The bouncy castles were inflated in the Vaughan Chrysler KidZone on Holland Street West. Sixty-five vendors reserved space on the main street. The Back Alley Cruisers sent out invitations to every classic, antique and muscle car owner in town. And Legends tribute artists like ‘Neil Diamond’ and ‘Elvis’ were booked to perform in front of the courthouse.
It was the second annual Friday extension of Carrot Fest – the festival that lets BWG gets back to its “roots.” Last year’s Friday Carrot Fest showcased local businesses and vendors, family-friendly entertainment and, noted Deputy Mayor James Leduc, “was a tremendous success.”
But this year, Mother Nature didn’t co-operate. All the ingredients were there except for the weather – and the crowds.
Many vendors did show up, to at least set up their tables and tents for the opening at 4 p.m. The Twisted Ones delighted kids of all ages with their balloon magic, making everything from a working balloon bow and arrow to a giant balloon dog that one young audience member got to take home.
The town sponsored Sweet B’s Confectionery’s Cupcakes for Kids, providing chocolate and vanilla cupcakes that kids could ice and decorate to take home or eat on the spot.
The Holland Marsh Growers’ Association handed out free bags of Holland Marsh Gold carrots. There were giveaways, contests, music on the main stage in the Village Inn Beer Garden, and local restaurants like Hay Caramba!, Golden Taste of Asia and La Mexicanada serving up great food for visitors. But the rain continued to fall, and only a small crowd came out, underneath their umbrellas.
At the official opening, Mayor Rob Keffer thanked town staff and volunteers who work on Carrot Fest every year. “The weather’s a little damp,” he said, “but we look forward to the weather tomorrow.”
He was joined on stage by members of council and York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s attorney general. Mulroney also praised the hard work of local residents, and of local farmers, whose efforts have put BWG on the map as the vegetable basket of Ontario. “Tomorrow, and tonight, is a celebration of that,” Mulroney said.
One of the visitors was John Stolarczyk, who came all the way from England for Carrot Fest. Stolarczyk runs the World Carrot Museum in Skipton, Yorkshire, which displays his extensive collection of carrot souvenirs and memorabilia – “several thousands things,” he said, from a photo of the world’s largest carrot to information on lasers made with carrots.
“Did you know carrots weren’t originally orange?” he said. “That was the most recent colour, in the 15th century. They were originally white or purple.”
Stolarczyk makes a point of visiting carrot festivals around the world, in California, France, New Zealand – and Bradford, Ontario. Born in Bradford, England, he last attended the BWG Carrot Fest in 2006. This time, he stopped in town for the weekend on his way to Detroit and an International Carrot Congress in Madison, Wis., where he’ll speak on “the iconography and history of the carrot.”
Friday was a washout, but Saturday dawned sunny and dry for Bradford’s main Carrot Fest street festival, starting at 9 a.m. with more than 200 vendors, dozens of buskers and entertainers on stage and on the street, fire jugglers, freestyle soccer performers, PWA Wrestling, pony rides, Messy Face ice-cream eating competition, a visit from CFL star Justin Howell of the Ottawa Redblacks to sign autographs, mascots Gwilly and Captain Carrot, a fire Carrot Show at dusk, carrot giveaways, and a beer garden offering great entertainment, open until midnight.
For more information, see carrotfest.ca.
