The seeds are long sewn and the time for Bradford’s huge celebration of culture, economy and heritage is almost upon us.
“It’s just a fantastic reason for the community to come together,” says Brenda Pufek, manager of community engagement and development for CONTACT Community Services Bradford, which never fails to set up a booth at the annual Carrot Fest which attracted an estimated 60,000 people last year.
The event offers an opportunity for local nonprofits, vendors and other organizations to connect with individual members of the community to talk about the services they offer, promote events and recruit volunteers.
Volunteers — a rich community resource — are also integral in the community’s annual celebration of the orange vegetable.
“All of our volunteers bring a range of qualities, skills and expertise that can play a crucial role in how our events operate. It’s also an opportunity for the volunteers to build a sense of connection to our community and meet new people,” says N’Diia Maharaj, events and marketing supervisor for the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
The root of the festival, of course, is the carrot, grown in the rich soil of Holland Marsh which produces more than 56 per cent of Canada's requirement for carrots, according to the Holland Marsh Growers, and plays an important part in the area’s economy.
Established more than 20 years ago, Carrot Fest runs on Aug. 16 and 17 this year along Bradford’s downtown and at the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre (125 Simcoe Rd.).
It has been voted as one of the Top 100 Events in the province by Festival and Events Ontario for more than a decade. The event celebrates the importance of the Holland Marsh soils, with a special focus on carrots and the role they play in the local economy.
It has become the area’s largest event and is something of a successor of the 1970s Salad Festival and the Harvest Festival. Following the amalgamation of Town of Bradford and most of West Gwillimbury in 1991 the Heritage Environmental Agricultural Recreational Tourism (HEART) Committee was tasked with promoting tourism, economic development and downtown revitalization and created an open-air market.
The weekend event led to Super Saturday on the Labour Day weekend, eventually becoming Carrot Fest which is now organized by the municipality.
In addition to the many vendors, which Maharaj says are are chosen from applications to provide a fresh and diverse offering every year, acts and performances will be presented on stages at the courthouse and on Barrie Street.
There will also be a kids zone with inflatables and 365 Wrestling are also back for another year with a free and a ticketed show.
Another organization, Aqua Dogs, returns to Carrot Fest this year. Pet owners are encouraged to give it a try at the memorial community centre.
“It’s a great sport. It is one of the fastest sports you can get involved in with your pet,” says Heather McLeod, who has a 40-foot dock and pool set up at her Cookstown-area facility where she trains dogs who love water to dock jump.
She says it’s a good fit for dogs who love water and enjoy playing with toys.
For Pufek, Carrot Fest provides the opportunity to spread the word of CONTACT's work and extend its support to those who need it. CONTACT, with offices in Bradford and Alliston, is a charity that provides housing, employment and senior services along with other supports to 3,500 people annually and runs thrift stores in the two communities to help support its work.
And this year, the timing is perfect to promote its signature fundraiser on Sept. 21, the Grand Parade, a family-friendly fundraiser walk to raise money to help support seniors. During its first event last year, it raised $20,000.
“We have a huge contingent of amazing volunteers” to promote and speak to the members of the community about how the organization can help. “It doesn’t take much to make a huge difference," Pufek said.
With staff and volunteers, she expects the organization will also have a collection of clothing from its thrift store from which people can select items.
