The Richmond Vegetarian Festival Promises Its Best Year EVER!

by Danielle Bussone

Only NINE days to go to the advent of one of most happening VegFests in the country!!! The Richmond Vegetarian Festival hosted over 12,000 visitors last year and this year promises to be even better. Located on the verdant grounds of Bryan Park in Richmond, Virginia, in the Azalea Gardens, even the parking lot is shady and gorgeous! The June 21st festival will begin at 12 noon and last until 6 pm. A rain date is set for July 5th, same time same place, should the event have to be cancelled due to inclement weather. The festival’s Master of Ceremonies will be Richmond’s favorite meteorologist, Mike Goldberg, who is also an animal lover and music enthusiast.

India K’Raja

Presented by Vegan Action and the Grapevine Restaurant, the festival seeks to expose vegetarianism to the masses in a fun, festival atmosphere with nearly three dozen restaurants in attendance, providing foods which are both healthy, appealing and delicious! I am personally thrilled to see that Indian K’Raja will be serving up vegetarian Indian fare, hands down the most delicious Indian food I’ve experienced to date. There will also be veggie burgers and fries, African food, Thai, Mediterranean, and Japanese sushi, as well as decadent vegan ice cream treats. The selections are seemingly endless, and if anything like last year, absolutely amazing. Rich and I made the rounds, sampling food from numerous vendors, hitting Deluca’s Gelato twice!

Vendors at Richmond Vegetarian Festival: Grapevine

There will be numerous educational speakers including Gene Bauer, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary who speaks about “Facing Our Food”, dietitian Jane Wilson, who will be presenting “Ask A Dietitian,” as well as Victoria Moran’s, “Main Street Vegan: Living Well & Loving Life in the Real World.”

Presenters: Gene Bauer, Jane Wilson, Mike Goldberg (emcee) & Victoria Moran

Joe Yonan, food and travel editor of The Washington Post, and author of “Eat Your Vegetables,” will be doing a cooking demonstration and judging a contest between chefs, in an event called “Food Fight.”

Joe Yonan at Richmond Vegetarian Festival

Animal rescue and environmental organizations will be out as well, showcasing animals in need of adoption and addressing issues related to the sustainability of our planet.

Ginger Thai Taste

Entertainment will be a large feature of the event, keeping the festival alive and hoppin’. Jonathan Austin will be performing magic and a juggling act, and five local bands will be playing music throughout the day. These include Classical Revolutions, Fado Nasso, Tin Can Fish Band, Hotel X, and the Spirit Drummers.

Pet and Kid Friendly Atmosphere!

The Richmond Vegetable Festival is the place to be on June 21! Did I mention admission is FREE? Bring your kids and your pets, your appetites and your smiles, and prepare to have the time of your lives!

Co-founder and editor of Veggin’ Out and About, Danielle writes restaurant reviews, profiles and interviews of people making a difference in the plant-based community. She is currently writing a cookbook for vegans called, “Time For Change: Whole Foods For Whole Health.”

Danielle’s region is SW Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina and anywhere she happens to stop for sustenance along the road. Contact Danielle Contact Danielle directly to share your restaurant finds, to make comments or just to say hello.