SWEETWATER, Texas — The 66th annual Sweetwater Jaycees World's Largest Rattlesnake Roundup began Thursday.
As vendors arrived, Sweetwater Jaycees held milking demonstrations at the Nolan County Coliseum from the early afternoon hours until just before sunset. The annual Rattlesnake Parade took place in the afternoon, followed by the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant.
The festival is held during the second weekend of March each year. Doors open at 8 a.m. through Sunday.
The annual event is a significant fundraiser for the Sweetwater Jaycees. Hunters haul in pounds of snakes, which the organization uses for demonstrations. At the roundup, handlers extract venom from the rattlesnakes in a process known as milking. A handler pushes down on the back of the snake's head while the animal releases venom into a funnel. The venom is then used to make antivenom.
At the event, snakes are also killed, skinned, fried and eaten. Sweetwater Jaycees Chairman Travis Gardner said the work the organization does is necessary and funds raised from the roundup help power other charitable events throughout the year.
"Some (people) are happy that we're doing this, because it helps manage the population," he said. "(The money) that is made from here is put to good use. That is our number one goal as a Jaycee. To better our community," he said.
The Rattlesnake Roundup will continue through March 10. There is also a carnival at the event, which is open from 2 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and until 9 p.m. Sunday.