When is the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup?
It's held every year on the second weekend of March at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, Texas. The 2026 roundup was the 68th.
Who runs the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup?
The Sweetwater Jaycees, a nonprofit group. A Jaycee told us the money raised goes back into the community, including college scholarships.
What happens to the snakes at the roundup?
According to the organizers we spoke with, each snake is weighed, measured and sexed, and the data goes to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Venom is milked for research and antivenom, and the meat and skins are used too.
Is it really the world's largest rattlesnake roundup?
That's how it's billed. It has run since the late 1950s, and in its biggest year, 1982, hunters brought in about 18,000 pounds of rattlesnakes.
Can you eat rattlesnake at the roundup?
Yes. Fried rattlesnake is sold inside the Coliseum during the event.
