Story by:
Tori Collins
Reporter
Evans County is hosting their 51st-annual Rattlesnake Festival Saturday on March 10 from 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m and Sunday, March 11,2018 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m at 501 Cedar Ave, Claxton.
Heather Dykes from Reidsville is the event coordinator for the Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival has been for the last seven years.
“I would have to say my favorite part of the festival would be the Wildlife Education Program. It is a on stage demonstration and teaching of how to hunt and conserve wildlife, to me that is the most interesting part," Dykes said.
The Rattlesnake Festival is an all-day event showcasing multiple snake pits, live bands and performers, a parade, crowning of the beauty queen, arts and crafts , food vendors and scheduled contest for the public.
The Claxton Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival is a major accomplishment for Evans County. The Festival was voted one of the ‘Top Twenty Events in the Southeast’ by The Southeast Tourism Society.
The festival brings out over 15,000 tourist and brings economic incline to the local community.
This event is sponsored by The Evans County Wildlife Club.
Central Florida Zoo, Georgia Reptile Society, Department of Human Resources, Georgia Southern University Wildlife Center are organizations expected to be at the festival, Heather said.
The parade will take place Saturday March 10 at 10:a.m in Downtown Claxton. The parade is one of the many components to the Festival.
Tammi Hall a native of Evans County and has been attending the festival since she was a child. She now contributes to the planning of the parade for the festival.
The parade will feature The Claxton High School Band, antique automobile, tractors and clowns.
The Fort Stewart Marching Unit and Band has been invited, however their participation has not been yet confirmed, Hall said.
Robin Salter is the 2017 Queen of the Rattlesnake Festival.
Salter is a 19 years old, Claxton native who graduated from Pine Lake Christian Academy and is a freshman at Georgia Southern University. Robin is currently undecided, but is thinking about pursuing Public Health.
She has been attending the Rattlesnake festival since she was about 3 or 4 years old.
“The most memorable thing about being apart of the festival was meeting so many people," Salter said. “I met so many people in the wildlife industry and overall its was such a great experience."
Salter was a senior in high school when she competed to be crowned queen. It was her very 1st pagenet she competed in.
I asked Salter if a young lady was interested in running for Queen what advice would she give to the young lady.
“I struggled with not trying new things. Doing pageants has brought out my personality and I feel like I can speak to people better now and be more comfortable," Salter said.
The pageant will consist of contestants doing a interview, offstage questions, evening wear, and an opening number.
The winner of the pageant will be selected by a panel of judges and will be crowned ‘Miss Claxton Rattlesnake & Wildlife Queen’. The winner will receive a crown and sash, and a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of Evans County Wildlife Club.
Entertainment for the show will feature bands, line dancers, contemporary dancers, cloggers, and gospel performers.
WESCOTT, Line Dance Fever, Dancers Edge, State Prison Cloggers, Heartland Express Dancers, and Kindred Spirits are all performances that have been scheduled for the festival.
“There may be more acts later, but these are the ones that have been confirmed," said the director of the entertainment for the Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival, Gerald Rogers.
The Annual Rattlesnake run will take place at the end of Veterans Community Center Saturday March 10, beginning at 8:15 a.m.
The run will feature a 5k, 10k and 1 mile run/walk.
All ages are welcomed to participate in the run.
“We've had babies participate and a couple of years ago we had a 80 year old enter the run” said Patti Rogers, a member involved in the planning of the Annual Rattlesnake run.
Every runner will receive a medal for participating. The winner for each the 5k and 10k race will receive a trophy, Rogers said.