Seeking eats outside your typical day-to-day options is a significant reason to travel, and vegans are perhaps the most likely demographic to arrange their plans around restaurants and food stalls. However, there’s another reason to travel, and yes, it still involves food: vegan festivals. We’ve bookmarked the eight biggest vegan festivals in the US, UK, and Canada so you can arrange your travels accordingly.
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Why attend a vegan festival?
Vegan festivals are a great opportunity to eat lots of vegan food, sure. But they’re also a chance to check out new brands and restaurants, support small and emerging plant-based businesses, and connect with like-minded people. They’re ideal for new vegans, as they offer a chance to learn from others and sample different ingredients, but they’re also great for longtime vegans, too. After all, the vegan market is growing rapidly. According to some reports, the plant-based food industry could hit more than $61 billion by 2028, so there are new, innovative, exciting products launching all the time. Not sure which one to try first? Check out these eight options to figure out which festival suits you best.
The top vegan festivals
1 Vegan Exchange: Happening now
The annual Vegan Street Fair in North Hollywood, CA has passed, but its sister event promises the same amount of epicness. Free to the public, the Vegan Exchange Weekly Vegan Market showcases over 100 vegan vendors from 11 am until 5 pm. The food options are often intermixed with live music, as well as a beer garden. It’s the best of vegan LA all contained within a city street.
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Nelia’s Veg Kitchen/Instagram
2 Vegan Street Fair New York: May 20
Vegan Street Fair used to be a Los Angeles-only event, but this year, after 9 years of operation, it’s growing. Its next stop is The Bronx, New York. It’s free to enter, and attendees can expect 50+ food vendors, musical entertainment, and a whole lot of fun. If you’re not around for this event, don’t worry! Throughout the year, Vegan Street Fair will also be heading to Atlanta (June 17), Seattle (July 29), Oakland (August 26), Denver (September 23), Austin (October 7), Vegas (November 4), and Miami (November 18).
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Vegandale
3 Vegandale Chicago: June 10
Vegandale is more than a vegan food festival. With DJs, art, photo ops, and live music from Rick Ross, it’s an all-out party you won’t want to miss. More than 150 vendors from around the globe are confirmed for Vegandale Chicago alongside local favorites. If you can’t make it to The Windy City, Vegandale is also heading to New York (September 16), Toronto (September 23), Dallas (October 14), Los Angeles (October 28), and Miami (December 2).
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VegFest Colorado
4
VegFest Colorado: July 29 & 30
If you’ve always wanted an excuse to visit the Mile High City, now you have one. VegFest Colorado is the state’s largest vegan festival, and although details are still being worked out and vendors are still being added to the roster, the venue is set. Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus will host the collective of vegan awesomeness. Keep your eyes on the event’s Instagram page (@vegfestcolorado) for exhibitor announcements and ticket sales.
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Bizerkley Food Festival
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Bizerkley Food Festival: September 3
Despite Berkley, CA’s long reputation for vegan eats, its first vegan festival didn’t emerge until 2021. This year, the aptly named Bizerkley Food Festival is back again and bigger than ever. Expect over 75 vegan-friendly vendors along with hard kombucha and seltzer tasting (for the 21-and-up crowd), live performances, and free samples from select booths. Ticket sales will go toward the Herd and Flock Animal Sanctuary.
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Montreal Vegan Festival
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Montreal Vegan Festival: September 30 & October 1
It doesn’t matter whether you speak English or French (or neither)—veganism is a universal language. At Montreal’s best vegan festival, attendees can be sure to find a dizzying abundance of Quebec’s best plant-based options, and if last year’s event is anything to go by, there will also be cooking demos, lectures and workshops, and non-food exhibitors. As with all of these events, look to the organization’s Instagram for the latest updates on vendors and ticket sales.
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Vegan Sweet Tooth London
7VegFest UK: November 18 & 19
London is a booming vegan town—we would expect nothing less than fabulous from its signature vegan festival. The two-day event is one of the UK’s largest indoor festivals, and this year, it’s coming back in November, according to VegFest UK’s Instagram. Expect to choose from hundreds of vendors amongst thousands of attendees. Bring your own reusable utensils and to-go containers!
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SEED Food & Wine Festival
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SEED Food & Wine Festival: January 2024
Escape the winter weather wherever you are and head down to Miami for five days of vegan eats, chef demos, live music, and more. This multi-faceted celebration of plant-based cuisine is the premiere vegan event of the season. Keep your eyes on the website for early bird rates.
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Karen Asp is a VegNews digital writer, regular contributor to numerous other publications (like Forks Over Knives, Eating Well, Sentient Media, O and Real Simple), author of Anti-Aging Hacks, and a vegan lifestyle coach and educator in Indiana.
