In Georgia, organizers say the more humane format they launched for the first time last weekend was a success. Go here to update it. 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 on 25 March. Active/retired military, $5 (with valid military ID); Ages 5-12, $5; 4 and under, free.. Waurika and Waynoka will hold their rattlesnake festivals next weekend. Everybody was nervous about it and didn't know how it would go," Cox said. TX Last year's roundup was seen as a "last hurrah" before many states including Texas imposed emergency coronavirus measures and large gatherings were banned. 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. Rattlesnakes are symbols of freedom and independence; teaching that snakes are scary and useless minimizes their significance in our cultural and ecological heritage.. Guided Snake Hunt - Saturday Saturday, March 12th For those wishing to see the rattlesnake in its natural habitat, we offer guided hunts. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Karen Hunt grew up in Sweetwater, and recalls fellow Texans asking her about her hometown. Check out the schedule of events below: Thursday March 10 4:30 Rattlesnake Parade Low 43F. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. 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. This does put us on the map, she said. 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. In 2021, the Sweetwater Roundup caught 3,682 pounds of rattlesnakes. Since 1958, the Sweetwater Jaycees has hosted the largest rattlesnake roundup in the world. Sweetwater, TX (79556) Today. Theres even a pageant for local young women, Miss Snake Charmer. The 64th Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Annual Rattlesnake Roundup is this weekend. Eugene De Leon Sr. died Saturday night from his injury at Rattlesnake Roundup in Freer. Mar 7, 2022 / . . Sweetwater Jaycees Announce Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day; City Council Hears . Rattles are used for souvenirs, as are the heads, Cumbie said. Enter the email address you used when you joined. Thousands of rattlesnakes are bagged up to be put on display in the snake pits. They are also the victims of the largest public slaughter of native wildlife in the United States. This does put us on the map, she said. 2023 www.reporternews.com. It began 64 years ago to keep snakes from overtaking the town and attacking livestock, pets and people, organizers say. 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. With two historical museums, the famous rattlesnake roundup, and much more, Sweetwater has fun attractions that will keep you busy! Dates: March 10th - 12th, 2023. Gates open at noon Friday and cost is $5 per person/per day. "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. 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 . GRUESOME pictures show rattlesnakes being beheaded, skinned and eaten at a festival in Texas. This website uses cookies to provide our visitors with a great user experience. Each spring, the small city of Sweetwater, Texas, hosts what it bills as the world's largest rattlesnake roundup. This year's winner, Avery Schiffner, 16, greeted festival-goers with a live rattlesnake coiled round her neck. Join Festivalnet.com now to unlock additional details, , Copyright FestivalNet 2022. Restrooms and free warm showers are available. Nolan County Coliseum Then came perfect weather for the one-day Georgia show, and there were no complaints whatsoever, he said. 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. Sweetwater, 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. 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. Everybody was nervous about it and didnt know how it would go, Cox said. 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. We want everybody to come and see us and see what we're doing.". 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. Your IP: 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. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 79556. Our feature-length documentary, Rounding Up Sweetwater, will debunk both the pseudo-science used to justify roundups as well as negative . 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.. The two events are a marked contrast in how rattlesnakes are handled. This is the start of their holiday weekend. SWEETWATER JAYCEES World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup March 10, 11, 12 2023 It arose as a result of a wide influx of rattlesnakes that were killing livestock and pets of inhabitants of the community. The roundup closes at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, and at 6 p.m. Saturday. All Rights Reserved. Its very much part of our culture.. Make $ 5 for children inhumane Rattlesnake Roundup legacy block including submitting a certain or!, he said March, that means its time for the 2nd full weekend March... 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