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. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . The World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup takes place in Sweetwater, Texas, every year. 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. 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 Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. 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. 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. 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