WILMINGTON — The City of Wilmington is joining hundreds of other cities in celebrating its first ever Vegfest, a one-day festival focusing on vegan lifestyle.
The event is set for April 14, and will include family-friendly activities focusing on the vegan lifestyle.
“As the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle have gained notoriety for both individual health and the planet, festivals of this type have sprung up nationwide,” according to Vegfest organizers.
There will be more than 50 vendors, speakers, music and cooking demos at VegFest, which is taking place at the Coastline Conference Center downtown. Local businesses are getting involved with the festivities.
“The very first VegFest was held in Toronto in 1985. As a 2018 VegFest host city, Wilmington joins the ranks of hundreds more, including Asheville, Charlotte, the Triad and Triangle. Two nonprofits, Wilmington Vegan and North Carolina Farmed Animals Save are working directly with Helene Greenberg, the executive director and promoter of Triangle VegFest/NC Vegfests,” according to a press release.
Helene Greenberg, founder and executive director of the Triangle VegFest in Durham, organized the inaugural event in 2014.
“Greenberg created Triangle Vegfest to help educate the Triangle community about easy ways to reap the health benefits of a plant-based diet, provide a marketplace for vegan-friendly businesses to promote their offerings, and encourage local restaurants to offer vegan menu options,” according to the VegFest website.
Private vegan chef and volunteer for Wilmington Vegan Lisa Andree offered some tips for those interested in living a vegan lifestyle.
“Opting for a vegan diet is easier than ever! Resources abound in the way of websites, blogs and cookbooks. Supermarkets are also full of new plant-based
items, such as nut milks, tempeh, edamame, “meats” and cheeses plus super-foods like Spirulina, chia and hemp seeds. However, many folks considering a vegan diet have concerns that without meat and dairy, they will not get enough protein, calcium and certain vitamins and minerals … individuals can effortlessly obtain the three macronutrients our bodies need (protein, calcium and carbohydrates) on a plant-based diet,” Andree said.
More information on Vegfest can be found online at Wilmingtonvegfest.com, tickets are $10 and visitors 18 and under are admitted free.
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