All things vegan will be on full display at Sarnia's Canatara Park this weekend.
The fifth annual Vegfest is taking place Sunday, July 7 in the field by the bandshell stage. The free event features vegan food and drinks, live music, beach yoga, fashion, animal rights groups, as well as a sustainable market and children's activities.
There will also be a vegan cooking demo with samples with Paresh Thakkar at 12:15 p.m.
He'll be teaching people how to make a savoury vegetable and chickpea flour pancake with a market fruit chutney.
Organizer Tosha Lobsinger said there are a number of physical and mental benefits to choosing a whole foods plant-based diet.
"It reduces the chance of most major diseases and it's way more sustainable," said Lobsinger. "If you think about the amount of resources needed to grow crops, to eat the plants directly, it's about ten to 20 times more crop needed to raise and feed an animal. Then, you're also obviously killing animals which are sentient beings just like us. It's about choosing healthier and more compassionate options."
Lobsinger said there's more to being vegan than just avoiding meat.
"Animal products can be, and are, in everything," she said. "That's from food to materials that are used in clothing to ingredients used in shampoos, soaps and beauty products. Choosing vegan products is about finding great companies who make products that are cruelty free and don't exploit animals. They use plant ingredients that are healthier, more sustainable and better for everyone."
Lobsinger said they've received positive feedback over the years.
"It's been so good, we've had consistently between 1,000 to 4,000 people in attendance every year," said Lobsinger. "Last year it rained and we still had a really good turnout. Everyone has a great time, and everyone enjoys trying the vegan foods and meeting all the small businesses who are making alternatives for a healthier planet and healthier humans."
The festival is sponsored by the Animal Alliance of Canada.
Vegfest runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
For more information visit www.sarniavegfest.com