Introduction
The Coachella Valley Bully Fest (CVBF) is a rapidly growing dog‑show and community festival created by California breeder Rachel Roman (founder of Roman’s Frenchies) with support from Celebrity Kennels. Each year the show brings together American Bully, French Bulldog and English Bulldog enthusiasts from across the United States to celebrate and compete. Unlike traditional kennel‑club shows, CVBF combines a family‑friendly festival atmosphere with specialized bully‑breed classes, music, food and community outreach. The event was first held in Coachella, California, but its popularity has led the city of Cathedral City to host later volumes.
When and where
| Volume | Date & time* | Venue & location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVBF Volume 4 (2025) | January 11 2025 (9 AM – 7 PM) | Community Amphitheater, Cathedral City, CA | Rachel Roman announced that CVBF vol. 4 would take place on 11 January 2025 in Cathedral City. The event returned to Roman’s hometown after previous shows in Coachella, offering trophy competitions and a family‑friendly environment. |
| CVBF Volume 5 (2026) | January 10 2026 (mid‑day show) | Community Amphitheater, Cathedral City, CA | Social‑media promotions from Roman’s Frenchies advertised Volume 5 (“Coachella Valley Bully Fest 5.0”) for 10 January 2026 at the Cathedral City amphitheater. Threads posts on 9 January 2026 reminded followers that “Coachella Valley Bully Fest 5.0” was happening that Saturday and encouraged breeders to compete. |
*Times are taken from event listings; the community amphitheater listing for Volume 4 shows the festival running 9 am – 7 pm.
Purpose of the festival
- Celebration of bully breeds. CVBF highlights bully‑breed dogs – including American Bully varieties (Standard, Pocket, XL, Extreme/Micro, etc.), French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs – while promoting responsible breeding. Dog shows sanctioned by registries such as the World Bully Registry (WBR) organize competitions by breed and variety; the WBR notes that multi‑breed shows offer competitions for several breeds, while specialty shows focus on one breed. Varieties in the American Bully include Standard, Pocket, XL, Exotic Extreme and Micro Exotic.
- Community outreach. According to Cathedral City’s event listing, CVBF aims to provide a family‑friendly experience where owners can showcase their dogs’ talents and compete for trophies. Organizers also partner with vendors, food trucks and music acts to create an all‑day festival.
- Supporting breeders and kennels. Social‑media promotions highlight the event’s role in networking. A Threads post on 9 January 2026 stated that participants didn’t attend for one moment but for “many,” and that they were moving with respect and competing with confidence. Posts also thanked breeders and partners for producing beautiful dogs.
Event structure and categories
Because CVBF is not run under a single kennel club, the organizer curates numerous classes to highlight specific traits, colors and breeding styles. The full category list for each volume is shared on social‑media platforms, but only a few categories could be accessed without logging into private platforms. Based on publicly available posts and general bully‑show rules, the categories fall into several groups:
Breed & size classes (American Bully)
American Bully competitions usually divide dogs by variety and sex. The World Bully Registry describes several varieties – Standard, Pocket, XL, Exotic/Extreme and Micro Exotic. At CVBF, classes for male and female dogs within each variety allow dogs to vie for awards such as Best Pocket, Best Standard, Best XL and Best Micro. Winners of male and female classes may compete for Best in Breed and Best in Show.
Color and pattern categories
CVBF recognises special awards for distinctive coat colours or patterns. A Threads post from 10 January 2026 celebrates the dog “Little Ricky” from Big Shot Bullies for winning Best Fluffy, Best Tri and Best Rojo at the festival. “Fluffy” refers to the long‑haired gene in Frenchies, “Tri” refers to tri‑colour patterns, and “Rojo” refers to reddish‑brown coats. Another Threads post features Eightball from Bee’s Exotic Bullies, who captured the Best Brindle (striped coat) and Best Micro titles, along with the Hardest Dog at Coachella award. These categories encourage breeders to showcase unique colour genetics.
Performance and physique categories
- Hardest Dog at Coachella: The title goes to the dog with the most muscular and imposing physique. Eightball won this award at Volume 5.
- Stack‑off and ring presentation: Stacking is the pose used by handlers to show the dog’s structure. Threads posts mention that Candy Girl faced 25–30 dogs in her class and still took home a Top 3 placement, highlighting both the competition level and the importance of ring presentation.
- Junior handler and women’s stack classes: While not visible in publicly available posts, previous event promotions mentioned classes for junior handlers and women’s stack‑off competitions, giving younger participants and women a chance to compete.
Specialty awards
CVBF also offers awards for particular bloodlines and kennels, such as Best West Coast Gotti line, Best Genie line and Best structured dog. These categories are designed to honour prominent American Bully bloodlines and were advertised for Volume 4 via social‑media announcements. However, the full lists were accessible only behind login walls; thus, specific winners could not be independently verified.
Notable winners and kennels (Volume 5, 2026)
The following highlights come from Threads posts that were publicly accessible and provide verifiable results:
| Category | Winning dog/kennel | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Best Brindle, Best Micro and Hardest Dog at Coachella | Eightball – an American Bully owned by Bee’s Exotic Bullies. A post dated 14 Jan 2026 proudly states: “Eightball at Coachella Valley Bully Fest vol 5 – Best brindle, Best micro, Hardest dog at Coachella… Best show of the year”. | Threads post from Bee’s Exotic Bullies |
| Best Fluffy, Best Tri and Best Rojo | Little Ricky – a French Bulldog from Big Shot Bullies. A 10 Jan 2026 post reports that Little Ricky “came out to play at Coachella Valley Bully Fest… Best Fluffy, Best Tri, Best Rojo”. | Threads post from Big Shot Bullies |
| Top 3 (stack‑off category) | Candy Girl – a French Bulldog from Bullyland Feezy. A 2026 post notes that Candy Girl stacked against 25–30 dogs and still took home Top 3. Although the exact class name isn’t specified, the post underscores her placement and the stiff competition. | Threads post from Bullyland |
Due to platform restrictions, complete winner lists for other categories (Best Merle, Best Lilac, Best Brindle – female, Best XL, etc.) could not be accessed. Social‑media posts indicate that numerous kennels such as Bee’s Exotic Bullies, Big Shot Bullies, Bullyland, BullyBoss Kennels and Slingshot Adventure Rentals attended and secured wins across various classes.
How to participate or attend
- Registration: Exhibitors typically pre‑register their dogs through forms shared by Roman’s Frenchies and the event’s partners. Dogs must meet registry requirements; the WBR notes that dogs should be individually registered, be at least 3 months old, and meet the breed standard.
- Rules: Handlers must maintain control of their dogs in the ring, provide fresh water and crates, and clean up after their pets. Judges’ decisions are final and dogs that display aggression can be disqualified.
- Spectating: The festival is open to the public. Event listings describe it as a family‑friendly occasion with vendors, music and community activities.
Tips for breeders and visitors
- Understand the categories. Study the category list for your dog’s breed and variety in advance. For American Bully participants, know whether your dog fits the Pocket, Standard, XL, Micro or Extreme variety. For Frenchies and English Bulldogs, pay attention to special colour awards (e.g., Best Fluffy, Best Tri, Best Rojo).
- Condition your dog for the ring. CVBF honours muscular, well‑structured dogs. The “Hardest Dog” award won by Eightball demonstrates the importance of conditioning.
- Practice stacking and presentation. Candy Girl’s success despite stiff competition shows how ring presentation can elevate a dog’s placement.
- Network with kennels. Many kennels travel long distances to attend. The event fosters partnerships between breeders and kennel owners, and posts encourage respect and collaboration.
Conclusion
The Coachella Valley Bully Fest has evolved into one of the West Coast’s signature bully‑breed events. From its origins in the city of Coachella to its new home in Cathedral City, the festival has grown through the dedication of Rachel Roman and her partners. The show provides a platform for breeders to showcase their dogs, compete across a broad spectrum of categories and foster community within the bully world. Although comprehensive results for every class are often locked behind private social‑media accounts, publicly available posts highlight standout wins – such as Eightball’s sweep of multiple titles and Little Ricky’s success in coat‑colour categories. Future volumes promise new categories, more kennels and continued celebration of bully‑breed excellence.