Ariel Lebow, Contributing Writer
Richmond will hold the 22nd annual VegFest on Sept. 26 at Byrd Park, offering a free community event for vegans, vegetarians and anyone interested in learning about plant-based diets. The festival will feature educational talks, live music, cooking demonstrations and more than 120 vendors offering prepared and fresh foods as well as non-food items.
Amanda Trenchard, lead coordinator of VegFest, found the festival while looking for ways to connect with the vegan community after her move to Richmond in 2019.
“You don’t have to just be vegan or vegetarian to go and enjoy vegan food or listen to music, have a good time with your friends on the weekend,” Trenchard said.
While some vendors are fully vegan, many businesses are attending to highlight their plant-based options.
The vegucation tent, a booth for education provided by registered nurses on vegan lifestyles and nutritional advice, will include seven different musical performances, according to Lynn Klanchar, entertainment coordinator for VegFest.
Klanchar has volunteered at VegFest for over five years, organizing its music and performances.
“We want to have something for everybody, like Mary Moore and Høly River, two bands that are aligned with environmental issues,” Klanchar said.
The event’s mission is to inform people on veggie-friendly options in the city and promote interest in a lifestyle focused on intentional cruelty-free eating, according to Klanchar.
Jaq Wetter, assistant vendor coordinator at VegFest since 2025, also works as an event planner.
“The most important part of VegFest is the ability to show people how approachable veganism actually is,” Wetter said. “You don’t need to learn all the ways to cook tofu right off the bat. It’s important to show people that vegan food is just food, food you’re already familiar with.”
More information about VegFest is available at the VegFest website.