71ST CARROT FESTIVAL
Members of Las Comadres, which won first place in the parade’s walking category, dance while participating in the 71th annual Holtville Carrot Festival parade on Saturday morning in Holtville.
HOLTVILLE — Changing the long-time formula for the annual Holtville Carrot Festival parade, which has successfully been going on for over 70 years, within a matter of months is quite the challenge.
Although once Anita M. Martinez, the new Holtville Chamber of Commerce Chief executive director, joined the chamber in September, she and her staff were more than up for the challenge.
“It was a little late to change it up, but we decided to take on the challenge and we got it done,” said Martinez. “Most importantly, the community seems to be responding to it very well, so that’s what we’re happy about.”
Along with a record-breaking number of parade entries and booth vendors that participated, the 71st annual Carrot Festival parade held here Saturday morning saw some welcoming changes, including an increase in vendors, a drum line competition and a helicopter ride, among others.
Leading the parade this year were female members of the American Legion Auxiliary Bradley-Keffer Unit 138, who were named the festival’s Grand Marshals, along with the 2018 Carrot Festival royalty, Queen Brooke Butler and Jr. Princess Brielle Butler.
Concluding the parade was a group of tractors and the Holtville High School cheerleading team riding on top of a Holtville Fire Department fire truck.
It was not only Tanya Velarde’s first year participating in Holtville High’s cheer team, but also her first time ever being in a parade.
“I’ve always lived in Holtville and I’ve always seen the Carrot Festival,” said Tanya, a sophomore. “I’ve always loved it, everything that goes on and being able to be a part of it was pretty mind-blowing and I really liked it the feeling of it.”
It was a special day for the Heber Elementary School drum line as they marched out of the parade with a first place trophy, which was awarded as the parade’s Best Middle School Band, and a second place overall trophy after competing in the parade’s first ever drum line competition.
The young Heber students, led by their instructor Isac G. Morales Jr., were one of the four drum lines in the competition, including Calexico, Holtville and Brawley Union highs, and were the only middle school to compete in it.
Each drum line had three minutes to perform and the winning team received free carnival ride passes.
Neither Melanie Murillo nor Stephanie Brown, two 12-year-old section leaders for the Heber drum line, initially believed they would perform as well as they did.
“I didn’t expect us to do well because it’s high schools and they’re bigger than us and have more power,” admitted Melanie. “But we won, so that was fun.”
“Winning second place was really interesting because Calexico was very good and it was exciting to see them instead,” expressed Stephanie.
Over 80 vendors, which was nearly double than that of last year’s parade, lined up from Fifth Street to Seventh Street offering those in attendance a variety of food, clothing, jewelry and arts and crafts.
New to this year’s parade were inflatable mazes, rock climbing and water activities for children at Samaha Park. Helicopter rides, going for $20 per person, during the parade were initially scheduled to take place Sunday and Saturday out of Samaha, although they were ultimately cancelled due to insurance issues, explained Martinez.
It was Calexico resident Maria Trejo’s first time attending a Carrot Festival, and after only a few hours of experience, she was certain she’d be attending again next year.
“Everybody from all sorts of communities come here,” observed Trejo, whose favorite part of the parade was the fish tacos and funnel cake. “I’ve seen friends from other sides of the community that came here today, so it was nice.”
Holtville native and current San Diego resident Carlos Chavez has made it a point to attend the Carrot Festival annually.
Chavez noticed there was far more food stands on Saturday compared to when he would attend while growing up, and was glad his children were able to experience what the parade has grown into.
“That’s why I bring them down here,” explained the San Diego resident. “I got four kids so I brought all of them so they could enjoy what I enjoyed as a kid.”
“Being from Holtville, this is something to be proud of,” said Chavez. “We were known as the carrot capital at one point, so it’s just something I look forward to annually.”
Results:
First place – Vessey & Co. Second place – St. Joseph’s Church
Third place - Highland Cooling First place – Sunrunners Car Club of Imperial Valley Second place – Mexicali resident Mario Martinez Third place – Team Ornelas