About the iowa rabbit festival
History and current
The Iowa Rabbit Festival started in 1986 to promote a local rabbit processing plant as well as to increase awareness of the local rabbit processing industry. The festival has grown into one of the largest events in our area and today money raised from this event is donated to the various civic, fraternal, and school organizations in the Iowa, Louisiana community that volunteer their time to make the festival successful. We are also proud to make a contribution to those Iowa High School graduating seniors by providing college scholarships.
The Iowa Rabbit Festival attracts over 20,000 people throughout the festival weekend and has grown to be one of the top 20 events in the Southeastern United States. The annual Rabbit Festival gets bigger and better every year. The event still features a rabbit show, and vendor booths but has added a carnival, pageants, and lots of live entertainment by local, regional, and national artists. The Iowa Rabbit Festival Rabbit Cook-Off features all types of rabbit cuisine, entertainment, and the extremely popular People’s Choice Award where you as a spectator can taste all different variations of rabbit dishes.
Unfortunately, for the first time since 1986, the festival broke a string of 33 consecutive years missing 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the Corona Virus, Hurricanes Laura and Delta, and facility damages respectively. Despite the setbacks that we have all incurred through the last few years, we are determined and proud to say that we continued our commitment to provide college scholarships to graduating seniors during the 2020 and 2021 graduation years even after missing those two festival years.
The festival made its return in 2023 and looks forward to many more successful years to donate to our various organizations in Iowa, Louisiana.
1986-2015
From the mid 1980'sThe Iowa Rabbit Festival was originally held in Iowa, Louisiana in what was then, City Park. In 2002, City Park was renamed Lawrence Toups, Jr. Memorial Park after the passing of longtime and influential Mayor Lawrence Toups, Jr. In 2015, the festival was moved to Burton Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana to accommodate onsite parking, indoor facilities, modernized facilities, onsite camper facilities, and to avoid adverse weather.
2015-Current
In 2015, the festival was moved to Burton Complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This allowed the festival to facilitate the majority of its events indoors or under covered protection from adverse weather. This move also provided ample onsite parking. This provided less of a burden on festivalgoers who could now simply park on the festival grounds to attend the festival.
The newer, more modernized facilities provide a more functional layout of for the festival. Restrooms are more ample and accessible. Seating is more abundant for entertainment viewers. Craft vendors, cook-off teams, rabbit show participants, and attendees can enjoy their selection of any or all of these events in the comfort of an indoor or sheltered setting.
Taking things a step further for the experienced and well-seasoned festivalgoer, over 100 RV spots are available with full hook-ups. An attendee can bring and setup their camper for the entire weekend to experience the best of both worlds. Camping and a full festival all in one spot!
Click here to register for camping!
Click here for more vendor info!
Click here for more Cook-Off info!
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