Vegetarian fairs and festivals 2013

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If you’re starting to think about where you might go on your holidays this year, why not plan a trip to some of these veggie fairs and festivals, which are taking place all over the UK throughout 2013.

March

March 16 – 17. Brighton VegFest is back and it’s bigger and better than ever. Expect to find more than 120 stalls spread across three floors. There will be cookery classes, live music, free nutritional advice and even speed dating.

March 23. Evesham Vegan Fair looks set to be a much smaller and more intimate affair. Organised by Midlands Vegan Campaigns, the fair will offer 20 stalls with vegan cosmetics, recipe books and Easter eggs, as well as cookery demos and talks.

April

April 13. Northern Vegan Festival will take place in Manchester on April 13. Visitors will find 90 vegan stalls, selling vegan chocolate, clothing and gifts, as well as children’s activities, films and a talk on eating out in the north of England.

Vegan cupcake stall

May

May 24 – 25. VegFestUK will return to Bristol for its 10th anniversary. More than 120 stalls will celebrate every aspect of a vegan lifestyle, from food to fashion. There will also be live music, films and entertainment.

August

August 3 – 17. Vegan Camp has been running in Cornwall for 32 years. Individuals, couples and families are invited to visit for a day or stay for the full two weeks. Communal meals, camp fires and picnics make this a unique event.

October

October 5 – 6. The dates have been confirmed for a huge new show in London at the world-famous Kensington Olympia. VegFest London will offer comedy and music, alongside all the essential stalls and demonstrations.

December

December 8. You may not be thinking about Christmas just yet, but the Christmas Vegan Fayre in London’s Kensington Town Hall is a definite date for the diary. Organised by Animal Aid, the event will showcase everything you need for perfect meat-free festivities.

Photo: Binary Ape

Veggie fairs and festivals 2012

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It’s shaping up to be a great year for veggie fairs and festivals. With exciting stalls, fantastic demonstrations and a whole range of freebies on offer, don’t miss out! Here’s thegreenveggie’s pick of the best…

February

Kicking off on February 4, we start with The Viva! Incredible Veggie Show in Cambridge. Whether you’re thinking of turning veggie or have been vegan your whole life, this show will have something for you. Be inspired by cookery demonstrations, sample some tasty morsels and discover a myriad of stalls. What’s more, it won’t cost you a penny.

Then prepare to get loved up in Croydon for the Veggie Valentine Fair on February 11. Offering a wide range of vegan and Fairtrade beauty, health and wellbeing gifts, this will be the perfect place to find a thoughtful gift for your valentine. Plus, all profits will go to Animal Aid and Macmillan Cancer Care.

March

Why not head to sunny Brighton in March for the two-day extravaganza that is Brighton VegFest. Taking place from March 17 – 18, this festival is a celebration of all things vegan. Stalls, campaign groups, info, demonstrations, performances, passion and positive energy – find it all here (with some freebies to boot!) We’re particularly intrigued by the Great Sausage Tasting Competition…

Food fair

May

Make tracks to Lancaster for the West Lancashire Vegan Fair on May 12. The event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with plenty of stalls, talks, films, free samples and live music.

Then get ready for National Vegetarian Week – the biggest veggie event of the year. The event will kick off with Meat Free in Manchester and will run from May 21 – 27. National Vegetarian Week is the UK’s annual awareness-raising campaign, promoting yummy vegetarian cooking and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle.

Vegetarian Week will reach Cardiff on May 21, with the Cardiff Vegetarian Festival. This festival is returning for its third year and promises an enticing line-up of caterers and entertainment. They’re recruiting volunteers now, so if you’re a musician or photographer, or just want to be part of things on the day, get in touch pronto.

And then, prepare for The Return of the VegFest, with Bristol VegFest, which runs from May 25 – 27. So for all those herbivores who missed out in Brighton, make a beeline for Bristol and get in on the action! We can’t wait for the Ready Steady Cook competition. That and the crazy golf…!

So that’s it for now, but events are being announced all the time, so watch this space!

If you’re holding a veggie event that you would like to see featured on the site, please email: thegreenveggie@gmail.com or tweet: @thegreenveggie.

video: viva! Incredible veggie roadshow, photo: Lee McCoy