Créances – Carrot Festival

I should not be surprised, but the French do seem to have a propensity to celebrate almost anything that is food-related, and claim that it is only their village that can claim to produce the best examples in France, if not the world.
Hence, the humble carrot gets its day of glory at Créances on the Cherbourg peninsula (50 Manche, Normandie) when every 2nd Saturday in August – 10 August 2019 there is a Carrot festival with a large market, tastings, music and fireworks.

Thanks to the persistence of its members, the quality “Label Rouge” mark was awarded in 1962 to carrots grown in Créance’s sandy soil and since 1990 the town has organised a special festival dedicated to its “queen of vegetables”, held every second Saturday in August.
The programme includes a parade of carrot growers, the “Mougeous d’Carottes”, a cooking competition, a fair open to everyone and musical entertainment. Every year about 25,000 visitors come to join in the fun.

Créance’s market garden area produces approximately 35,000 tons of “carottes des sables” and 10,000 tons of leeks every year.

Créance is at the bottom of the Cotentin peninsula opposite the island of Jersey.

Further details from the Syndicat d’Initiative de Créances (in high season) www.canton-lessay.com/web/carrot_festival.html