|
The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury presents Carrot Fest
Voted as one of the Top 100 events in Ontario by the Festival & Events Ontario for over a decade, Carrot Fest returns to Bradford West Gwilimbury! Carrot Fest is a two-day street festival located in Bradford West Gwillimbury’s downtown area and at the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre. It brings both residents and visitors to the streets for shopping, eating and entertainment. Over the course of the festival there are a variety of entertainers, events and activities that include BMX Stunt Shows, Aqua Dog – Dock Diving Shows, classic cars and more. With over 200 vendors, Carrot Fest offers a variety of local goods and items. Carrot Fest has something for everyone, whether it be in the Kids Zone, Youth Zone, vendor market, or a local downtown restaurant. The black organic soils of the Holland Marsh make Bradford West Gwillimbury one of Canada’s biggest carrot-producing regions and the ‘Heart of the Vegetable Industry’. Carrot Fest is a celebration of the region’s agricultural heritage, especially the role played by the carrot in the local economy. Carrot Fest is a way to bring the community together to celebrate, encourage participation and generate pride. What started as a merchant-based community has now developed into a historical event involving not only the residents, but people from the global community. |
History of Carrot Fest
In the mid-1970s, a Salad Festival was held each July — and in 1977, the first Harvest Festival and Harvest Queen pageant were held.
In 1991, after the Town of BWG was formed through the amalgamation of the former Town of Bradford, most of West Gwillimbury and parts of Tecumseth, a committee was formed to bring the new community together and attract visitors. The Heritage Environmental Agricultural Recreational Tourism (HEART) Committee was created and given a mandate to promote tourism, economic development and downtown revitalization.
The HEART Committee was responsible for the flower planters and murals that bring colour to downtown, but its biggest achievement was organizing an open-air market, with local farmers and merchants bringing their wares to Holland Street on summer weekends.
In 1995, the weekly market was transformed into a larger single event called Super Saturday, held on Labour Day weekend. When the HEART Committee learned that BWG produces more than 70 per cent of Canada’s carrots, it renamed the event “Carrot Fest,” hoping it would become the event that defines BWG. This obvious and well deserved title changed the face of Carrot Fest, giving Bradford an annual community festival. Bradford is a market garden for Ontario, Canada and the foreign markets, producing carrots and onions and many other vegetables. The 7000 acre area is known as the heart of Canada’s Vegetable Industry. The region is the largest area of organic soil, developed for agriculture in the province and one of the most intensive areas of agricultural production in the country.
The first Carrot Fest in 1998 capitalized on the Town’s existing mascot — Gwilly the carrot — and came with a new look with a 3 day festival that closed the streets of the downtown core. The event celebrated the agricultural heritage and expanded various aspects of the event.
In 2005, the town of BWG assumed responsibility for organizing and running the event, and since then Carrot Fest has definitely been “a growing tradition.” The number of attendees has quadrupled to an estimated 50,000 participants, generating $1 million for the local economy and winning the Top 100 Award from Festivals and Events Ontario.
In the mid-1970s, a Salad Festival was held each July — and in 1977, the first Harvest Festival and Harvest Queen pageant were held.
In 1991, after the Town of BWG was formed through the amalgamation of the former Town of Bradford, most of West Gwillimbury and parts of Tecumseth, a committee was formed to bring the new community together and attract visitors. The Heritage Environmental Agricultural Recreational Tourism (HEART) Committee was created and given a mandate to promote tourism, economic development and downtown revitalization.
The HEART Committee was responsible for the flower planters and murals that bring colour to downtown, but its biggest achievement was organizing an open-air market, with local farmers and merchants bringing their wares to Holland Street on summer weekends.
In 1995, the weekly market was transformed into a larger single event called Super Saturday, held on Labour Day weekend. When the HEART Committee learned that BWG produces more than 70 per cent of Canada’s carrots, it renamed the event “Carrot Fest,” hoping it would become the event that defines BWG. This obvious and well deserved title changed the face of Carrot Fest, giving Bradford an annual community festival. Bradford is a market garden for Ontario, Canada and the foreign markets, producing carrots and onions and many other vegetables. The 7000 acre area is known as the heart of Canada’s Vegetable Industry. The region is the largest area of organic soil, developed for agriculture in the province and one of the most intensive areas of agricultural production in the country.
The first Carrot Fest in 1998 capitalized on the Town’s existing mascot — Gwilly the carrot — and came with a new look with a 3 day festival that closed the streets of the downtown core. The event celebrated the agricultural heritage and expanded various aspects of the event.
In 2005, the town of BWG assumed responsibility for organizing and running the event, and since then Carrot Fest has definitely been “a growing tradition.” The number of attendees has quadrupled to an estimated 50,000 participants, generating $1 million for the local economy and winning the Top 100 Award from Festivals and Events Ontario.