With COVID-19 restrictions a thing of the past, the full slate of traditional outdoor events is returning to Bradford West Gwillimbury in 2023.
The list of road closures associated with eight different events between May and November was presented to committee-of-the-whole. The biggest change on the list involves Carrot Fest.
Carrot Fest returns to Bradford West Gwillimbury Aug. 18 and Aug. 19. Road closures will begin at 11 a.m. Aug. 18, with Holland Street West and East being closed from Holland Court to Nelson Street, Barrie Street being closed from Holland Street to John Street and Simcoe Road being closed from Holland Street to Mary Street. The next day, the closure of Holland Street East is extended to Colborne Street beginning at 6 a.m.
All roads are expected to be re-opened by 10 p.m. Aug. 19. That’s because there are currently no plans to have a stage and on-street patio along Simcoe Road as had been a staple of the pre-pandemic versions of the festival.
“It closes at 10 p.m., but… if we do get somebody that wants to potentially do a stage like we’ve done in the past that we would have the flexibility to (close) that road until 1 a.m or 2 a.m. like in the past,” Mayor James Leduc said.
The road-closed barricades remained in place last year after the festival wrapped up, and with nothing happening, people took it upon themselves to remove them to get through, the mayor said, a scenario the town wants to avoid this summer.
“We certainly want to make sure it’s safe for everybody,” Leduc said.
What this report didn’t encompass was a process for neighbourhoods that wanted to host their own street parties. Ward 4 Coun. Joe Giordano – who was instrumental in organizing a street party last year for residents on Blue Dasher Boulevard – has been approached by residents in his ward and around town about a “much-needed, streamlined” process for obtaining street party permits.
He looked to staff to determine when such a process would be put together.
“I was very pleased; I think I heard some rumblings that we were working on this,” Giordano said, adding that as warmer weather will soon be on the way, he was hopeful something would be put on the books “sooner than later.”
Chief Administrative Officer Geoff McKnight confirmed staff has a plan in the works, which should come before council in the spring.
That plan will pay special attention to street closure requests, he said, ideally making it as easy as possible for residents and equally efficient for the town.
“Our expectation is to recommend some criteria that council would apply, but then delegate the permitting authority to staff, so it’s not necessary to continue to report to council to get those approvals,” McKnight said.
The planned event-related road closures in Bradford West Gwillimbury include:
- May 13 - Our Lady of Fatima Candle Light Vigil, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Church Street, Hurd Street and Essa Street.
- May 14 – Our Lady of Fatima Procession, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Church Street, Fletcher Street, Barrie Street and Queen Street.
- July 1 - Bradford West Gwillimbury Canada Celebrations, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Marshview Boulevard and Morris Road
- Aug. 18 and 19 – Bradford West Gwillimbury Carrot Fest
- Sept. 17 – Terry Fox Run, from 9:45 a.m. to noon, on West Park Avenue.
- Sept. 24 – Run for BWG, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., on West Park Avenue.
- Nov. 5 – Bradford Legion Remembrance Day Parade, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Collings Avenue, Holland Street West, Holland Street East, Bingham Street and Back Street.
