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7 things to know about Bradford’s Carrot Fest

From a carrot museum, to flaming carrots, here is a look at some things you might not know about Carrot Fest
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Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Rob Keffer, right, and Carrot Fest mascot Gwilly. Submitted photo

We have compiled a list of some things you may not know about Carrot Fest in Bradford West Gwillimbury.

Do you have an interesting fact about the festival? Tell us in the comments!

1. This year, Carrot Fest is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

2. At this year’s Carrot Fest, the town is doing a test pilot with blockades placed strategically around the festival area to protect pedestrians from vehicles.

Town of BWG staff have been considering the idea for a couple years, said Terry Foran, director of community services, in light of several people in recent years driving vehicles into pedestrians, including in Toronto in this past April, when 10 people were killed and 15 were injured.

“It’s sad, but it’s something I think we need to be doing,” said Coun. Mark Contois at a recent BWG council meeting.

3. Carrot Fest was voted as one of the Top 100 events in Ontario by the Festival & Events Ontario for the last eight years.

4. There is a World Carrot Museum in Skipton, England, which will be represented at BWG’s Carrot Fest.

The museum includes all kinds of information about carrots, including which musicians play instruments made out of carrots, and which paintings throughout history feature carrots.

5. Carrot Fest has two mascots — a carrot named Gwilly, and a rabbit named Captain Carrot, who wears a superhero costume with carrots on a holster. Captain Carrot is a character created by DC Comics and is used by the Town of BWG for Carrot Fest with permission. 

6. A Flaming Carrot Fire Show at the Four Corners will end the festival on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.

7. Carrot Fest used to have carrot cake and carrot soup contests. What should it do next?


Jenni Dunning

About the Author: Jenni Dunning

Jenni Dunning is a community editor and reporter who covers news in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
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