Copperas Cove Chamber Seeks Vendors for 44th Annual Rabbit Fest

The Copperas Cove Chamber is inviting arts and crafts vendors and exhibitors to take part in the 44th Rabbit Fest at Copperas Cove City Park, with food vendor spots already sold out and early-space pricing set to increase on April 27. The Chamber calls the event “the signature community event of Copperas Cove, attracting an estimated 25,000+ attendees annually,” and officials say vendor applications are flowing into the chamber office.

Organizers list the festival program as including carnival rides and a midway, market and food vendors, live local and regional entertainment, a Saturday morning parade at 10:00 AM, a car show and Saturday-night fireworks. A historical note remains part of the festival’s identity: Rabbit Fest began as a rabbit judging competition and has since broadened into a four-day community fair. Daily hours published for a past 44th schedule show Thursday 5:00 PM-9:00 PM, Friday 4:00 PM-11:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM-11:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Local chamber leadership and longtime vendors framed the festival as a commercial and marketing opportunity for small businesses. Betty Price, identified as president of the chamber, told reporters that “Last year we had 90 applications with 115 spaces for arts and crafts ... and some 25 spaces and 23 food applicants,” and that veteran vendors often wait to register closer to large festivals. Price warned that “the number is expected to rise before April 27, when the spaces rates increase from $125 to $200.” Vendor testimony underlines the customer-facing value: Linda Grubb of Ladybug Boutique and Salon said, “The first year we attended, we were new in business here, and (it) was good for exposure,” adding that a simple booth or giveaway “does help” to get a business name out in the community. Repeat vendor Silvia Rhoads of Southern Rhoads Creations said, “For us, it actually went better than last year…Thursday was one of the best Thursdays I’ve had at the Rabbit Fest.”

Admission and on-site logistics mirror typical mid-sized festival operations: published prices list $10 per carload per day or $25 per carload for an entire weekend, and walk-ins at $5 per day or $10 for a weekend pass. Carnival rides and select activities may require additional tickets or wristbands. Organizers have introduced online parking passes and QR-code entry to speed gate access; the chamber’s event page states, “Buy your parking passes online and just show your QR code at the gate.”

Attendance estimates vary by source, with the Chamber’s 25,000+ annual figure standing alongside other local claims of 42,000 and even more than 100,000 in different writeups; local reporting also described turnout for the most recent 45th Fest as “tens of thousands.” For vendors and local merchants, the immediate implication is clear: early registration secures lower rates and a spot in a festival that draws substantial regional traffic. Businesses interested in vendor space or sponsorship opportunities should contact Michelle Nicolaus or the Chamber at chamber@copperascove.com and watch copperascove.com for application links and updates.