Festival Foods Big Cart a Memorable Sight
The sight of a giant shopping cart driving down the street is one of the most memorable fixtures in any Wisconsin parade, and those who attend the Dairyfest Parade in Marshfield will be able to see just that.
“For the past couple of years, the Festival Foods Big Cart has been able to join the celebration of Dairyfest in Marshfield, Wisconsin,” said Nina Winistorfer, Community Involvement Specialist. “We are looking forward to attending yet again this year.”
Festival Foods owns three Big Carts, known as the biggest shopping carts in Wisconsin. Together they attend over 100 parades, festivals, special events and store promotions across the state every summer and fall.
Its size means there’s more than enough room for a few groceries. “With a GM 350 engine with 290 horsepower, running on pump gas, the Festival Foods Big Cart features Mickey Thompson Racing Slicks and could fit 416 grocery bags inside the basket,” said Winistorfer. “Almost as tall as it is long, the Festival Foods Big Cart is approximately 14.5 feet long, 11.5 feet tall and 6.5 feet wide.”
The first Big Cart was manufactured by a company in St. Cloud, Minnesota and purchased in 2000 for primarily the western part of Wisconsin.
“As the awareness and need of the Festival Foods Big Cart expanded, Festival Foods
purchased another for eastern Wisconsin a few years after the first,” Winistorfer said. “Then in 2010, the third Big Cart was purchased to assist our southern Wisconsin locations.”
Each Big Cart has its own pulling van called the Sprinter Van with a trailer, often dubbed “The Rig,” and can be seen traveling all across the state in warm-weather months. During the winter, all three Big Carts are stored in a large storage facility in Green Bay and receive maintenance checkups to prepare for next year.
Those who’d like the Big Cart to make an appearance at their event are welcome to apply online at www.festfoods.com/bigcart.
“We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate with you!” Winistorfer said.
The Dairyfest Parade will be Saturday, June 2nd at 11 a.m.
