Food is amazing. Food is life. No matter how you prefer your food, you will agree to this. It’s probably the only thing that makes surviving easier. If a plant-based is your lifestyle choice, we’ve got you covered with this list of incredible vegan and vegetarian food festivals.
1. World Veg Festival, San Francisco, CA
When: August 10, 2016
Awards are not the only thing this festival is winning. By promoting a healthy and meat free diet, it’s winning at life. The festival has had smashing success over the years, with it being one of San Francisco’s most popular. Vegan food is of focus here, as you can find some of the most mind blowing dishes served. The festival invites chefs and kitchen vendors from the lively culinary scene of San Francisco to come forth and present some seriously tasty vegan and vegetarian dishes. Make sure you check out the enormous fruit plates and triple-frosted deep fried brownies.
(Image Credits: Andreas Knuttel/Dynamic Eye Studio)
2. London VegFest, UK
When: November 12
VegFests are pretty common in the UK. There’s one happening in Brighton and one in Scotland. But the only one you should really know about is the London VegFest. And this year promises to be the biggest yet. With the festival taking place on a much larger scale, the message of the event stays the same. Here, you can truly experience the meat free lifestyle and all its wonderful benefits. The festival features a huge amount of stalls selling the most delicious food like vegan donuts and éclairs, vegan cheese bread and vegetable sandwiches, workshops, film screenings, talks by some of the big names in the vegan cooking and live music!
(Image Credits: now-here-this.timeout.com)
3. NOLA Veggie Fest, New Orleans, LA
When: May 7-8
There probably isn’t a happier gathering of the veggie community. The festival is not just about raising awareness and promoting a healthy lifestyle. It’s a celebration of all things vegetarian. Everyone who is even slightly inclined to the cause is invited and for those who are not, well they are welcome to come see how the other herbivorous half lives. It’s a family friendly event and you’ll see people from all walks of life sauntering in to get a little dash of all the veggie goodness.
As a project undertaken by the Humane Society of Louisiana , all the festival proceeds go into helping abused and abandoned animals.
(Image Credits: nolaveggiefest.com)
4. Veg Food Fest, Toronto
When: September 11-13
‘Mouth watering burgers. Thick and juicy hot dogs. Fluffy cupcakes smothered in frosting. Veg Food will change your mouth’s mind.’
That, is exactly what you first read on the festival’s website. We are sold already.. But in case you are not, read on. The festival is a crowd favourite in all of Toronto, even for the meat eaters. After all, it is the largest vegetarian festival in all of North America will 35,000 to 40,000 people attending every year. The festival has steadily increased over the past 32 years, with events being held all across the city such as cooking demonstrations, seminars, talks by speakers form various sectors of the food industry and of course, the food. More than 30 vendors set up shop here every year, serving drool worthy stuff like vegan Big Macs (a crowd favourite), deep fried pickles on a stick and vegan cupcakes.
5. L.A. Vegan Beer and Food Festival, Los Angeles, CA
When: June 11, 2016
Wait, isn’t all beer vegan? Apparently not. Some breweries use animal products, mainly fish, in the filtering and this is where it doesn’t stay vegan any more. But fret not, because at the L.A. Vegan Beer and Food Festival, the stalls and vendors go through a strict screening process to make sure you get cruelty free and healthy food. Popular for it’s craft beer, ciders, kombucha, cold brew and craft soda, the festival is pretty experience. Also popular is it’s Vegan Pop Up marketplace, where vendors sell everything from the most adorable clothes to pretty ceramics. Also present is amazing live music from local bands.
(Image Credits: everfest.com)
6. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Thailand
When: September 2016
Now this one bizarre festival all right. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, it is probably the only festival that celebrates vegetarianism so…ferociously. The local believe that having a meat free diet leads to a long and healthy life as this way, you can avoid a lot of long term diseases. It all started with an opera troupe that was visiting the island in the 19th century. But they fell violently sick and in and assumed that the Nine Emperor Gods were upset with the, Thus, they decided to give up all meat and abstain from sex, alcohol and swearing. And obviously, their health improved. So was created the Vegetarian Festival. This also gave birth to the strange tradition of devotees heavily piercing themselves in a bid to prove that the gods will heal them no matter what, thanks to their strict lifestyles.
(Image Credits: Phuket Observer Creative Commons)
7. Vegan Street Day, Stuttgart, Germany.
When: May 15, 2016
Similar to the UK, Germany has a series of series of Vegan Street Days happening all over, but the only real one you need to concern yourself with is the one that takes place in Stuttgart. Exactly as much fun as it sounds, it’s a day long event where local vendors vendors come together to sell some of the tastiest food. You can also attend seminars where pioneers of the German vegan industry deliver some really inspirational talks. Also famous for its distinctive food tastings, where you have a chance to taste absolutely delicious stuff prepared by some of the most famous chefs of the country.
(Image Credits: www.vegan-street-day.de)
8. World Vegan Day Melbourne, Australia
When: October 23, 2016
Unlike the name suggests, the festival does not take place on World Vegan Day, which is actually on November 1. But it’s okay, you can start prepping for it a little early this year because this is one festival that your palate deserves. This exciting festival brings together live music, happy people and of course, vegan food to form one hell of a crackling combo and we are already loving it. But that’s not all, it’s like an all in one entertainment package that includes a fashion show, talks by dynamic personalities of the vegan world and something awesome known as vegan speed dating. This already sounds like the most perfect festival ever!
(Image Credits: klausandfritz.com)
9. NYC Veg Food Fest
When: May 7-8
New York is known for its insane variety in food. You can sample a bit of the world culture on a New York plate, for sure. So, it’s only obvious that it has one of the best vegetarian food fests of all time. Technically it’s a vegan festival as well because it has a strict policy of absolutely no animal products. It doesn’t even allow outside food in to ensure the policies of the festival are protected. And most importantly you can have a healthy experience. The festival also does a lot to bring about awareness for the cause of animal rights, with seminars and workshops being held throughout the two days.
(Image Credits: www.cam111.com)
We also have a honorary mention here…
10. Coachella
The music festival is known to celebrate all kinds of diversity in art, music, fashion and now, food. The 2016 edition was probably the best for all the foodies out there as Coachella featured all kinds food trucks that served up some seriously delicious grub. But what was most notable was the obvious importance given to vegan and/or vegetarian food itself! Though a tad bit expensive, the food was totally worth it and we would just like to thank Coachella for acknowledging that different people have different tastes and they all matter the same!
(Image Credits: consequenceofsound.net)