I have been itching to write about this for a good while now, and now I can (now that I’m awake)! Okay, after last year’s Dragon Con. I completely fell in love with “The Bunny Hutch Party”, you make or buy a themed bunny suit or Hefner-esque smoking robe to wear or compete with at the party. Almost everyone you see the first day/evening of the convention is in some sort of bunny suit cosplay, and they go all out.
I decided to do a little research on this event because I really want to know how it started and I would love to see it or something like it at a PNW con. It’s just a fun idea and everyone gets so creative with it, there’s just some that you see and would never have thought you would see someone come up with. This year was also another one for the books in cosplay bunny suits, and already has me brimming with ideas for next year!
From the official Facebook page for the Bunny Hutch, this is what I have been able to find on its history, “The Bunny Hutch started like most things at Dragon Con, as an unofficial meetup. It’s grown into the official Kick Off Party for the Costuming Track. This event epitomizes the spirit of the Con: combining a massive party and a celebration of Cosplay”. I wanted a bit more information about how many years the hutch has been happening for as well, again from the official Facebook page an admin answered this question. Unofficially, the Bunny Hutch started as a meetup in 2009 in the well known Pulse Bar in The Marriot (by Sabrina Pandora). The contest for it was first held in 2013 and it officially became part of the Dragon Con schedule in 2015, thanks to Danielle Sharp. It’s crazy to think that this fun event has only been official for 10 years. But, in actuality it’s been a big hit for the past 16 years! I don’t think I have been to any other convention that has such a long standing tradition/party that is so beloved. I know after my first time attending last year, that it was my favorite party and event I have ever been to during a con.
The party itself is one of the hottest at this convention, this year the line went outside and around the block. Even if you can’t get into the event, or want to step out for photos in a brighter area. There’s no need to worry about missing all the bunnies, the party spreads out into the rest of the other hotels. Mainly right outside the Bunny Hutch doors, you run smack dab into the non-stop party. Held in the Pulse Bar/lounge, this is also the best place for photos as there’s light (in the official Bunny Hutch room it’s dark and only really has the bright lights on the performers on stage). Again, people are super creative in all the cosplays at Dragon Con, but most spend all year working hard on their bunny suits for the Bunny Hutch night. I saw some people cosplaying Dwight and Prison Mike from The Office, talk about out of the box thinking.
I know for myself I was working on my own bunny suit for about a month leading up to the convention, to the point I didn’t even think about how I was going to fly with it (I made 5th Gear Luffy with light up clouds from One Piece, because of course One Piece). I had made a big light up prop to go with the outfit, and was so thankful it all went well. It was also my favorite part of Dragon Con for me, not that the rest of it wasn’t good. But, I feel like the interaction with other cosplayers was more fun that night. I mean, I was asked to step aside to talk with some people who liked my cosplay and they wanted to record a short video as well. I noticed one of the people in this group was cosplaying a Soju bottle bunny suit! How cool is that! Because I noticed what she was right away and loved her outfit, she gave me a whole (unopened) bottle of Soju. I don’t think I’ll get over the look on my friends faces when I caught up with them in the crowd and just pulled a bottle of Soju out of thin air.
So if you’re thinking about packing your bags and grabbing your membership (their term for badges/tickets) to next year’s Dragon Con (August 28th-September 1st), start thinking up some ideas for The Bunny Hutch party. It’s never too soon to get ready!
Were you at Dragon Con or the Bunny Hutch event? If so, what are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Twitter/X at @TheConCollectve, Threads at @theconventioncollective, or Bluesky at @theconcollective.bsky.social
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