42nd Rabbit Fest Kicks off Thursday at Copperas Cove City Park

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

Tens of thousands of visitors will flock to Copperas Cove City Park for Rabbit Fest, which kicks off Thursday afternoon and runs through Sunday. 

Gates open on Thursday at 4 p.m., with an opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. at Fester’s Stage. 

Admission is $5 per carload per day, and walk-ins are $1 per person. 

The full entertainment schedule along with festival map can be found in the annual Rabbit Fest section inserted into the Leader-Press May 17 publication. 

Tyler Lane will take the stage from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday, with Gatesville music artist Ed Leonard headlining the opening night’s entertainment from 8-11 p.m. 

Ed Leonard and Friends will bring his mix of classic country, honky-tonk, classic rock, and some originals to the Fester House stage. 

Friday night’s entertainment is Michael Carubelli, starting at 10 p.m. Carubelli is another Central Texas singer/songwriter who is no stranger to the Rabbit Fest stage. Carubelli frequently performs at venues throughout the region. 

Prior to Carubelli taking the stage, a lineup of CCISD student performers will provide entertainment. Then on Saturday, Ed Leonard returns in the evening from 4-7:30 p.m., followed by a repeat performance by Michael Carubelli. 

Festivalgoers along with those in surrounding neighborhoods will be able to witness the fireworks show at Rabbit Fest, on Saturday evening at 9 p.m. 

On Sunday, festival entertainment wraps up with Hayley Sawyer at 10 a.m., followed by Lily’s Hosanna Dancing Group and traditional Korean dance. 

New this year for Rabbit Fest is Selfie World at the Copperas Cove Civic Center. Starting Friday, for $5 per person, visitors can explore and enjoy a lineup of rooms and settings for imaginative, fun photo opportunities.

The annual Rabbit Fest parade is set for Saturday, May 15, starting at 10 a.m. when the procession will make its way along Avenue D from the high school parking lot and end at Cove Terrace Shopping Center. 

A lineup of retail and craft vendors, food vendors and food trucks will be on site throughout the weekend for festivalgoers to shop and eat. Crabtree Amusements will bring the carnival and games for all ages throughout the weekend, with tickets and wristbands available ($30 on Thursday, $35 Friday-Saturday; $20 Sunday). 

Along with the festival events and entertainment, the Rabbit Fest softball tournament will begin Thursday and continue through Sunday on the ballfields at City Park.