The Evans County Wildlife Club will host the 54th annual Claxton Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 in the Claxton-Evans Industrial Park located at 501 Cedar Avenue in Hagan, GA (just outside of Claxton). The event is sponsored by The Evans County Wildlife Club, Kyle Durrence Chevrolet and Todd Padgett Housing Center.
The weekend kicks off with the Miss Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival Pageant, Friday, March 11, 7:00 pm at the Wildlife Club. Eight local young ladies will be competing in this year’s pageant. The queen will be crowned on Saturday afternoon, 2:30 pm, at Festival Headquarters, by reigning queen Miss Jordan Simmons and Miss Coastal Georgia, Holly Haynes.
Festival gates open at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 12, and at 10:00 am on Sunday, March 13. Tickets are available at the gate. Admission is $8 per person. Kids 5 and under and Military are admitted free. Parking at the festival is free. Over 100 arts and craft and food vendors will be on site both days, as well as snake handling demonstrations, live entertainment, a rock climbing wall, a zip line, and much more.
The Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival parade will be held in downtown Claxton, Saturday, March 12, beginning at 10:00 am. Over 150 units are expected to participate. For more information or parade applications contact The Chamber of Commerce, [email protected] or call 912-739-1391.
The Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival provides the Evans County Wildlife Club the opportunity to showcase not only rattlesnakes but other snakes native to this area along with turtles, alligators, turkeys and other wildlife. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Southern University Birds of Prey, Yarbrough Reptiles, Southeastern Reptile Rescue and other organizations will be conducting educational programs throughout the weekend. Additional activities include dog hunting demonstrations and much more.
Rashe Collins, President of the Evans County Wildlife Club said, “We’re excited to offer such a wide variety of wildlife again this year. Of course, we will have a large collection of rattlesnakes and endangered snakes for the community to see, as we have for the past 53 years. Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation will be bringing the largest rattlesnake in captivity today. For only eight bucks, we’re providing the most educational, hands on, and entertaining wildlife experience this area has ever seen.”
Additional Saturday events include the 4th Annual Car and Motorcycle Show. Registration opens at 10:00am -12:00 pm and awards will be presented at 2:00 pm. A new addition to this year’s festival is the Gospel Sing on Sunday starting at 1pm.
The Evans County Wildlife Club is a non-profit organization that promotes wildlife conservation. The club provides college scholarships and donates to non-profit clubs, organizations, churches, schools and numerous worth-while projects and events.
For more information regarding the club or the Claxton Rattlesnake and Wildlife Festival, visit us at www.evanscountywildlifeclub.com or call 912-739-3820.
