Iowa Festival returns to Burton Coliseum tonight
Published 5:01 am Thursday, March 20, 2025
- Among this year's Iowa Rabbit Festival performs are Justin Martindale and The Backstabbers, Wayne Toups, The Chee-Weez, Steelshot and Flamethrowers. (Special to the American Press)
The Iowa Rabbit Festival returns to Southwest Louisiana this weekend with carnival rides and games, pageants, live music and helicopter tours among this year’s offerings.
Founded in 1986 as a way to increase awareness of the local rabbit processing industry, today the festival is used to raise money for area nonprofits and schools.
Family night will kick off the festivities with the gates to the carnival opening at 5 p.m. tonight. No alcohol will be allowed at this free event. Helicopter rides will be available for $25 a passenger and vendor booths will be open.
Gates reopen at 5 p.m. Friday with a $15 admission fee for those 12 and older. Friday’s performances include Justin Martindale and The Backstabbers at 6 p.m.; Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners, 7:30 p.m.; Wayne Toups and Zydecajun, 9 p.m.; and The Chee-Weez, 10:30 p.m. Saturday’s entertainment includes Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie at 3 p.m.; Dustin Sonnier, 4:30 p.m.; John Dale Hebert, 6 p.m.; Casey Peveto Band, 7:30 p.m.; Steelshot, 9 p.m.; and Flamethrowers, 10:30 p.m.
Helicopter rides will be available for $35 a passenger on Friday and Saturday. Wristbands for unlimited criminal rides are $30
The rabbit show will kick off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. A separate stage will be set up near the show and performances on that stage include Tucker Fontenot at 9 a.m., The Johnson Brothers Band at 10:30 a.m. and Amis du Teche at noon.
The Iowa Rabbit Festival Rabbit Cook-Off will begin at 9 a.m. Judging criteria will include originality, seasoning, texture, presentation and a usage of at least 40 percent of the dish being rabbit. A People’s Choice Award will be determined by who the public votes as having the best dish.
Carnival rides will open at 10 a.m.
