We are sure to make Sheffield Festival 2019 an amazing, memorable and obviously a cruelty free day out for the whole family. Along with the fact that VFUK is the UK’s only family run Vegan Festival, our venue boasts great transport links, parking and the fact that you are supporting the largest growing movement in the world is reason enough to attend, but here are 5 big reasons to visit Newcastle vegan festival this year.
1. Multi Award Winning Festival
Although Vegan Festival UK has been nominated for many awards over the years, we always got beat to the post by larger business, but last year we were asked to attend the prestigious national P.E.A Awards in London. It was huge honour to be a finalist among some of the UK’s leading sustainable companies, but hearing “The Winner Is Vegan Festival UK” was a little surreal. For more details on this amazing evening (P.E.A Awards), also this July 2nd 2018 we were chosen from a long list of festivals and events, to become the winner of Festival Of The Year 2018. That fact that we have been even nominated for these awards is fanatic, but becoming a finalist and then winning is awesome.
2. Amazing Vegan Businesses
Edinburgh will welcome a large selection of vegan business’s coming from across the UK. If you have ever been to one of our festivals before you may recognize some of our business’s, but this year we have many new companies you may have never heard of. If you are not vegan or vegetarian you will soon realise that removing animal products from our lives, is easier than you think. Come and talk to these amazing companies, maybe taste / try some of there fabulous products and support the vegan movement.
This is what stall holders had to say about our previous event.
3. Speakers & Guests
At all our festivals we have a selection of interesting talks from our speakers and guests, at this years Sheffield Vegan Festival talks include :-
The Vegan Approach : Are you thinking about going vegan? Have you tried being vegan before but come across some challenges? Are you a new vegan? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then please join us at our Vegan Approach talk. Elizabeth King will outline our 6 simple steps to start you on your vegan journey including cooking tips, nutrition, eating out and dealing with family and friends. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions to our expert vegan speaker.
The Vegan Night School presents: Going Vegan, Staying Vegan. What the science tells us about how people change their lifestyles, and sometimes don’t, and what you can do to help others and yourself live aligned with your values. Come hear Dr Alex Lockwood (vegan academic and author of The Pig in Thin Air), Leigh Venus (vegan activist and Minimalists, Newcastle) and Ben Thorne (Anonymous for the Voiceless, The Vegan Night School) share what they’ve learnt from psychology, arts and practice in a fun, non-judgemental interactive session.
John Awen : Compassion = Veganism, Veganism = Compassion. John Awen has led an alternative lifestyle, extreme in many ways, including. Drug addiction, prison sentences, raising animals for slaughter and being diagnosed with advanced heart failure and given no time at all. Having been stabbed, shot and knowing how fragile this life is, John has overcome many dark phases and turned his life around and now openly and candidly shares his journey in the hope of helping others to realise how very precious this life is, not just for us, but for all life. This is one talk you do not want to miss.
Sea Shepherd : Sea Shepherd UK is a registered marine conservation charity whose primary mission is to end the destruction of habitats and illegal killing of wildlife around the UK’s coastline and across the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect marine ecosystems and species. We use innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities committed against marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd also engaging in campaigns to help defend and restore coastal and marine areas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.
Syd Barnes – AKA Psycho Syd : Imagine being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given just 6 months to live. You are a bag of bones writhing in agony. You cannot eat so you must feed yourself through a tube in your stomach to keep yourself alive to the fact that you are dying. Even worse, you are all alone with two young children aged 14 and 4 who have no one else in the world but you. What would you do? Get ready to rage, cry, scream and laugh when you join Syd on his mind-blowing trip as he takes you right there. Taste the madness hurt and despair. Raw and edgy with shed-loads of eye-popping humour. And finally, stare in gobsmacked awe as he finally gets the all-clear inspiring you to believe that the impossible is always possible. You will never forget this true-life tale for as long as you live. You have been warned!
4. Some Free Vegan Stuff
As with our previous festivals the stall holders encourage you to try their wares, this normally comes in the form of food tasting or drinks. This year we will be handing some vegan goodies and vouchers to vegan restaurants in the area. As with most things that are free – first come first served.
We hope to make this event the largest event Sheffield has ever seen, but we can’t do this with out your support, so please take an hour out of your day on Saturday 28th September and support our cause.