The DC VegFest is a FREE outdoor festival celebrating the very best of everything vegetarian in and around the nation's capital. There are so many reasons to choose a vegetarian diet—for our health, the planet, and animals—and Washington, D.C. offers wonderful opportunities to explore meatless cuisine. The DC VegFest has something for everyone to enjoy, so be sure to bring along your friends and family! Check out highlights from the 2009 DC VegFest. 
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Excited about the DC VegFest? We are, too!
You’ve already heard about our amazing sponsors and our all-star lineup of speakers, and now we’re putting a spotlight on our more than 50 you-won’t-want-to miss nonprofit exhibitors, commercial vendors, and food vendors that will keep your brains, bags, and bellies full all day on Sat., Sept. 11!
Our nonprofit exhibitors include those specializing in animal advocacy, vegetarian eating, political and legal advocacy, nutrition, environmental issues, health and fitness, and more. You’ll also find outstanding local food vendors dishing out delicious vegan cuisine that will give you the energy to shop ‘til you drop! A variety of commercial vendors will be on hand offering a broad array of natural, vegan products, including cosmetics, shoes, clothing, and organic treats for your four-legged friends.
Bringing the little ones too? Stop by the Compassionate Kids' Corner for face painting, temporary tattoos, & more!
Stay tuned for our next post: we’ll tell you all about the free goodies that the first 400 DC VegFest visitors can get their hands on.
In the meantime, check out the list of exhibitors coming to DC VegFest—and get excited!
The 2010 DC VegFest Speakers: An All-Star Lineup!
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about Robert Cheeke, let’s meet the rest of our all-star speaker lineup!
Opening the event is local favorite NBC4-TV anchor Wendy Rieger. We were lucky to have Wendy serve as MC at last year’s VegFest, and we’re excited to have her back again in 2010!
If you’ve always wanted to see the winner of a beauty pageant up close and in person, then don’t be late because Miss DC MacKenzie Green takes the microphone next. She’s followed by our inspirational bodybuilder, Robert Cheeke, who sets the stage for a cooking demonstration by The Conscious Cook himself, Chef Tal Ronnen.
After Chef Tal (who you may know as Oprah’s vegan chef), we’re lucky to hear from renowned journalist Colman McCarthy and local public health nutritionist Tracye McQuirter. Chef Lauren Von Der Pool wows us next with her cooking demonstration, and Dr. Milton Mills rounds out the day by sharing his knowledge of vegan health.
Be sure to check out the DC VegFest schedule to see which speakers will be signing books after their talk!
Tell Your Friends!
DC VegFest is rapidly approaching (it’s just three weeks away), and we’re hoping you can help us spread the word about this free, outdoor vegetarian celebration! Here’s how you can help:
Word of mouth is still the best way to promote events! Your friends and family value your opinion, so let them know that DC VegFest is going to be an amazing event. If you’re coming, bring a friend (or three)! Tell your friends, and they’ll tell their friends, and so on.
Flyers, posters and web banners: Share these DC VegFest flyers with co-workers and friends, put up some posters around your neighborhood or add one of our web banners on your website or blog! Send us a message if you’d like us to send you free posters.
Are you on Twitter? Follow us at @DCVegFest for the latest updates! Use the “Follow Friday” hashtag (#FF) to help us gain more followers, and re-tweet (RT) our posts!
How about Facebook? RSVP to the DC VegFest event to show you’re attending, then invite your Facebook friends! Use status updates to promote the event as it gets closer to the date.
Want to volunteer for the DC VegFest? Please send us a message.
Thank you for helping make this event a great success! See you soon.
The DC VegFest: Starring our Amazing Sponsors!
As we count down the days til the big day—there are just 25 left!— we’d like to take a moment to recognize the generosity and support of DC VegFest’s sponsors.
Our amazingly generous top level Three-Star sponsors include the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), American Vegan Society, A Well-Fed World, and Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM).
Our palate-pleasing Two-Star sponsors include Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant and Wildwood Organics.
And our One-Star sponsors run the gamut from sweet treats and savory fare to educational resources and cruelty-free body care products: Amsterdam Falafelshop, Arbonne, Bread & Brew, Emily’s Desserts, MOM’s Organic Market, Sticky Fingers Bakery, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, Savor Catering, Soyummi, and The Vegetarian Resource Group.
We’re so appreciative to all of our sponsors who are helping make this free vegetarian celebration possible—so don’t forget to grab a friend (or two!), come on out, meet all of our sponsors and show your support for this event!
We can’t wait to see all of you on Saturday, September 11 at George Washington University.
Here’s another reason to get pumped for the DC VegFest: Robert Cheeke!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve just added vegan body builder, motivational speaker, and author Robert Cheeke to our lineup of speakers for this year’s DC VegFest!
Robert grew up on a farm in Corvallis, OR. Inspired by his sister’s commitment to animal advocacy, he went vegetarian at age fifteen and later, after transitioning to a plant-based diet, became a champion bodybuilder. Robert recently released his first book, Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness - The Complete Guide to Building Your Body, which you’ll be able to buy and have signed at the DC VegFest!
Learn more about Robert and the rest of the DC VegFest speaker lineup here. We’ll see you in just four weeks!
Why have you been waiting to sign-up for the DC VegFest?
What are you waiting for? There are only a few days left to register as an exhibitor and/or sponsor. The deadline is this Sunday, August 15 – applications will not be accepted after this date.
Not sure if DC VegFest is the right fit for you? Check out the wide range of exhibitors that have already signed up—there are dozens of non-profits, clothing companies, food vendors, grocery stores & more coming!
Don’t delay. Register now!
Something for Everyone!
DC VegFest celebrates the best of everything veg in the nation’s capital, but do you know how diverse that is?
From American to Asian to European to raw cuisine, you’ll be able to try the most delicious, varied vegan food in the area. But you won’t want to fill up without trying vegan cupcakes, doughnuts, and cakes from the best vegan bakeries on the east coast!
After lunch, snack on the free samples from Gardein, Field Roast, Parma, Pirate’s Booty, Edward & Sons, and more.
And be sure to bring an extra bag because you’ll want to fill it up with vegan dog treats for your favorite pup, fair-trade clothing for yourself, and literature from the farm sanctuaries, environmental awareness groups, vegan outreach groups and other local non-profits in attendance.
Tracye McQuirter Is Back!
DC VegFest is excited to announce that Tracye McQuirter will be joining us for the second year in a row! At last year’s event, Tracye led a cooking demonstration, sharing tips and tricks for making delicious kale salad and a raw peach cobbler, and this year, she’ll be talking to us about her newly published book, By Any Greens Necessary. With inspiration, attitude, and expertise, Tracye McQuirter shows readers how to be healthy and happy by eating feasting on a variety of tasty and nutritious plant-based foods.
We’d also like to take a moment to say thank you to some new sponsors that have signed up: American Vegan Society, A Well-Fed World, Farm Animal Rights Movement, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Want to be part of the 2010 DC VegFest? There is still time to sign up as a sponsor or exhibitor!
Miss DC to Speak at DC VegFest!
We are excited to announce that Miss DC, MacKenzie Ann Green, will be speaking at DC VegFest this year! A native Washingtonian, MacKenzie will share her story about how she transitioned to a plant-based diet in preparation for the Miss DC pageant and why she chose to stick with it after she won.
She’s taken it upon herself to champion health and fitness for less fortunate families in the region, and she’s a strong advocate for increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in lower-income neighborhoods.
Mark your calendar for the DC VegFest on Sept. 11, 2010 to hear our local celebrity discuss the importance of choosing heart-healthy and animal-friendly foods at every meal. Read more about MacKenzie Green and our other speakers.
DC VegFest Wants You -- Sign Up to Sponsor or Exhibit Now!
With over 2,500 attendees, DC VegFest 2009 was a great success. And in 2010, we’re looking forward to an even bigger and better event!
Whether you missed last year’s event or had a great experience, we want YOU to be a part of DC VegFest 2010! We’ll be showcasing the best of everything veg in and around the nation’s capital—it’s the perfect opportunity for your non-profit, restaurant, or business to reach out to a like-minded audience.
Check out the details to become a sponsor or exhibitor today!
We've gone paperless this year to help save resources—time, money, and trees. Our application process is 100% online. However, you can still pay by check if needed.