Two days from now, locals and folks from miles away will be having a slithering good time at the 56th annual Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo.

Gates open at Channell-Lee Stadium Friday at 4 p.m.

More than 80 of the festival’s namesake – the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake – will be present at this year’s event.

Arts and crafts and food vendors will be set up around the track at the stadium, as well.

Opp Mayor John Bartholomew said he was excited about the weekend’s events.

Garrett Seago will kick off the entertainment at 5 p.m., followed by country music’s Sammy Kershaw at 6 p.m., Aaron Tippin at 7:30 p.m., and John Anderson at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s events kick off with a 5K run/walk at Opp High School.

Registration will be from 7 a.m. until 8:30 a.m., and the race starts at 9 a.m.

Gates open at Channell-Lee Stadium at 8 a.m.

A welcome will be at 9 a.m., and local entertainment kicks off at 10 a.m.

Snake races will be at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Opening ceremonies will be at noon.

Andalusia native Christian Wossilek will perform at 2:30 p.m.

The world championship buck-dancing contest will be at 3 p.m., and Bobby Finedore will play harmonica.

The famous greasy pole climb contest will be at 4 p.m.

A Christian contest will begin at 6 p.m., with Tim Timmons.

Ellie Holcomb will perform at 7 p.m., and Chris Tomlin will perform at 8 p.m.

Bartholomew said ticket sales are going well.

“We are selling 30 and 50 tickets at a time,” he said. “When you get the opportunity to see an artist like Chris Tomlin for $25 and the average ticket price is $100, that’s something amazing.”

Bartholomew said the decision to let children 10 and under in with a paying adult is paying dividends for the event.

“We listened to families say it was hard to pay for children who were 10,” he said. “So we wanted to make it a little easier on our families. We hope everyone comes out and enjoys themselves.”