Premier Doug Ford made a special stop in Bradford, Ont., Saturday, joining thousands of visitors for one of the town’s biggest events of the year. Ford took in Carrot Fest alongside York-Simcoe PC candidate Susan Lahey, meeting with families and visitors while getting a taste of the locally grown carrots the festival is known for. “Carrot Fest is a celebration of everything that makes Ontario’s farming communities so special,” Ford wrote in a social media post on Saturday. The annual festival took over downtown Bradford, with hundreds of vendors, live entertainment, professional wrestling and activities for kids. It celebrates Bradford West Gwillimbury’s agricultural roots and the importance of the Holland Marsh to the local economy. According to the town, the area’s rich black organic soil has helped make the region one of the largest carrot-producing areas in Canada and earned it a reputation as the “Heart of the Vegetable Industry.” What started as a merchant-based community event has grown considerably over the years. “Events like Carrot Fest showcase what makes communities across Ontario special. They bring people together, support local businesses and give everyone another great reason to enjoy all that our communities have to offer,” said attendee Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey over social media. According to organizers, attendance has quadrupled since 2006, with Carrot Fest now drawing an estimated 50,000 people and generating about $1 million for the local economy. The two-day festival got underway Friday and wrapped up Saturday.
