Lake Charles, LA — The 2026 Iowa Rabbit Festival is set to return in March with three days of live music, family activities, and rabbit-themed events at Burton Coliseum, offering residents across Calcasieu Parish a mix of carnival rides, food, and regional entertainment.
The festival, based in the town of Iowa and traditionally focused on celebrating Louisiana’s rabbit industry and Cajun culture, will run March 19–21, 2026. Organizers have scheduled nonstop live entertainment on two indoor stages, a rabbit cook off, a rabbit show, a petting zoo, craft booths, and a full carnival.
Dates, Gate Information, And Pricing
The 2026 event features a different schedule and pricing structure each day:
Thursday, March 19 – Family Night
- Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Gate: Free admission
- Activities:
- Carnival opens
- Helicopter rides
- Craft and food vendors
- Petting zoo
- Note: No alcohol will be allowed on the grounds during Family Night.
Family Night is designed as a lower-cost option for families, with free gate entry and access to the core attractions, minus alcohol sales.
Friday, March 20
- Time: 6:30 p.m. to midnight
- Admission: $15, with kids 12 and under admitted free
- Activities:
- Entertainment inside Burton Coliseum
- Carnival open
- Helicopter rides
- Craft and food vendors
- Petting zoo
Saturday, March 21
- Time: Events beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing into the evening
- Admission: $20, with kids 12 and under admitted free
- Activities:
- Rabbit cook off, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Rabbit show
- Entertainment inside Burton Coliseum from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Carnival open
- Helicopter rides
- Craft and food vendors
- Petting zoo
Admission prices apply to the gate; individual activities inside, such as carnival rides or helicopter rides, are typically paid separately.
Live Music And Entertainment Schedule
Organizers are promoting “nonstop live entertainment” on two indoor stages at Burton Coliseum, featuring local, regional, and national artists. The acts are billed as family-friendly and suitable for dancing, reflecting the festival’s strong Cajun and Zydeco influences.
Friday Main Stage – March 20, 2026
Live music on Friday will highlight several well-known Louisiana performers:
- 7:30 p.m. – Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
A leading Zydeco act, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie are known for high-energy performances that blend traditional Creole music with modern dance rhythms. - 9 p.m. – Wayne Toups & Zydecajun
Wayne Toups is one of Louisiana’s most recognized musicians, performing his signature “Zydecajun” style, which mixes Zydeco, Cajun, and rock influences. - 10:30 p.m. – SteelShot
SteelShot closes out the Friday lineup, bringing a later-night set to the main stage.
Saturday Cook Off Stage – March 21, 2026
While cooks compete and dishes are judged, a separate stage will provide continuous entertainment near the rabbit cook off area:
- 9 a.m. – Jud and Bella
- 10:30 a.m. – Kevin Barton
- 12 p.m. – Mike Broussard
These performances are scheduled to keep a steady flow of live music during the cook off, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday Main Stage – March 21, 2026
The main stage inside Burton Coliseum will feature a full afternoon and evening of performances:
- 2 p.m. – The Johnsons Brothers Band
- 3:30 p.m. – Rome Murray Jr.
- 5 p.m. – Richard LeBouef & Two Step
- 6:30 p.m. – Dani LaCour
- 8 p.m. – Travis Matte & The King Pins
- 9:30 p.m. – Dustin Dale Gaspard
The lineup includes a mix of dance-oriented bands and singer-songwriters, creating a full slate of performances until late evening.
Carnival, Food Vendors, And Craft Vendors
Throughout the festival, a carnival will be open with rides and games aimed at a wide range of ages. Helicopter rides will also operate during festival hours on all three days, adding an aerial view of the grounds for those willing to pay an additional fee.
Food vendors will offer a variety of festival-style dishes, and craft vendors will sell handmade items and regional goods. While specific menus and vendors were not provided, organizers describe “delicious food vendors” and “unique craft booths,” designed to appeal to both local residents and visitors from across Calcasieu Parish and neighboring communities.
Rabbit Cook Off And Rabbit Show
A central feature of the Iowa Rabbit Festival is its focus on rabbits, both in culinary competition and animal showcasing.
Rabbit Cook Off – Saturday, March 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cooks will prepare rabbit-based dishes for judges and festivalgoers. The event includes:
- A judged competition for participating cooking teams
- Opportunities for attendees to sample dishes
- A People’s Choice vote, allowing the public to help select a favorite entry
Rabbit cook offs highlight recipes using rabbit meat, which is considered a lean protein in many cuisines. The festival uses this event to show the versatility of rabbit in traditional and modern dishes.
Rabbit Show
The rabbit show will feature live rabbits competing for prizes based on standards such as breed characteristics and overall condition. While exact times and classes were not listed, organizers encourage visitors to “check out the Rabbit Show to see the best rabbits compete for prizes.”
Family-Friendly Focus In Iowa And Calcasieu Parish
The Iowa Rabbit Festival continues to position itself as a family-oriented event for the town of Iowa and the wider Calcasieu Parish region, including nearby communities such as Lake Charles, Sulphur, Moss Bluff, Westlake, and Vinton. With free gate entry on Thursday’s Family Night, free admission for kids 12 and under on Friday and Saturday, and a clear no-alcohol policy on opening night, the festival aims to be accessible to families with children.
Indoor stages at Burton Coliseum provide a controlled environment for live music, while the petting zoo, carnival, and helicopter rides offer a range of non-music attractions. The mix of entertainment, food, and rabbit-focused events gives the festival a distinct identity among Louisiana spring events.
Organizers emphasize that the entertainment is designed to be suitable for all ages, with styles that encourage dancing but remain approachable to a general audience.
What Attendees Can Expect
Visitors to the Iowa Rabbit Festival in 2026 can expect:
- Multiple days of live music from morning through late night
- A variety of rides and games at the carnival
- Helicopter rides each day of the festival
- Food booths serving festival favorites and rabbit dishes during the cook off
- Craft vendors selling handmade items and specialty goods
- A dedicated rabbit cook off with judging and a People’s Choice component
- A rabbit show featuring competitive rabbit exhibits
- A petting zoo accessible throughout the event
With a combination of cultural music, culinary competition, agricultural exhibition, and traditional fair-style attractions, the Iowa Rabbit Festival remains one of Calcasieu Parish’s notable spring events.