Borough set to host first-ever vegan festival

A new festival coming to town aims to promote the vegan lifestyle and all the benefits that go along with it.

The borough will host the first ever Phoenixville VegFest Saturday on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 12-5 p.m. at the corner of Bridge and Main streets. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 18. The free event is open to the public for both vegans and non vegans alike. The festival will feature vegan food, live music, a kids area and vegan friendly vendors selling things like jewelry, clothing and other products.

“Phoenixville is a vegan friendly town and a great place to bring a festival of this kind to the area,” said Jeesely Soto, a member of the Peace Advocacy Network, which is sponsoring the event.

Soto, who is co-organizing the event with Zoe Sakos and Ann Murphy, said people sometimes get the wrong idea when they think of veganism. At its core vegan means no harm was done to animals in any food that’s prepared. The goal is to live a life that’s healthy, environmentally sustainable and compassionate to animals. That doesn’t mean the food has to taste bad though, she said.

“It’s very delicious,” she said. “Vegans do like to eat, not just herbs and plants. There’s great vegan food.”

One of the many vegan establishments that will set up shop for the festival includes the Bethlehem-based bakery Vegan Treats. The bakery has a large following and is known as one of the best in the country. The festival will include other various vegan food trucks and carts.

In addition the non profit pig sanctuary Pig Placement Network will sell paintings made by pigs. Local businesses participating in the event will feature vegan items on their menus and will display signs on their windows so people can know who they are.

The VegFest falls on the same day as the Green Earth festival and Soto said the two events will compliment one another.

For more information, visit the Phoenixville VegFest Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ PhoenixvilleVegFest/