Vegetarian festival attracts thousands in Toronto

The Veg Food Fest is the largest vegetarian festival in North America

Vegan food festival
The Veg Food Fest draws over 35,000 people over three days. Lea Sheffield

Veg Food Fest

Largest vegetarian festival in North America.
Organizer: Toronto Vegetarian Association
35,000 attendees
Over 3 days
Location: Harbourfront Centre, Toronto

The Veg Food Fest is the largest vegetarian festival in North America. The 33rd annual festival took place at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto from Sept. 8 to 10. Organized by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, the Veg Food Fest attracts approximately 35,000 people over three days.

The festival includes over 140 vendors and exhibitors. These vendors feature various vegan and vegetarian food, products, information, and presentations.

The largest vegetarian food festival in North America attracted tens of thousands of people, including the 'veg curious', according to the organizer David Alexander. He spoke with Toronto Observer's Lea Sheffield at the event.

The wide variety of vegan fare is the main attraction for the festival, according to David Alexander,  executive director of the Toronto Vegetarian Association.

I think is the big draw for a lot of our attendees is the opportunity to sample all of the great vegetarian and vegan food that’s available in the city of Toronto,” Alexander said Friday. According to Alexander, the festival attracts both meat-eaters and vegans alike.

“About half of our audience is either vegetarian or vegan, and the other half is what we like to call ‘veg-curious’. They’re people who eat meatless a few times a week or they might have a friend or family member who’s vegetarian but they’re not. Or they’re interested in learning more about the veg lifestyle,” he  said.

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Posted: Sep 22 2017 10:34 am
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