We like to say that Twin Cities Veg Fest is for everyone – whether vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore. Truly, everyone is welcome. Here are just a few of the things that anyone and everyone can enjoy at this annual festival:
- The food! Yes, it’s vegan food. But it’s really just food, and it’s really just good food! We all eat, right? And you’ll be happy to discover that we’ve assembled the best of the best in Twin Cities vegan eats under one roof. Dozens and dozens of exhibitors are offering free samples, and we also have at least nine different food vendors selling meals and sweets. You’ll have the opportunity to try everything from meat-free meats to vegan donuts. You won’t leave hungry, no matter who you are.
- Community! If you’re already vegan or vegetarian, you’ll look around and say, “Gee, I’m not alone.” We think that experience of community is priceless. If you’re a veg-curious omnivore, you’ll look around and recognize a lot of people who care about animals just like you. Some of those people are eating a plant-based diet, and some aren’t. We encourage everyone to move in the direction of a plant-based diet in their own time. This can be your first step, exploring what the options are. And you can see how fun it is. We’re here to make sure of that.
- Cooking Demos! “Yeah,” you might be thinking, “this food is all really tasty, but how can I make it for myself?” Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. We have four different vegan chefs giving cooking demos throughout the day. They’ll show you how to make plant-based dishes that are simple, delicious, and nutritious. On top of that, you’ll get to sample what they make. And at least one of the chefs has pink hair. Need we say more?
- Presentations! In addition to the cooking demos, we have an amazing line-up of speakers who will inspire you with entertaining lectures on different aspects of compassionate living. They’ll address the essential why’s and how’s of moving towards a plant-based diet, but they’ll do so in fresh new ways, making these talks perfect for both newbies and more seasoned animal advocates alike.
- It’s FREE! Yes, Twin Cities Veg Fest is free to attend! And the location at Coffman Memorial Union on the campus of the University of Minnesota is easy to get to using bus, light rail, car, or bike. We want the festival to be as accessible as possible for all people.
We hope you will join us on Sunday, November 1 for this day-long celebration of compassion. And bring friends! The festival offers a great opportunity to share the fun (and food!) of compassionate living with your loved ones. Or come by yourself. You’ll meet many people interested in the same things that you are. However you come, whoever you are, just know that you are welcome.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Holy tofu nuggets! We’ve got a busy month of October ahead! But it’s understandable. Twin Cities Veg Fest is happening on Sunday, November 1, right around the corner.
Quick! Run, don’t walk, to your nearest mobile device and RSVP to the festival on Facebook. Then, if you want to go the extra mile, sign up for our Thunderclap campaign to share the event with all your friends. Twin Cities Veg Fest is our biggest event of the year, and with your help we can reach even more people with a message of compassion all wrapped up in a day of fun.
Here are our October events. Please consider joining us for one or more of these fun activities, from dine outs and potlucks to volunteering to prepare for the festival. Whatever it may be, trust that it’s all for the animals, to create a compassionate community right here in the Twin Cities.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Join us for a series of fun postering parties and help us get the word out about Twin Cities Veg Fest. These volunteer events are a great way to meet other people who care about animals and want Twin Cities Veg Fest to be a major success. On top of that, we provide free vegan food. Join us!
If you’d like to help get the word out about the festival but you’re not available for the postering parties, you can always use your social media platforms to spread the news. Check out our recent blog post for tips on sharing the festival on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more!
And if you haven’t looked at our blog in a while, be sure to check out these new posts for inspiration:
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
We’re kicking off this year’s festival with an exclusive pre-party, and you’re invited!
Join us on Friday, October 30 at Moto-i in the Big Boy Lounge from 7 to 10pm. Admission is $20 and includes an array of vegan bites from the Moto-i menu plus live entertainment from a special guest.
This event is just two days before Twin Cities Veg Fest. It’ll be a great way to crank up the excitement for the festival.
Get your tickets today! Space is limited!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
The new school year has arrived, and you’re invited to join us for our first campus meeting of the year at the University of Minnesota tonight at 6:30pm.
We’ll be at Coffman Memorial Union in room 301 where we’ll discuss what CAA will be doing in the upcoming semester, especially Twin Cities Veg Fest. There will be plenty of volunteer opportunities to sign up for, people to meet, and free vegan food. You can RSVP and invite your friends using the Facebook event page.
Throughout the semester, we’ll meet every Tuesday at 6:30pm in Coffman 301. (Some of you may have received a flyer that said that campus meetings were on Wednesdays. That was incorrect; campus meetings will be on Tuesdays this year!)
If you’re a student at the U, or even if you’re not, we hope you’ll participate in some of these fun campus activities coming up in the next few months:
Here’s to a great school year! Let’s make it count for the animals.
Cheers,
Unny Nambudiripad
CAA is busy in September. We hope you’ll join us for one or more of these fun events. From our monthly potluck and dine out to a variety of activities in preparation for Twin Cities Veg Fest, we’ve got lots of things to keep you engaged with the compassionate community, exploring plant-based foods, and building friendships with others who care about making the world a better place for animals. Join us!
Please follow the links for details and let me know if you have questions about any of these events. We hope to see you there!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Now is the time to start thinking about getting involved with Twin Cities Veg Fest as a volunteer. We have positions available in all realms of the festival, from assisting at our cooking demos to helping out with our pay-per-view outreach.
If you need inspiration for that, look no further than our most recent blog post. Volunteer Linda Pope shares her experience volunteering for pay-per-view at the Pride Festival last June. “Opening Hearts, Changing Minds” is the title of the article for good reason.
If you’re interested in volunteering, we’ll find a good spot that fits your skills and interests. Contact me at [email protected].
Thanks to everyone who already helped out Twin Cities Veg Fest in another, very important way: with your generous donations to our recent Indiegogo campaign. We’re happy to report that we surpassed our goal and can continue to make this annual festival free for all to attend!
The success of this campaign is a reflection of the excitement that everyone has for the festival. It’s awesome to share a celebration of compassion and vegan food with thousands of people, many of whom are not yet vegetarian. We look forward to November 1 and to what this year’s Twin Cities Veg Fest has in store.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
You’re hearing it here first! We’re announcing our lineup of illustrious chefs who will show off their compassionate cookery at the fourth annual Twin Cities Veg Fest on November 1. Get ready to learn how to make some mouthwatering plant-based cuisine. Samples included!
We added cooking demos to the festival activities last year, and they were a big hit with standing-room only audiences. This year, we’re moving the demos into a 400-seat theater, which will certainly free up some space in other areas of Coffman Memorial Union.
Here’s the lineup:
We’re nearing the end of our crowdsourcing campaign to raise funds for Twin Cities Veg Fest. Thanks to all of you who have contributed through our online campaign and to those of you who have sent donations by check through the mail. With all of these donations we’re getting closer to reaching our goal. Thank you for that!
You still have through Monday, August 24 to contribute. Donations of any amount are appreciated and help us to make the festival free for anyone to attend. As an extra incentive, we have $500 worth of matching funds committed once we reach $3,500, which will take us to a total of $4,000! Please give today and be a part of the team that makes Twin Cities Veg Fest a powerful tool for outreach and a fun celebration for all.
One more note: we have two special events coming up in the next week, and I hope you will take part in one or both. First, on this Thursday, August 20, we’re hosting another edition of Tea, Cookies, and Conversation. This one features a discussion about social justice intersections, exploring how we can be better animal advocates by making connections with other movements for liberation. Then, on Saturday, August 22, we’ve got a fun Farm-to-Table Vegan Potluck at the home of Jennifer Swick in Roseville. Join us for this community event and make good use of that amazing summer harvest.
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Where will you be on November 1? If you’re anywhere near the Twin Cities, you had just better find yourself at Coffman Memorial Union for Twin Cities Veg Fest, our annual festival that attracts thousands of people. The festival celebrates compassion and is a great way to open the hearts and minds of all who attend.
Part of that inspiration comes from our fantastic lineup of speakers presenting on a variety of subjects, from the ethics behind our food choices to the nutritional know-how that makes plant-based eating possible. We’re happy to announce a few of our speakers right now:
Learn more about these animal advocates and their presentations on our festival website. We’ll announce more speakers and cooking demo instructors in the coming weeks!
Our fundraiser to support Twin Cities Veg Fest continues through August 24. We’re nearly halfway to our goal of $3500, but we need your help to make it the rest of the way. Thanks to those of you who have already given! Your contributions help to make this festival free for everyone to attend. If you’d like to support the festival, there’s still time to make a donation. Please give today!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
Compassion is one of the key teachings of Christianity and many other religions, so you’d think that we’d see more Christians and other people of faith moving towards a plant-based diet. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Our latest podcast episode explores this challenging subject.
In the podcast, I chat with Kathy Dunn and Ruth Sorenson-Prokosch, two Christians who advocate for animals. They talk about how the teachings of the Bible support their compassionate choices and how they take those teachings into their faith communities to speak up for animals. This is a great podcast to share with friends and family who are Christian.
Twin Cities Veg Fest isn’t happening until Sunday, November 1, but the momentum is starting to pick up. In the weeks to come, we’ll be sharing our growing list of speakers, chefs, vendors, and more. Be on the lookout for that.
Our campaign to raise funds for the festival continues through August 24. Can you give something today to help us reach our goal? Your contributions are greatly appreciated, and we’re offering a bunch of fun perks for those donating at levels of $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, and $1,000. Check them out and see what strikes your fancy.
All contributions support our festival to celebrate compassion and allow us to make it free for anyone to attend. Visit our Indiegogo page and consider making a contribution. Let’s make this year’s Twin Cities Veg Fest the best one yet!
For the animals,
Unny Nambudiripad
