Holtville Carrot Festival & Parade

Theme for 2025 is Hop on the Carrot Express!

February 6-9, 2025 Carnival

Parade is Saturday, February 8, 2025, 10 a.m. 

Holtville Chamber of Commerce
101 w. 5th St.
Holtville, CA
holtvillechamber.org

Full Line up 2025

• January 28, 2025 Carrot Cooking Contest  Jr. Chefs
• January 29, 2025 Carrot Cooking Contest  Little Chefs
• January 30, 2025 Carrot Cooking Contest  Adults
• January 31, 2025 Carrot Queen Princes & Jr. Princess Coronation/Citizen of the Year Banquet I.V. Swiss Club  6:30 p.m. $45-50 approx. 
• February 6, 2025 Carnival Midway Opens 4 p.m.
• February 7, 2025 Carrot Festival Kick-Off Concert 7 p.m.  (corner of Holt & 5th) includes Beer garden and Taco Garden, Band. Concert is Free, public invited! | Midway is open 4-10 p.m.
• February 8, 2025 Carrot Festival Street Fair 8 a.m. | Carrot Festival Parade 10 a.m. with drumline competition after parade & awards | Carnival Midway 12-10 p.m. | Mariachi Night 5-7 p.m.
• February 9, 2025, 12-8 p.m. Carnival Midway is open

 78th Annual Carrot Festival Parade Feb. 8, 2025, 10 a.m.

The Parade and Festival Theme for 2025 is "Hop on the Carrot Express!" This year's theme pays homage to the Holton Interurban Railway through a youthful portrayal of the train’s significance as a driving force for economic development in the early 1900s. Floats and entries can use their creativity to reflect the theme. The Carrot Festival Parade includes these categories: Float, Vehicle, Equestrian, Walking Performance, School Band, Drill Team, Cheer Squad, Color Guards, Official Vehicles/Organizations; Police, Fire, Rescue, Customs, Sheriff, etc. With one of the most affordable entry fees of any parade, the cost is around $25. Apply at holtvillechamber.org
 

• Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 6 p.m. Little Chefs & Jr. Chefs Contest at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
  5:30 registration
   
• Thursday, February 8, 2024, 6 p.m. Adult Chefs at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
  5:30 p.m. registration
  Carnival Midway Open 4-10 p.m.
   
• Friday, February 9, 2024, 7-9:30 p.m. Kick-off Concert with band Table Five
  Carnival Midway Open
   
• Saturday, February 10, 2024, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Carrot Festival Street Fair
  Food, Craft & Info Booths on Holt
  Carrot Festival Parade 10 a.m.
  Carnival Midway 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
  Student Art Show 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at City Hall
  Parade Awards 12 p.m.
  Drumline Competition 12:30 p.m.
  Mariachi Night (New!) 5-7 p.m. Performance by Mariachi Acero
   
• Sunday February 11, 2024, 4-10 p.m. Carnival Midway

A festival based on the carrot? Why? Carrots are not only good for you but are affordable, they grow year round, work in a variety of dishes, make an appealing garnish and grow abundantly in California.

Carrot Festival launches with Carrot Queen Coronation Banquet

Carrot Festival Cooking Hosted by SHiNE at Holtville Civic Center features separate adult and kids competitions with categories: Appetizers | Main Course | Dessert

Carrot Festival Carnival featuring Butler Amusements Carnival February 9-12, 2023

• HHS alumni meet 

Carrot Races, Festival Parade & Street Fair

• Carrot Festival Parade 10 a.m. The route is west on Fifth Street from Maple to Cedar.
• Parade Awards and Drumline Competition
• Entries in parade include categories: Categories: Float | Vehicle entry | Car Club | Equestrian | Walking Performance | School Band (Elementary) | School Band (Jr. High) | School Band (High School) | Drum Line (Any grade level) | Drill (Elementary) | Drill (Jr. High) | Drill (High School)
• Carrot Festival Street Fair 

Holtville the orange-colored root vegetable is the center of attention at the Carrot Cookery Contest series with categories for Little Chefs and Junior Chefs, as well as adults. The "Carrot Capital of the Nation" hosts Holtville Carrot Festival each year featuring Carrot Festival Parade, carnival, a race, art & crafts, antique tractor show and entertainment. On Super Bowl Sunday there's even a Family Tailgate Cooking Contest.

Holtville Athletic Club BBQ Ribs Contest

Annual Chamber Of Commerce Banquet
Featuring award of the Citizen of the Year honors, and crowning of the Carrot Festival Queen, Princess and Junior Princess. Ceremonies at Imperial Palms Hotel & Resort at Barbara Worth, subject to change.

Cookery Contest February 8-9, 2023

Carrot Festival Cookery Contest Held at Civic Center
Little Chef and Junior Chef/2 Divisions: MISCELLANEOUS and MAIN DISH. Youngsters are invited to try their hand at cooking.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Student Art Show
Open during the day at the Civic Center.
Trophy Presentation
Parade honors awarded at Gazebo in Holt Park.
12 noon to 4 p.m. Antique Tractor Show.
Classic cars and antique tractors on Holt Ave.

Arts and Crafts Fair
Arts & Craft booths in Holt Park & Pine Ave.
Entertainment in the Gazebo
Carrot Festival Midway Carnival on Holt & 6th St

Holtville or "The Carrot Capital of the World", celebrates carrots each spring (usually in February) with the annual Carrot Festival. It includes a carnival, parade, carrot cook-offs, and the Annual Dia de la Familia "Day of the Family", in Holt Park at 11 a.m. until the food is gone!

Carrot Festival's little and junior chef cook-offs include recipes carrot cheese and bacon dish or chicken and carrot casserole. The competition is open to kindergarteners through fifth graders, and there are other divisions, including the competitive adult division for salad, vegetable and main dishes. The event takes place at Civic Center in Holtville.

In addition to the recipes, the festivities and fun, the city selects a Carrot Queen and court annually

Music festivals, Rotary Club barbecue in Holt Park, a crafts fair and other events are part of the nine days of celebrating.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.