By Kyle LoJacono
When it started 44 years ago, the Rattlesnake Festival was very different from the fall carnival it is today.
Jack Vogel was one of the events founders and remembers those humble beginnings.
“From the early days, the festival was indeed a rattlesnake roundup with people capturing rattlesnakes to enter competitions for size, weight and appearance although no rattlesnakes were slaughtered,” Vogel said. “Real gopher turtles were also used for the races. Children and businesses would paint them and compete for trophies. In the ’80s, however, environmental concerns changed all that.”
Plenty of rattlesnakes will be present this year, but they are not longer the only attraction.
The event, which draws 30,000 to 40,000 from around the Tampa Bay area, is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16 and 11 a.m.-4-p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17 at San Antonio City Park near city hall. Both admission and parking are free.
“We’ve tried to keep it as affordable as possible for a family to come out and spend the day or weekend,” said Stephanie Stephenson, festival board secretary. “All the shows and crafts and contests are less than $10 to enter.”
Stephenson said it is more of a fall festival today, but there is also an educational element to the event. Part of that teaching comes from the snake and reptile show, which includes many rattlesnakes. The show is $5, $2 for children ages 12 and younger.
Other attractions at the festival include wildlife exhibits, pony rides, crafts, contests and plenty of food, all of which is made at the event.
One of the highlights is the gopher race, which is $1. The event used to have real gopher tortoises, but today mockups of the reptile are used instead.
“It’s an outstanding event and I have participated in it for many years,” said Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Pat Mulieri. “In fact, I will be calling the 1 o’clock gopher race on Sunday.
“The race brings the community together, gives local people a chance to participate and does help the economy of the area,” Mulieri continued.
Mulieri is also the chairwoman of the Pasco Tourism Council. She said the influx of people to east Pasco helps the entire county when people buy gas, get food at the restaurants or stay at a hotel for the two-day festival.
Many people think they serve rattlesnake at the festival, but Stephenson said that is not the case.
“The funny thing is we’ve never served rattlesnake at the festival,” Stephenson said. “I hear that from people. We just have chicken, fish and other carnival food.”
The day will begin with the Rattlesnake Festival 5-mile and 1-mile races starting at 8 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. respectively. About 600 participate in the run each year. The start and finish lines are both on Magnolia Street near San Ann Liquors & Restaurant. The course is challenging with varying terrain and includes hills. For more information or for a registration form, call (352) 588-4444.
Also part of the festivities are the five Miss Rattlers, which will be named in the days leading up to the event. The five new winners will be out and about at the various events throughout the festival.
Contests include the Corn Toss Tournament, best Western Wear contest and the gopher race. For more information on event times, visit rattlesnakefestival.com.
Money from the contest, wildlife shows and food sales goes to benefit area churches and groups like Girl and Boy Scouts
“There’s something for everyone out here,” Stephenson said. “Where else can you see pageant winners, gopher races and rattlesnakes all in one place?”
