FAQ
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy do you have the Goat Roast?
Does it cost anything? Do I need to bring anything?
Do you really eat goat? What does it taste like?
Do you really eat rattlesnake?
What's it like, living in East Valley?
Why do you have the Goat Roast?
This is a question I frequently ask myself, especially in late August. I don't have a good answer.
Can I come? Where is it?
Everyone is welcome as long as you make a reasonable effort to abide by The Goat Roast Rules.
That being said, this website is an experiment, and I'm a little nervous about the power of the web. There just isn't room for thousands of people here. If you've never been here and don't know how to find us, please send an email to the address on our Contacts page.
When is it?
Always the Sunday before Labor Day.
Does it cost anything? Do I need to bring anything?
There's no charge. Any substantial donations will be passed on to Bartow CASA.
We provide barbecue, lemonade, and a limited quantity of beer. Any or all of these may run out at any time, in which case refer to Goat Roast Rule #1.
We ask everyone to bring a side dish or two, and anything else you may need, such as lawn chairs, soft drinks, ice, bug spray, and sunblock.
Do you really eat goat? What does it taste like?
Yes, we eat goat. We also eat chicken because goat doesn't taste like chicken.
Do you really eat rattlesnake?
Not so much, anymore.
When the Goat Roast started in '83, rattlesnakes were unnervingly large, common, and bold, and I'm a firm believer in "eat what you kill." In the last few years, however, they've become somewhat rare and elusive. Like a lot of good things, they're losing ground to suburbanization. When I see one these days, I'm inclined to let it go in peace. Copperheads are another matter, but they're usually not big enough to eat.
Of course, if a rattlesnake were to make a pest of himself around the yard, I wouldn't let him go to waste.
What's it like living in East Valley?
It's snaky as Hell, and the wind blows your shit away. No one in his right mind would live here.