Animal rights activist Jenny Brown will be keynote speaker at the second annual VegFest of Eastern Iowa. (photo/VegFest of Eastern Iowa)

Last year, VegFest of Eastern Iowa started what looks to become an annual tradition, with its celebration of plant-based living.

The second rendition of VegFest of Eastern Iowa is set for Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Kirkwood Regional Center, 2301 Oakdale Blvd., Coralville.

Admission is $5 for adults, and free for kids under 18; tickets are available online at vegfesteasterniowa.com.

Learn more about this year’s celebration from VegFest of Eastern Iowa:

CORALVILLE, IA – As the trend toward plant-based living continues to grow, experts are increasingly making the connection between vegan lifestyles and optimal health, and a more sustainable future for our planet. With vegan products more widely available than ever before, it is also easier to see a way forward without using non-human animals for food and in the production of goods.

Attendees at VegFest of Eastern Iowa will be able to purchase delicious vegan food and beverages by Trumpet Blossom Café, Brightside Kitchen, Get Fresh, The Full Bowl, Dodge Street Coffeehouse, Clementine, Oryza Asian Cuisine, Wild Culture Kombucha, and Comfort Food Farms (local makers of vegan cheese.)

Iowa Farm Sanctuary is among organizations that will have a booth at VegFest of Eastern Iowa 2019. (photo/Iowa Farm Sanctuary)

Other vendors in the event’s marketplace will have cruelty-free home goods and body products, jewelry, apparel, the essentials needed for a zero-waste home, vegan chocolate treats, and more. In addition to vendors selling merchandise, nonprofit groups will be present to share more about how attendees can get involved in the local vegan community.

Research-based educational sessions will be presented throughout the day, featuring local and nationally-known speakers. Topics will include the environment, animal welfare and animal rights, nutrition and health, and fitness. Cooking demonstrations by local chefs will also be offered.

Jenny Brown will be this year’s keynote speaker, and is a renowned animal rights advocate, author, and farmed animal sanctuary founder who previously worked in film and television. An experience in Texas documenting stockyard conditions undercover led her to change course and dedicate her life to farmed animal advocacy. Jenny’s story has been featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, CNN, and more. She is the author of The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals.

Additional information, including the event schedule, volunteer opportunities, and where to buy tickets, is available at vegfesteasterniowa.com. Advance ticket purchase is recommended, though tickets will still be available at the door. The first 150 guests through the door will receive a free swag bag full of vegan products and coupons.
This event is presented by the Vegan Community of Eastern Iowa, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their mission is to promote the joy, compassion, and life-enhancing possibilities of a vegan lifestyle.

More: Animals find safe haven at Iowa’s first farm sanctuary