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. Rattlesnakes are symbols of freedom and independence; teaching that snakes are scary and useless minimizes their significance in our cultural and ecological heritage.. Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Several vendors, and swap meet vendors will be available around the park. Visitors from Europe, New Zealand and Japan have been regulars at the show in past years, alongside locals in ten-gallon hats. 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. All rights reserved. But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. I'd love to have that discussion. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Over three days, snake hunters bring in their catches (to make $5 a pound). This is a major attraction that people from all over the world come to for the 2nd full weekend in March every year. Its the biggest event in this town every year, Cumbie said. 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. Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. 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. 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.. Its very much part of our culture.. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. What it does for our community is give us a sense of place.. SWEETWATER, Texas (KCBD) - The 64th Annual Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up will take place on March 11 through 13 at the Nolan County Coliseum, located at 220 Coliseum Drive in Sweetwater. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. "We have a family that comes from Australia. Sweetwater, But no such changes are occurring at a huge rattlesnake roundup beginning this weekend in Texas, a festival that the activists say is barbaric. The winner of the contest receives a scholarship from the Sweetwater Jaycees and represents Sweetwater at various social events within the Big Country. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. This does put us on the map, she said. //-->, Copyright FestivalNet 2022. 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.. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. . Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. Festival information may not be up to date due to COVID-19, but you can view our list of cancellations here. Center for Biological Diversity: Largest Remaining Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas, Should Follow Suit, Conservationists Say. We will be donating the first month of each new vendor & artist subscription to the Austin Justice Coalition. 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. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. FILE -Sweetwater Jaycees clean and skinned rattlesnakes during 57th. We encourage you to join us and consider supporting the Austin Justice Coalition or the organization leading the ongoing movement for accountability and change in your community. If it's the second weekend in March, that means it's time for the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater. 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. 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 . 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. . A Georgia rattler roundup no longer kills the animals but Texas town of Sweetwater is proud of its tradition. Nolan County Coliseum1699 Cypress St Sweetwater, TX, 2023 Copyright Everfest, Inc. All rights reserved. Addie Gedea; Mar 12, 2022 Mar 12, 2022 Updated Mar 12, 2022; Comments; . Rattlesnake Bites: $10 We flash freeze the meat from our Rattlesnake Roundup, season, batter, and deep fry it to a golden brown. Rattlesnake Roundup Parade March 10, 2022. FNdocumentWrite("") . 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. In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. Every March, what's billed as the World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup brings an estimated 25,000 visitors to Sweetwater,. 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. Click to reveal It arose as a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes that were killing livestock and pets of inhabitants of the community. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox added. A contestant at the Miss Snake Charmer pageant poses at the 2021 rattlesnake roundup. It's very much part of our culture.". 1 seriously injured in rollover on South Loop near Quaker Ave. 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. Rounding Up Sweetwater. The roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. Cookerregistration is $80 or $25 ea. Everfest stands in solidarity with the Black community and supports the fight for justice and equality. 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. Rather, organizers liken snake hunting to how other hunters keep deer numbers in check. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details,