Dozens of booths offered visitors food and drink and arts and crafts, while several held boxes of snakes on exhibit. Blue skies and balmy temperatures hailed the hundreds of visitors to the 40th annual Lometa Diamondback Jubilee at Lometa Regional Park last Saturday.

The event, which was designed in effort to eradicate rattlesnakes from Lampasas County, brought in 459 snakes from all over the county and as far away as Mertzon.

The largest snake measured 62 1/4 inches, while second place was 60 1/4 inches in length. The thirdlongest came in at 55 1/2 inches.

There were a variety of activities and events at the jubilee including music, carnival rides, midway games, arts and crafts, a car show and a barbecue cookoff. But the snakes were the stars of the show.

Forty-four cars, pickups and trucks participated in the first car show, representing clubs from Brownwood, Comanche, Goldthwaite and Killeen.

Youngsters had a blast on the variety of rides and games at the carnival midway. Photos by Richard Akridge In the second annual barbecue cookoff, firstplace awards went to John Davis of Lometa for beans; Wayne Ratliff of Star for chicken; and Billie Overton of Glen Rose for ribs and brisket.

Overall grand champion was Overton, while Euless resident Gerald Maynard was reserve grand champ.

In the chili cookoff, Vicky Jeffery of McCauley won best all-around chili.

The best men's chili award went to Austin's Chili: Don Freeman, Austin Freeman and Makenzie Fielder of Llano, and the best women's chili award went to Plump Pepper Pepper Chili: Gaylee Hamrick, Jim Wharam and Tracy Stone of Lampasas.
Nearly 500 rattlesnakes were captured for Lometa's jubilee and were on exhibit for the crowds.
A number of vehicles were entered in the festival's first car show.
Youngsters marveled at the size of the rattlesnakes and at the handlers who showed no fear in displaying their charges.
The carnival offered fun times for family members, including this father and his daughter.