ANOTHER YEAR OF RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE AT THE 10Th ANNUAL VEGGIE FEST.
For the last several years, each Veggie Fest has seen record-breaking increases in attendance. The 10th Annual Veggie Fest held in August was no different when close to 35,000 locals and visitors from around the world came to enjoy the free, two-day outdoor festival.
Held in a new location on the campus of Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, Veggie Fest had even more space for their huge international food court; Spirituality and Health Symposium with professionals speaking on diet, lifestyle, and environmental issues; engaging food demos by restaurant owners, chefs, and authors; children's tent with face painting, clowns, and crafts; live music from some of Chicago's best bands; over 100 vendor booths to explore; and fun for the whole family.
"It's incredible to see the growing enthusiasm toward the vegetarian diet," said Jonathan Kruger, spokesperson for the event. "This was our biggest and best Veggie Fest yet!"
In addition to standing-room-only keynote talks on both days by Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, world-renowned spiritual Master and head of Science of Spirituality (Veggie Fest's primary sponsor), Dr. Mason, Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Public Health System, spoke about the importance of the vegetarian diet; the Mayor of Lisle, Joe Broda, cut the ribbon on opening day; and the Honorable Sandra Sanchez, Consul General of Colombia also attended the festival.
Record numbers who "pledged to go veg" for 14 days by taking the Vegetarian Challenge went home with recipes, tips, and shopping lists; $5,500 worth of food was donated to People's Resource Center in Wheaton, IL in the annual vegetarian food drive; and thousands learned new vegetarian, vegan, and raw food recipes in the popular demo tents. These are now available on the Veggie Fest website.
Now in its 10th year, Veggie Fest, one of the largest free vegetarian festivals in North America, has become a highly anticipated summer event in the Chicagoland area. Organizers and staff, all of whom are volunteers, are already looking forward to finding ways to making Veggie Fest 2016, the best Veggie Fest yet.
