By Lexi Chitwood
madisonveganfest.org
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, Madison Vegan Fest welcomed over 2,000 attendees at Madison College’s Truax Campus.
Until this year, Mad City Vegan Fest was the premier, large-scale gathering for vegan food and culture in Madison. When organizers announced that the Fest would not be returning in 2018, Mollie Stolbov and Bethany Mehta picked up where Mad City left off, launching Madison Vegan Fest.
“Madison Vegan Fest’s mission is to bring people together to enjoy delicious vegan food, hear from engaging speakers, and explore ways to live more compassionately,” says , a Co-Lead Organizer. It took sixty volunteers to pull it off. “They were all amazing and we are grateful for their support,” says Mehta.
Programming included cooking demos, and panels on vegan nutrition and effective animal advocacy. Marla Rose, a journalist and co-founder of Chicago VeganMania, held a panel titled, Why a Feminist Ethic Supports a Vegan Practice, where she discussed the intersections between feminism and veganism. Redefining Masculinity & The Human Experience Through Veganism was led by Dominik Thompson, an athlete and entrepreneur, who believes that “caring and compassion should not be gender specific.”
The exhibition hall held a variety of vendors. There were opportunities for animal activism through The Humane League and Alliance for animals, as well as cruelty-free cosmetics and clothing. Local animal sanctuaries Heartland Farm Sanctuary and SoL Criations also exhibited.
The Food Court hosted a wide selection of vegan cuisine. Madison favorites Ian’s Pizza and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream dished up vegan pizza and soy-based ice cream, respectively. Chicago restaurant Soul Vegan brought comfort food: mac & cheese, BBQ, and corn bread. Other restaurants present were Fuegos, The Green Owl Café, Indian Village, and Adamah Neighborhood Table, among others.
When asked if next year’s Vegan Fest was in the works, Mehta stated, “Madison Vegan Fest 2019 is on all of the organizer’s minds, but we have yet to start planning.”
Through a strong vegan influence in the Madison community, Edgewood College has seen a growth in vegan options with the addition of Rooted, an all vegan dining station in Phil’s, in early 2018.
Post your comments