75th Annual Holtville Carrot Festival Kickoff

HOLTVILLE, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Holtville, known as the Carrot Capital of the World, is hosting its 75th Annual Holtville Carrot Festival the first two weekends of February.

Tonight they are kicking it off with the royalty coronation and Citizen of the Year banquet.

Everyone in Holtville is very excited the festival is back on. Due to the pandemic, no events were held last year.

Alexis Piper, former Carrot Festival Queen of 2020, says she's sad about giving up her crown but excited that someone else will get to have the same opportunity as she had the last two years.

"I actually really like giving back to Holtville and trying to do more for my community that I know my community has done stuff for me," Piper stated.  

The Holtville Chamber of Commerce will also recognize a woman in healthcare as their Citizen of the Year, Helina Hoyt, for her assistance through the pandemic, providing community service and being a good standing citizen.

The Holtville Carrot Festival started in 1948 and is still going strong according to the Holtville Chamber Board Member, Ross Daniels, who was born and raised in Imperial Valley.

"Seeing everyone come back into town. It's that one time of year where everyone grew up here for the most part comes back and joins in the festivities. You get to see faces you might not have seen for a year," Daniels said. 

Rosie Allegranza, Executive Director of Holtville Chamber of Commerce, is so excited she gets to help set up the Carrot Festival. 

"The cooking contest, the parade, the carnival, the food. We have vendors, craft vendors, food vendors," Allegranza said.

Holtville of course invites all to come out and enjoy all of the activities and food.

The parade will take place on Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. on 5th Street and the street fair will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Holt Ave.