Old-fashioned races, bluegrass music and slithery shows enliven a weekend in San Antonio.
By MICHELLE JONES
Published October 15, 2004
Visitors can view a variety of snakes, including rattlesnakes, at the 38th Annual Rattlesnake Festival in San Antonio this weekend.
The festival, which started as a rodeo, evolved into a rattlesnake roundup with prizes going to the person who caught the longest snake. In 1984, they stopped bagging snakes and started using shows and exhibits to spotlight the area's indigenous reptiles.
John Storms delights and repulses with his snake and reptile shows, which run at various times throughout the weekend.
Petting the snakes isn't allowed, but a petting zoo lets youngsters cuddle farm animals such as ponies, goats, rabbits and chickens.
Children can participate in free old-fashioned sack races, an egg toss, and egg and spoon races. But you'll have to reach into your pockets for pony rides at $3 each; or wall climbing, $5.
Gopher races, with mechanical turtles, have evolved through the years. Live gopher turtles are no longer used, but the wooden ones provide almost as much fun.
For $1, children race the wooden turtles through grassy lanes to the finish line; winners take home blue ribbons.
Saturday's meal includes barbecue chicken with baked beans, cole slaw and a roll for $6. On Sunday, the meal includes fried fish with baked beans, cheese grits, cole slaw and hush puppies for $5.
Entertainment includes music by the Foothill Bluegrass, Devine and LaRoche and Lance Lazenby.
38TH ANNUAL RATTLESNAKE FESTIVAL
WHERE: San Antonio City Square, Pasco County. Take Interstate 75 north to the Dade City exit, go east and follow the signs. 352 588-4444 or www.rattlesnakefestival.com
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
COST: Free admission and parking. Snakes And More and World of Reptiles shows each cost $5 for adults and $2 for children younger than 12.
