//-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. var hostname = "FestivalNet.com"; 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. Historically, the first rattlesnake Roundup kicked off in 1958, at Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). We will be donating the first month of each new vendor & artist subscription to the Austin Justice Coalition. A mix of light freezing rain and sleet this morning.then cloudy late. Rounding Up Sweetwater started out as a short student film project to capture the worlds largest rattlesnake roundup in Sweetwater, Texas. 2023 www.reporternews.com. FNdocumentWrite("") He told the Abilene Reporter-News: "We welcome that. You Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. This does put us on the map, she said. SWEETWATER, TEXAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP - YouTube 0:00 / 8:15 SWEETWATER, TEXAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP 37,579 views Apr 10, 2018 330 Dislike Share Save Mark Lotterhand 2.13K subscribers Unchecked. 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. He's the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. This year, however, so many snakes were rounded up that there's hardly a market for selling. 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 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has expressed concerns about how it couldimpact other species that share their habitat. 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. Get In Touch. The roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. In addition to Okeene, four other western Oklahoma towns will revive their rattlesnake hunts and festivals this month after being canceled last year. Service to humanity, is the best work of life. 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 Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. . What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. There was also a guided hunt on the outskirts of town, a carnival parade and a gun show. Active/retired military, $5 (with valid military ID); Ages 5-12, $5; 4 and under, free.. 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. Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; City Council Hears . In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. 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 . 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. I'd love to have that discussion. 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 . You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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.. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade 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 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. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. We have plenty of outdoor space for more vendors to enjoy the 65th World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup right here in Sweetwater, TX. 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. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox added. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club Gun, Knife and Coin Show. Depending on the weather, or even a pandemic, the town's population. . The 64th Annual World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11, 12, 13 2022 at The Nolan County Coliseum, . Meat judges are needed, so feel free to volunteer. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. Click to reveal 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. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the town's culture and draws visitors from all over the world. 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 . In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. 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. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a rattlesnake parade, carnival . Its very much part of our culture.. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever," he said. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. Manage Settings Go here to update it. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . 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. Oklahoma. There will be live music on Fri. and Sat. Thousands of people,. The city's farmers and ranchers rose and banded together to eradicate rattlesnakes. Adults: $5. 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 Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. The snakes skins will eventually show up on cowboy boots, belts and other western wear. This event runs alongside the Sweetwater Rifle and Pistol Club's gun and coin show, founded in the 1940s. In Texas, the Sweetwater roundup is intertwined with the towns culture and draws visitors from all over the world. The Sweetwater Jaycees society, which runs the festival, said they were thrilled it could go ahead after a year of uncertainty. ", 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. The granddaddy of them all, the 82nd Okeene Rattlesnake Roundup will happen April 23-25. The festival started in 1958 and runs annually during the second weekend of March in the city of Sweetwater in Central Texas. Every March, what's billed as the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup brings an estimated 25,000 visitors to Sweetwater,. Children watched in awe as handlers tipped buckets of venomous snakes into a writhing pit. Front Row L to R: Sylvia Martinez of Snyder HS, Jasimen Courtney of Snyder HS Miss Snake Charmer 2022 Macy Newberry of Sweetwater HS, . 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+. Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. Windy with partly cloudy skies. In 2021, the Sweetwater Roundup caught 3,682 pounds of rattlesnakes. 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. McCann admitted the event was a test of how the state can open up safely and there are "lots of eyes on us". 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. Rattlesnake roundups take two paths, drawing praise and scorn by The Associated Press | March 12, 2022 at 10:00 p.m. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. We also butcher about 1,000 pounds of them each year that we actually cook on the spot.". Afterwards, they are butchered for their meat, skin and venom and sold to anyone who can make use of them. We learn how you can have fun at the event even if you want to stay clear of the snakes. 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.. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. 79556. 2012 letter of praise for switching the Claxton Rattlesnake Roundup to a . Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. The 64th Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Annual Rattlesnake Roundup is this weekend. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking . Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. 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. All rights reserved. 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 | Austin, TX. of chicken wings, thrown in our Hot, Mild, or Inferno wing sauce. 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. We probably had more actual snakes there this year, even though it was a different format than what weve had.. 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. Everfest stands in solidarity with the Black community and supports the fight for justice and equality. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Festival information may not be up to date due to COVID-19, but you can view our list of cancellations here. Yes, we're the rattlesnake town, they would say. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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. All Rights Reserved. This does put us on the map, she 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. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. 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. 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. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. Hes the chairman of the milking pit, where venom is extracted and then used to develop various drugs for a range of illnesses. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. Nolan County Coliseum1699 Cypress St Sweetwater, TX, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. All rights reserved. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,