The Iowa Rabbit Festival was started in 1986. It began as a way to promote the only rabbit processing plant in the area. The first festival was held in 1987 with a small rabbit show, a parade, and booth to sale crafts. The few bands they hired played from the back of a flatbed trailer. There was a pageant to crown Miss Bunny who then traveled the state to other festivals promoting ours.
The festival has since grown from year to year. The processing plant is long gone, but the festival lives on. An average of 20,000 people attend the festival each year. They have since added a carnival, an actual bandstand, and a Petite Lapin pageant for ages 0 – 17 years.
The festival is held the 3rd weekend in March in the Lawrence Toups, Jr. Memorial Park (formally Iowa City Park). During the festival, attendees can sample a variety of local foods. The Cook-off on the Saturday morning gives people a chance to taste rabbit cooked many ways. There are also many arts and crafts vendors displaying and selling their wares. The main attraction is, of course, the bandstand. They have at least 13 different bands playing a variety local music, including Cajun, Zydeco, and variety bands.
Sounds like a nightmare for a vegan doesn't it?! Well, this festival is currently a Top 20 Event for the Southeastern United States and a favorite amongst many of my kin folk (can't you hear the "Southern" dripping in that last statement?!).... so it's been on my "Top 100" bucket list for Louisiana.
For the past month I've been planning to attend with my cousins, all whom participate in the big Saturday morning cook off event. Most win SOMETHING each year... and it's basically a full day in the sunshine drinking beer and cutting up. Who can pass that up?!
But sometimes life doesn't go according to plans. A friend died suddenly just a couple days before this year's festival. She was scheduled to cook with one of my cousins, along with her mom. A beautiful girl. 33 years old. A mother and a wife. Too young to die.
I didn't think I'd attend after that. So much sadness and heartbreak. But life does go on, and we did end up going on Saturday, with heavy hearts and Amy in our thoughts. The day turned out to be a fun one, all things considered. Below are a few photos snapped from the event.
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| Me and my two adorable bunnies Laura and Katy Beth |
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| Snow Balls anyone?! The BEST are here in Louisiana. |
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| Me and a few of my cousins |
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| Me and Katelyn... showing off her "stache shirt. :) |
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