Rattling Their Cages at the Fair

Georgia

At the 30th annual Rattlesnake Roundup in Claxton March 8 and 9, prizes are awarded for the largest rattler and the most rattlers caught. There will be venom-milking demonstrations, lectures on snakes and some nonpoisonous snakes for petting. The event is as much a small-town (population 2,800) fair as any, with clog dancing, a parade and gospel singing. Claxton is 55 miles southwest of Savannah. For more information, contact the Evans County Wildlife Club, P.O. Box 292, Claxton, GA 30417; telephone (912) 739-3820.

Louisiana

The 11th annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, March 20 to 23 in the French Quarter, promises to combine serious literary discussion, theatrical performances and fun. The fun part, the festival finale, is the Stell-off, a Stella and Stanley shouting contest in Jackson Square. Williams’ cronies will reminisce about the city’s favorite adopted son and Alec Baldwin will read from Williams’ work. Also on hand: Calvin Trillin, Dick Cavett and Carrie Nye. For more information, contact the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, 5500 Prytania St., Suite 217, New Orleans, LA 70115; tel. (504) 283-3227.

Massachusetts

The 126th annual New England Spring Flower Show, March 8 to 16 at Bayside Expo Center in Boston, rivals the crocus as a sure sign of spring for New England gardeners. This year’s theme is “Secrets of the Garden” with talks on how insects contribute to a garden’s success. Also: elaborately landscaped vignettes, some with waterfalls, ikebana demonstrations (Japanese flower arranging) and a cafe. For more information, contact the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 300 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA 02115; tel. (617) 536-9280.

Mississippi

Natchez, the Southern city with the most antebellum buildings, will open 32 of its grand mansions for touring during Natchez Spring Pilgrimage, March 8 to April 12. Homes will be shown on a rotating basis, and visitors will be able to see up to four each morning and afternoon. Nightly entertainment includes the Confederate Pageant, which highlights the city’s history and the “Southern Road to Freedom,” a musical tribute to the African American experience in Natchez. For more information, contact the Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, P.O. Box 347, Canal Street Depot, Natchez, MI 39121; tel. (800) 647-6742.

Nebraska

The wings in the Wings Over the Platte celebration, March 20 to 23, belong to the 500,000 sandhill cranes that stop in this 40-mile stretch of the Platte River Valley each spring. The Grand Platte Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a variety of tours to the best viewing spots, including sunrise and sunset tours when the flight is most dramatic. Each tour is led by a local wildlife expert. Other events include an art fair, seminars and “crane lore around the campfire” dinner talks. For more information, contact the Grand Island Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 1486, Grand Island, NE 68802; tel. (308) 382-4400.

Mexico

The coming of spring takes on a special significance at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. The still majestic pyramid was built in alignment with the sun so that at the spring and fall equinoxes, a shadow slithers down the carved plumed serpent that runs down the side, signifying a re-fertilizing of the Earth. Crowds gather in the great plaza to watch the descent, which can be seen March 20 to 22, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. each day. Food and souvenir vendors and strolling entertainers add to the fiesta. There is an English language explanation of the phenomenon at 3 p.m. each day. For more information, contact the Mexican Government Tourism Office, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 224, Los Angeles, CA 90067; tel. (310) 203-8191.

Spain

At Fallas de San Josea March 15 to 19, Valencia’s most elaborate festival, huge papier-mache effigies of heads of humans and horses (some more than 40 feet high) made by neighborhood fraternal groups, are paraded through the streets for the first four nights. The processions include folkloric music and dancing. On the final night, after the effigies have been judged, all but the winners are set on fire in an immense bonfire. The festival includes bullfights and street parties. For more information, contact the Tourist Office of Spain, 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 960, Beverly Hills, CA 90211; tel. (213) 658-7188.

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