Funny festivals: Ohakune Carrot Carnival
Once a year the small, sleepy ski resort town of Ohakune, New Zealand holds a massive street party in honour of its favourite vegetable – the carrot. The Ohakune Carrot Carnival is one of the main events on the town’s social calendar and sees adults and children alike take to the streets dressed head-totoe in carrot costumes in celebration of their agricultural ‘roots’. To make way for rides, stalls and attractions, the city’s main drag is closed off to vehicles. There are vegetable-themed games on the day such as sprout ’n spoon races, while home-baking aficionados vie for bragging rights in the Carrot Cake of the Year competition. Festival-goers are treated to free – you guessed it – carrots, and prizes are handed out for the most creative carrot costume. Ohakune is situated 215 kilometres north of Wellington and 292 kilometres south of Auckland. Visitors know they’re going in the right direction when they’re greeted by the massive carrot monument at the town’s entrance. The Ohakune Carrot Carnival will be held next year on 4 June 2017.