Curmudgeon talks Rabbit Fest and “Tourism” Or: We just ain’t a hot spot

Curmudgeon mentioned last week I was working on my Rabbit Fest review, so here ‘tis. I don’t know how long this post will be, so bear with me, dear readers.

It rained at least one morning – Sunday. Not sure if it was a total wash (ha ha ha) because Curmudgeon didn’t attend on Sunday. Or, maybe i did. Wouldn’t be RF without a good downpour.

Oh yes – Curmudgeon did go to Rabbit Fest this year. Curmudgeon has attended many, many times

over the past years. ALL HAIL THE BUNNY!! LET’S USE THE PARK FOR FREEEEEE BECAUSE RABBIT FEST BRINGS SO MUCH DOGGONE MONEY AND BENEFIT INTO COPPERAS COVE!!! WHAT WOULD WE DOOOOO WITHOUT IT????

Sorry, a snark leak. Had to get that out of my system.

Okayyy, now. Curmudgeon has to admit that Thursday’s opening ceremony complete with flags waving, a bit of pomp ‘n circumstance and some Bulldog cowbell, with appreciation shown to the Rabbit Fest founders and committee members was quite fitting.

But if you talk to longtime Cove residents you will hear all about how great “Rabbit Fest used to be.”

Yep, there was a lot more to it. There are reasons, of course, why some of those things went away and not all of the “used to be” things went away for the same reason.

Curmudgeon wonders why the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce doesn’t hire a bigger-name draw to the festival. “Back in the day” Rabbit Fest held concerts with headliners like Alan Jackson.

Curmudgeon remembers rumblings in the past by some in cahoots with those in charge that it was “too expensive” to bring bigger draws to the festival and “anyway, it’s about the festival, not the concerts.”

Well, with all that money the chamber is saving by not having to pay the city part of its profits, maybe it can now afford to book some larger gigs.

Okay, I’m laughing right now because according to the city council and chamber reports, the MOST the chamber has had to pay the city in profits was a $5,000 donation last year in 2017.

(I MOVE THAT THE COPPERAS COVE CITY COUNCIL DO AWAY WITH THE RESTORATION FEES. WHY CHARGE RESIDENTS TO “RESTORE” THE PARKS WHEN IT LETS THE COPPERAS COVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOME 20,000-PLUS INTO THE PARK TO TEAR IT UP FOR FOUR DAYS – WITHOUT ANY “RESTORATION” FEE???? WHY DOESN’T THE COUNCIL COME UP WITH A RESTORATION FEE OF $5,000 – THAT’S 25 CENTS PER RABBIT FEST ATTENDEE. BECAUSE, DEAR CITY COUNCIL, WHO DO YOU REPRESENT – THE PEOPLE OF COPPERAS COVE AS A WHOLE, OR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE???!!!)

Which brings me back around to the good old days. Rabbit Fest USED TO contribute to the betterment of the city park. It built the Fester’s House bandstand/stage. It USED TO do a lot of things to help the park. Now it seems that over the past however many years, the chamber stopped giving to the park.

Again, it and the chamber started wanting something for nothing, and the council fell for it again because it worships The Bunny.

Newer readers and older ones who need a refresher can read more about my rantings and curmudgeonly rambles about The Sacred Rabbit Fest here:

Peace, Love, And Bunnies

and 

All Hail the Fest!

and particularly, a pure snark leak of which I am particularly proud:

Bacon Fest

At a future time, Curmudgeon will shine a spotlight on chamber’s finances and its “nonprofit” numbers

Back to the not spending money on a big(ger) name to come to Copperas Cove.

Ummm…you really need to take a good, hard look at what motivates people to attend an event.

So…..What were the big draws to Rabbit Fest this year?

The carnival was the biggest by far. They had a few new rides and some old ones. Either you love it or you hate it, but the carnival is there and it was packed. Curmudgeon heard whining online about how “expensive” everything was at the carnival. Curmudgeon also heard a few vendors disappointed in 2017 that all the crowds were at the carnival and not by them.

This year, lemonade. Lots of vendors had it. Lots of people drank it. The refillable metal collector cups.

Sporting events. I heard some people “complaining” that there were ball games held during RF weekend. Um, don’t you want people to attend? One kid typically brings at least 3-4 people with them to a game. Do the math. It’s a built-in opportunity for making sure you have people coming to the park.

Shopping was meh as far as quantity goes. Curmudgeon didn’t count the vendors but there were not nearly the same number there have been in the past. There were some new vendors Curmudgeon hadn’t seen before with some ACTUAL handcrafted items. That was nice. But the overall offerings seemed limited.

Now, the obvious elephant in the park was the parking. Curmudgeon has schlepped across the park at Rabbit Fest from days gone by, stumbling on rocks and stomping through dust or mud, depending on the year.

The V-shaped parking lot was not finished. It was the location of the disabled parking, which had to be shifted to just beyond the duck pond. This year, it seemed to work. Curmudgeon parked wayyyyyy in the back and it didn’t seem a bigger deal than usual.

But of course, let’s blame the city for the parking not being done. Because, the poor, picked-on chamber who gets to use the park for free because Cove is so benefited by a carnival.

Because that’s what it is…a carnival with a few add-ons.

Methinks the chamber could host a carnival in the fall at another location and still make bank with a lot less effort.

Over and over, Curmudgeon heard, where are all the rabbits? A shame there were no actual rabbits highlighted at the festival itself. Yes, Curmudgeon is aware there was a rabbit show on Saturday morning. A few years ago someone tried to do some rabbit-themed events at the fest itself, but, well...

And the Saturday morning parade? Not very much participation, maybe 25 entries if that? And only one had any kind of decor or embellishment related to The Sacred Bunny. It was the Five Hills Scholarship Pageant Royalty, who had their float decorated with rabbit shapes. Great effort!

Sad, sad level of participation overall, however. Why do other cities have bigger parades? There's no incentive to enter this one other than trying to be a good sport and be supportive. But, Curmudgeon digresses...

Why doesn't the chamber just rename it Cove Fest and be done with it? 

This ain't my Rabbit Fest, y'all. 

Maybe later this week, I’ll talk tourism. Because right now at this moment, neither the chamber nor the city really know what they are doing for effective tourism. Key word: effective.

We just ain’t a hot spot. Sorry, y’all.

Peace, love, and bunnies. 

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