CREDIT: VEGFEST LONDON
Over 100 vendors will participate in this year’s Veg Fest, including local vegan cheese makers, Nuts for Cheese.

The 6th Annual VegFest London kicks off on Nov. 9 at the Western Fair District Agriplex. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and feature over one hundred vendors from across Canada.

The day-long, family-friendly festival has been going on since 2013, always with the same goal of promoting a plant-based lifestyle. Vendors range far beyond just food and drink. VegFest also features vendors representing organizations and activist groups, apparel and accessories, sanctuaries and animal rescues, and health and body care.

“We draw vendors from as far away as Windsor, Toronto, and all across Southwestern Ontario,” said VegFest public relations lead, Susan Campbell. With such a wide range of vendors, visitors will have a chance to experience many different facets of a plant-based lifestyle.


“A lot of people love VegFest for the food, but there’s a lot more to VegFest than just the food,” said Campbell.

Campbell also said this festival is particularly special because very few vegan festivals run this time of year.

“A lot of the festivals run through the summer,” she said. “It’s harvest time, also World Vegan Month. That makes our festival a bit unique.”

VegFest will also feature five expert speakers on various vegan topics. Learn about how to use aquafaba, how to go vegan in a meat-eater’s world, and even how to make vegan banh mi with a professional chef. A large dining area will be open all day for visitors to enjoy all the vegan treats they can find. Visitors can also donate non-perishable food items and vegan personal care items to the London Vegan Food Bank.

Campbell hopes that visitors will gain a deeper understanding of animal welfare from a day at VegFest.

“A lot of people aren’t aware of the animal sanctuaries that are in our area, like Cedar Row. So I’m hoping that people will learn that eating plant-based is easy, and the right thing to do for the environment and the animals.”

With all the delicious food vendors at this year’s VegFest, visitors can at the very least expect an exciting and delicious day of eating.

“You’re definitely going to leave with a full belly!”

The educational experience may be of interest to Fanshawe students, who will have the opportunity to taste food and meet vendors from communities they may not have encountered before. Campbell also noted that young people are the driving force of the vegan movement, and that Fanshawe students can help lead that charge.

“They are the ones who are leading the way when it comes to changing the way people eat and the choices that people are making. They’re the future.”

VegFest London has something for everyone. While it may celebrate a plant-based lifestyle, the festival is open to anyone who loves food, animals, and who might be considering switching diets.

“Certainly with the rise and interest in plant-based eating, it should appeal to, not just vegans, but anybody who’s veg-curious,” said Campbell. “Our festival is open to everyone.”