The Rattlesnake Round-Up

: Sweetwater has some pretty amazing abandoned structures.

: Meet Billy and Maryanne, who have lived in Sweetwater all their life. Billy told me how he stored three 55-gallon drums full of rattlesnakes under the house when they first were married, and Maryanne was none to pleased upon finding the barrels of surprise-snakes.

: Arriving slightly before the festival, I was shocked to see the streets almost completely abandoned. I sneezed, and it echoed.

: Meet Richard, who works at a local convenience store. He discussed the failures of trickle-down economics with me, which was a perspective I was surprised at.

: This is the best rattlesnake-themed parade I’ve ever been to.

: I didn’t understand everything I saw, but that’s what makes a trip great.

: Before the festival began, I got some one-on-one time with Miss Texas by the snakeskinning pit.

: Margana Wood is wonderfully pleasant, and is touring Texas to spread her message- “You Belong”. She suffered from bullying growing up, and wishes to fight that mindset in youth everywhere.

: At the “Miss Snake Charmer” pageant, the contestants present themselves in a Venetian themed motif. Bella!

: Margana greets everyone from within the crowd at the evening’s beauty pageant.

: Jaelynn Page presents her talent in the form of a spiritual delivered to an enthralled crowd, which clapped along

: A jazzy dance to Gwen Stefani’s “Holla Back Girl”

: Another jazzy “tribal African” dance, designed to “teach us about multiculturalism”. JAZZ HANDS!

: It has flags! Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” has been realized to its fullest potential.

: So much sparkly tap dancing. You’re a winner in my heart, Riley Dodd.

: Cyera Piper had an insanely impressive gymnastics routine.

: I can never get enough flag. MORE FLAG!

: A moving rendition of Patsy Cline.

: Cyera Pieper wins the scholarship pageant this year!

: The rattlesnakes are “turned” to ensure they do not suffocate or injure each other in the pit.

: Also exceptionally talented at hitting trucks with metal sticks.

: Chauncey, a veteran who lost his leg in Iraq, explores a den he hopes might contain some rattlesnakes.

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