CLAXTON — Bruce Purcell, president of The Evans County Wildlife Club, announced recently that the 44th Rattlesnake Roundup Festival in Claxton is set for Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13 in the Claxton-Evans Industrial Park at 501 Cedar St. in Hagan (just outside Claxton).  The event is sponsored by Coca-Cola and NeSmith Chevrolet.
The family festival gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 12. The weekend kicks off with the 44th Annual Rattlesnake Roundup Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. Various entertainment and musical acts will perform live in the entertainment pavilion and Miss Rattlesnake Roundup 2011 will be crowned at 3 p.m. More than 200 arts and crafts booths will be set up and there will be rides for children.
New to the festival this year, the Georgia Southern University Wildlife Center will feature birds of prey flying demonstrations with hawks, falcons and more on Saturday. Georgia Forestry’s Smokey the Bear will appear at the festival Saturday. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be on site with an educational display and fish tank filled with native fish Saturday and Sunday. Herald Knight of Knight and Hale Outdoors will sell autographed game calls. Chris Parrish, an eight-time world turkey calling champion, will sign autographs.
The festivities continue Sunday at 10 a.m. The 12th annual Southeast Spring Classes Turkey Calling Contest is also Sunday.
Admission to the roundup is $5 per person per day for attendees age 6 and older. Children younger than 6 are admitted free. Parking is free.
The Evans County Wildlife Club is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about wildlife conservation. The club provides college scholarships and donates the roundup’s remaining proceeds to local libraries, Shriners, the Red Cross, various children’s homes and other charities.
For more information on the club or the Rattlesnake Roundup, call 912-739-3820 or go to www.claxtonrattlesnakeroundup.com.