The Rattlesnake Roundup has returned to Sweetwater for its 60th year.

The event opened its gates at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Nolan County Coliseum, and will be open all weekend through Sunday afternoon. Because this is the 60th year since the event’s 1958 founding, organizers expect it to attract a larger crowd than usual to commemorate this unique event.

Rob McCann, public relations director for the Sweetwater Jaycees, expects a vast number of people as well.

“We expect there to be 25,000 to 35,000 people attending this year,” McCann said.

The roundup this year is expected to host several bands at their venue. It will offer various attractions, food and merchandise. Much of these attractions can be found at the flea markets, funnel cake booths and gun and knife convention. Some attractions of the roundup include snake charming, gun and knife shows, cook offs and dancing, among other things.

“My favorite part in working the event is all the different kinds of people we get to meet,” said Mary Reeves, a member of the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce. “Being at the media booth, we see all the people that have come from far and wide from different states and even different countries.”

The Rattlesnake Roundup holds many childhood memories, especially for those that grew up around it in their early childhood. Reeves is among those who grew up around the roundup.

“When I was younger and didn’t work the event yet, I would always enjoy walking through the show barns and the coliseum and seeing all the different types of vendors,” Reeves said. “But my absolute favorite thing to get are funnel cakes, I will always make time for one of those.”