Bradford's annual Carrot Fest held every August in the town's downtown core had to be cancelled last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but will it be back to normal this year?
Unfortunately not, according to town staff.
But the town is still looking to host the popular event among others this spring and summer, in a more controlled format.
In Tuesday night's meeting of BWG Council, a report from staff was received with an overview of some of the changes associated with the events planned for the 2021 season and what they could look like.
The event planning staff are heading into the year with optimism, hoping to be able to offer something for the residents to look forward to and enjoy.
Movies and Music in the Park were cancelled last year but are typically held outside the Bradford Library and Leisure Centre throughout the summer. In order to control attendance, the town has suggested the library lawn be fenced off with pre-registration required to attend.
For Music in the Park, there would be two one-hour sets with a break in between to allow for two registered time slots per evening, with two of the event dates being moved to the downtown core on Barrie Street.
Coun. Peter Ferragine raised questions about the logistics and gathering concerns at Music in the Park.
"Obviously we want to do something to get people out again," he said, but questioned how staff would be able to manage those who don't register and potentially gather outside the fenced-off area. "It just seems like it would be such a large amount of work...how would you control anybody who didn't register?"
Director of Community Services Terry Foran responded that the event would be organized similar to previous town events hosted during the pandemic like the Downtown Music Festival and Pumpkinfest, where attendance was controlled.
He acknowledged there could be an opportunity for people to congregate outside the fenced area but that staff are trying to spread the events around by having two of the events downtown.
"Logistics will be a little more difficult in the downtown," he said, noting the sidewalks would still need to be open in order to allow for downtown shopping.
"We wanted to float the idea through council," said Foran. "We're willing to make the effort in the downtown core if council wishes to go in this direction."
Ferragine also questioned the cost of the extra fencing and security required to put on the events.
Foran confirmed the town has not secured its traditional funding through sponsorships yet, which is a concern. Operating budgets for town events are typically heavily sponsored and with COVID, staff are mindful that sponsorship levels could significantly be impacted this year.
"We're being optimistic that we will get it and will be able to pull it off," said Foran, adding that staff is also considering using the town's snow fencing inventory if needed to save on costs.
As for Canada Day, another popular town event held at Cericola Fields next to the Bradford Community Centre, staff have proposed two options for the country's birthday celebrations:
- An in-person event with a suggested gathering limit of 500 people, offered in one-hour time slots with pre-registration. Entertainment would include musicians and buskers on a stage, followed by the Civic Awards presentation, and in-person activities which would be limited based on safety protocols.
- A hybrid event, which would include a virtual show with bands and buskers, filmed live on-site, a drive-in fireworks display and in-person Civic Award presentations.
Carrot Fest, which is the largest event hosted by the town, drawing in visitors from all over Ontario, is also being considered for a hybrid style event which would include virtual shows, an online vendor market and a drive-through for collecting free carrots.
If permitted, the second option would be an in-person music and entertainment event only, with the focus being on the performance stage, while drawing people in to shop and explore the downtown core.
The event would run Friday - Saturday on Barrie Street. The street would be fenced off to control attendance, and a shop local campaign would be in play, with the town working with local businesses to give attendees incentives to stay and shop downtown.
Coun. Mark Contois was in favour of bringing some of the events to the downtown core, noting the music event in the fall outside the courthouse worked "quite well."
"We need to do something for the folks in the downtown core," he said, "any type of attraction we can bring to the downtown core while providing something for our residents is a win-win."
"With COVID restrictions it's just so hard to plan," noted Mayor Rob Keffer, thanking Foran for the ideas put into the report.
"How nimble can we be?" the mayor asked Foran, regarding the execution of the events, "within a month's time can we decide whether we're going hybrid or the actual event or do you need a longer time frame to make that decision?"
But Foran said it was too early for him to give a definitive answer.
"We are just in the beginnings of understanding of what this could look like," he said.
Deputy Mayor James Leduc said the report was a nice 'heads up' for what is to come in the months ahead.
"It is very hard, we just don't know where things are going," he said about planning around the pandemic. "I know we will do our best to give our residents something to cheer up for, they're waiting and they deserve it."
Council received the report for information only.
To read the full report, click here.
