West Texas Rattlesnake Roundup Known as World's Largest

The Sweetwater Jaycees 66th Annual Rattlesnake Roundup is almost here. The roundup takes place at the Nolan County Coliseum and is held on the second weekend in March.

The roundup features a carnival, parade, food booths, beauty pageant, daily rattlesnake hunting tours, barbecue cook-off, nightly dances, giant flea market, gun show, and a fried rattlesnake-meat-eating contest. All the details are listed below.

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The one facet of the roundup I really think is the best part is the fact that the Jaycees do not miss an opportunity to teach everyone who attends about these slithery creatures. Furthermore, if you are so inclined, hands-on experience is also offered at the roundup.

If there's one thing certain, the recent West Texas weather has had the rattlesnakes (all snakes for that matter) out looking for food during the "middle of winter" when snakes are supposed to be dormant. We must all be on the lookout for snakes during warm days.

The roundup is one of my favorite events to attend and participate in. While I never won the snake eating contest, I did get to compete in the cookoff, and placed. Go have fun, take the kids, and learn all about snake safety.

Here are Dates/Times for the 2024 Sweetwater Jaycees Rattlesnake Roundup:

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Rattlesnake Parade: 4:30 pm
Carnival (All-day pass: $35.00; Weekend pass: $100.00 - sold only on Thursday): 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Miss Snake Charmer Pageant: 7:00 pm
Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium, 201 East 4th Street. Adults $10, students $5.

Friday, March 8, 2024. Doors open to public from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Adults $10, active/retired military $5 (with valid military ID), kids (ages 5-12) $5, kids (4 and under) free.

Gun, Knife & Coin show: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Adults $5.
Guided Hunts: 10:00 am

Saturday, March 9, 2024. Doors open to public from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Adults $10, active/retired military $5 (with valid military ID), kids (ages 5-12) $5, kids (4 and under) free.

Cookoff Competition: 8:00 am
Gun, Knife & Coin show: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Adults $5.
Carnival: 10:00 am to 12:00 am
Guided Hunts: 10:00 am
Cookoff Awards: 5:00 pm
Dance at the Jaycees Barn at 307 West 4th Street: 7:00 pm

Sunday, March 10, 2024. Doors open to public from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Adults $10, active/retired military $5 (with valid military ID), kids (ages 5-12) $5, kids (4 and under) free.

Gun, Knife & Coin show: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adults $5.
Guided Hunts: 10:00 am
Carnival: 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Snake Eating Competition: 2:00 pm
Beard contest: 2:30 pm
Most pounds of snakes: 3:00 pm
Longest snake: 3:30 pm

Source: Sweetwater Jaycees RattlesnakeRoundUp.net

Contact the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce at 325-235-5488 for more information.

LOOK: This Is What You'll See At The World's Largest Rattlesnake Round-Up

Rattlesnakes are part of the Texas Landscape, and here in West Texas we spend four days every year working on rounding up all the rattlesnakes we can find, and this is what it looks like.

Gallery Credit: Rudy Fernandez