The 10th annual festival will showcase hundreds of local, regional, and national vegan food vendors, businesses, and organizations during the family-friendly event
(Charlotte, N.C. – September 25, 2023) – Charlotte VegFest 2023 returns on Saturday, September 30, from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at The Ford Building at Camp North End, located at 1774 Statesville Ave. Admission to the family-friendly event is complimentary, and attendees can expect more than 125 vegan food vendors, vegan food trucks, and businesses providing vegan-friendly products and services. Last year, the festival attracted an estimated 6,000 vegan, plant-based, and veg-curious patrons from across the region.
One of the biggest draws to Vegfest is the food – and this year’s food court will not disappoint. The vegan food court features vegan chefs, restaurants, and food trucks. The vegan Mac Off and BBQ cooking competitions are also proving to be a big draw this year. The 2023 VegFest will have something that everyone can enjoy, including free fitness classes and activities for the youth.
Additionally, three celebrated vegan chefs will grace the main stage for lively, interactive cooking demonstrations – Chef Julia Simon, Charlotte VegFest’s immediate past president and owner/executive chef of Plant Joy, a vegan restaurant located at Camp North End; Chef Sunni, also known as Sunni Speaks, a celebrity vegan chef and prominent vegan influencer based out of Florida; and Chef Mal, the visionary behind the booming food truck Dawg’On Vegans and owner of Imagine Eden.
Notables John Lewis, known by his moniker Bad Ass Vegan (documentary filmmaker, author, vegan activist, and fitness expert), Jamie Grath (boxing champion and owner of Southpaw Training Center), and Morathi Howie (ceo of Vegan Love Culture Foundation, Vegan Vibes Music Series and recent recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award) are just some of the panelists scheduled to appear at this years’ festival. This diverse lineup of speakers will help educate, entertain, and inspire those looking to learn more about living a more compassionate and sustainable lifestyle.
“Our main focus is on providing needed resources to our community,” says Jameka Whitten, president at Charlotte VegFest, Inc. “Our board and planning committee have been super intentional about ensuring that we highlight the work of nonprofits and organizations like Feeding Charlotte and WIC North Carolina, making a positive impact in Charlotte and beyond. Charlotte VegFest is about supporting our very diverse community in an inclusive and equitable way.”
Three-time Emmy-award-winning Boris “Bluz” Rogers, social media personality, vegan influencer DelWayne Stepney (known online as Black Vegan Man), and Comedian and Actor Ali-Daimone Dickson will all serve as hosts for the event. Ericka Cornick of Uh Vegans Life will serve as the official podcast host throughout the day.
The official afterparty starts at 6 p.m. in Camp North End’s Boileryard and will feature performances from ReeCee Raps and Grey, an Atlanta-based hip-hop artist and vegan activist. Vegfest is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For additional details about VegFest, visit www.CharlotteVegFest.com. For all media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Camille Reed at camille@jswmediagroup.com.
About Charlotte Vegfest Inc.
At Charlotte Vegfest Inc., our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to embrace a vegan lifestyle for the benefit of their health, the planet, and all living beings. We do this by providing educational resources, organizing community events, and supporting local vegan businesses. Together, we strive to create a vibrant and inclusive community where veganism is celebrated and enjoyed. What started in a small parking lot with a handful of vendors in 2012 has grown to 100+ vendors and thousands of visitors annually. Charlotte Vegfest is a family-friendly celebration of a healthy, sustainable, and compassionate lifestyle and explores the endless benefits of vegan living. Charlotte Vegfest brings together national, regional, and local veg-minded businesses for a broad mix of old and new favorites. Charlotte Vegfest is a 501(c)(3) with the mission of spreading veganism through Charlotte and the Carolinas. www.CharlotteVegFest.com
