The Leicester Vegan Festival returns this weekend as it arrives at Athena on Saturday 23 March. Set to be a sell-out event, this annual festival includes a feast of delicious food with over 80 fantastic stalls, world food caterers, exciting cookery demos, inspirational talks, interactive workshops, yoga and children’s activities running throughout the day.
Local stall holders include Leicester’s Baked by Neelu, Mirch Masala, Prana Cafe and The Mystery Booth; Leicester Vegetarian and Vegan Group; Harborough’s Farrinheight Foods; Nottingham’s Doughnotts, No Baloney and Numinums; Cococheesecakes from Derby; Vork Pie from the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border; Nottinghamshire’s Eco-yabber; Grantham’s The Woodland Trust and Northamptonshire’s Animals in Need.
The festival will also feature the latest gourmet vegan cheezes, vegan hotdogs, and everything in between. Plus there will be lots of opportunities to try before you buy, and sample the latest foods.
For families you can expect lots of cool children’s activities and entertainment, or if your teenager is into the latest trends you can check out cool designer vegan labels such as Awoken, Safe and Wild and Wear Your Voice. You’ll also find a massive range of gifts and goodies including candles, jewellery, and even treats for animals. It’s also a great place to shop if you’re looking to go plastic-free.
Festival Organiser Victoria Bryceson says, “This year’s Leicester Vegan Festival is set to be the best ever, with an even wider range of stalls and caterers to choose from. Our event is for everyone, whether you’re thinking about going vegan, already veggie or just want to experience the vegan lifestyle firsthand. We have everything an aspiring vegan could possibly need and so much more. Our festival has a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and makes a fun, affordable day out for families. It’s also a nice social atmosphere and makes a great place to make new friends.”
The event also helps local homeless people, whilst helping reduce food waste at the same time. Stall holders are asked to donate any surplus food at the end of the festival, and a group of volunteers distributes it to homeless people after the event, providing a hot meal as well as cold dishes.
Entry to the festival is from just £3 (under 16’s free) and this includes entry to all areas and activities. Standard tickets are purchased at the door on the day. VIP tickets, £15, include fast track entry and a goody bag full of vegan products, samples, discounts and offers can be purchased in advance but sell out quickly. Head to the website to buy tickets.