Photograph courtesy Cincy VegFest
Calling all plant-based living enthusiasts, vegetarians, and vegans—Cincinnati’s seventh annual VegFest returns this June to the Burnett Woods Bandstand. VegFest, the city’s largest vegan festival, will feature a variety of plant-based food demonstrations, live music performances, lectures, activities, and its third annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off, all with the goal of educating Cincinnatians on how to lead a more sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle by consuming plant-based food with intention.
Cincy VegFest is free and takes place on June 7. The day starts at 10 a.m., with a variety of activities for children to enjoy, including children’s yoga, live music, and arts and crafts.
The festival itself kicks off at noon with a VegFest Vendors market. Companies including Sunny’s Vegan Kitchen, Evolve Bake+Shop, and Queen City Lemonade will offer plant-based food and drinks. Until 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy standup comedy from comedian Emmy Buttrick, talks from local speakers on sustainable dieting and meditation, listen to live music at the bandstand, watch food demonstrations, participate in raffles, or take part in activities like community yoga and arts and crafts.
At 3 p.m., the Vegan Chili Cook-Off begins, featuring 13 participants competing to concoct the best vegetarian dish for a slate of judges. Last year’s winner, 11-year-old Sreeja, will return as a judge alongside CityBeat’s Katherine Barrier, Harmony Plant Fare’s Alex Nager, and Juniper Seed’s Alecia Petroze. Taste tickets are available for $10, and the entrance fee is $18.
Photograph courtesy Cincy VegFest
Cincy VegFest was co-founded by Anna Ferguson, a local, passionate yogi with her own studio, World Peace Yoga. VegFest was first introduced in the United States in the early 1990s, but only came to Cincinnati in 2018 with Ferguson’s guidance.
Ferguson began her sustainable living journey nearly 25 years ago, when she was introduced to yoga by a friend. After that, she slowly adjusted her diet to something that made her feel more fulfilled—a plant-based diet. Since then, Ferguson’s love for sustainable living has only grown and it’s a cause she brings front and center at VegFest.
According to Ferguson, the first step to plant-based living is “being able to eat delicious food.” VegFest demonstrators will share recipes and show how to make vegan meals that are easily accessible, which Ferguson says will “show the ingredients are not out of reach.”
“People often have this idea that you have to look a certain way or eat a certain way to take part in these activities,” says Ferguson. “It benefits personal health and helps the environment by reducing the harm to animals.”
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