Vegan Festival Adelaide
We're here to celebrate, promote, and provide education for a compassionate, healthy, and sustainable vegan lifestyle
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs.
“[Veganism is] a philosophy and way of living that seeks to exclude - as far as possible and practical - all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose; and, by extension, promote the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals, and the environment.”
VFA2021 Picture by Tricia Watkinson
The Festival is a family and pet friendly celebration and discussion of vegan life. A fun-filled atmosphere is fuelled by guest speakers, live music, cooking demonstrations, hands-on workshops, kids activities, and a diverse array of market stalls of vegan products, vegan food and beverages, animal rights groups, and vegan societies.
DATES : 7 & 8 Dec 2024 | 7 Dec 2025 | 6 Dec 2026
The team wish to thank the generous sponsors, both corporate and individual, without whom the Festival would not be possible.
The Festival aims to:
promote a vegan lifestyle and vegan products
inform visitors about animal rights, health, and environmental sustainability
support and provide advice on becoming vegan (and/or a vegan parent)
demonstrate the scope of vegan cookery
provide the best, 100% vegan products available
Veganism addresses some of the greatest issues facing the world today. The core of the movement is focused on the ethical treatment of animals. However, in doing so, there are also multiple benefits to human health and the global environment. Globally, the number of vegans is growing and Australia has the third fastest growing vegan market in the world. Here in Adelaide, we have one of the strongest vegan communities in the country: A growing local community committed to global goals.
Vegan Festival Adelaide brings together Adelaide's local vegan and non-vegan community in an atmosphere of celebration and education. Founded in 2007, the Festival aims to explore a diverse vegan lifestyle and demonstrate how just a few adjustments can lead to a more compassionate way of living. One of the top three community events in Adelaide, the festival has grown dramatically from its first 1,000 attendees in 2007 to over 17,000 in 2017. The Festival is brought to life by the support of generous sponsors and a committee of dedicated individuals who give their time and energy. The Festival supports charities that improve the lives of animals, people in need, or the environment. Past recipients of support from the Festival can be seen here. The power to support vegan ideals doesn't only come from the profits of the Festival, the whole event embodies and celebrates these ideals.
Recognising the positive changes happening in the world inspires the Festival to provide a large scale event that allows vegans to celebrate in an atmosphere of music, cooking, and the very best vegan products. However, the Festival also recognises and addresses the remaining and future issues that impact animal welfare, human health, and the environment. Leading vegan communicators from across Australia and the world explore and discuss the vegan philosophies and their power for change. Challenging vegans and non-vegans alike to be the best they can be. Importantly, non-vegans are welcomed to the festival and given the opportunity to learn the vegan philosophies, to hear from and ask questions of leading vegan communicators, and enjoy one of Adelaide’s most vibrant events without judgement. Ultimately, the Festival aims to empower the community to take action and end animal cruelty, improve human health, and advance environmental sustainability. These three threads weave throughout the Festival's infrastructure and entertainment.
At the Vegan Festival Adelaide, we embrace inclusivity in all its forms. Our commitment to veganism goes beyond dietary choices; it’s about accepting and respecting all living beings. We celebrate diversity in animals, nationalities, cultures and identities, recognizing that every life deserves compassion and dignity.
Join us in creating a welcoming space where everyone, regardless of species or background, can thrive together in harmony.
Veganism
Veganism isn’t just food, the range of products in our everyday lives that include animals products is astounding. However, showcased across the diverse range of Stalls and addressed by talks on the Main Stage are their vegan equivalents. Browse through collections of household products, cosmetics, clothing, and recycled goods. Don't worry, food is well represented, with sumptuous vegan meals and treats available, and Cooking Demonstrations that explain how to take the best vegan tastes home with you.
The Festival ensures that all products displayed and sold on site are 100% vegan. Local Vegan businesses are given priority, supporting the decision to be a completely vegan company in the local business community. Also, none of the entertainment exploit animals for their acts and no animals are used to erect our marquees and stages (although that isn't so common anyway!)
Health
We live longer than ever in the modern world but also suffer from cultural diseases, such as obesity, more than at any other period in history. Good health is the greatest asset to fully enjoy the life the modern world allows. A well-balanced and considered vegan diet is great for health. To help us stay fighting fit and cruelty free, the Festival features speakers, health professionals, cookery demonstrators, and athletes that understand the needs of the human body and how to address them with a totally vegan diet.
An active lifestyle is the partner of a good diet. To promote activity in day-to-day city life, attendees are encouraged to ride their bikes to the Festival and then engage with an array of workshops to stimulate physical and mental health. In the past, there has been: Yoga, Qi Gong, meditation workshops, fitness workshops and (of course) healthy vegan food. Not forgetting the practicalities of healthy, outdoor fun, sunscreen and drinking water are provided for free throughout the two day event. Oh, and important to note, a festival wouldn't be a festival without dancing, be ready to join us on the dance floor!
Environmental Sustainability
The waste management report for Vegan Picnic 2023 is here and once again we’ve diverted all our waste from Landfill! Read the full report below but we want to say a huge thank you to all of you who came along, helped us reduce waste and care for our planet - both guests and stall holders
In 2018, the UN warned the world that we have 12 years to limit climate change or face catastrophe. In the same year, we were told how, as individuals, we can help: “Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth”. A plant based diet is better for our Air, Land, and Water. Find our more: Click here.
Our record:
2023 - organics 57% | recycling 8% | energy generation 35% | general waste 0% (Vegan Picnic)
2022 - organics 60% | recycling 22% | energy generation 18% | general waste 0%
2021 - organics 48% | recycling 24% | energy generation 28% | general waste 0%
2020 - organics 61% | recycling 26% | general waste 13%
2019 - organics 52% | recycling 30% | general waste 17%
2018 - organics 46% | recycling 39% | general waste 15%
2017 - organics 42% | recycling 33% | general waste 25%
Many vegan options offer inherent benefits for the environment - with the huge losses of biodiversity across the world and global temperatures rapidly rising as a result of human activities, there is so much that needs doing. Speakers at the Festival will bring the facts of global agriculture and animal farming, and explore the things we can all do to limit our individual environmental footprint. For example, "Beef results in up to 105kg of greenhouse gases per 100g of meat, while tofu produces less than 3.5kg"(1). However, this year the biggest analysis to date revealed the prime way to reduce your impact on Earth. “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use,” said Joseph Poore, at the University of Oxford, UK who led the research. “It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car, as these only cut greenhouse gas emissions." Encouragingly, "[T]he latest figures from Roy Morgan Research reveal 2.25 million Australians aged 18 and over live a meat-free life, with Melbourne and Sydney leading the charge." (2). With Vegan business represented across the Festival, attendees can truly use consumer power and help 100% vegan companies grow to provide significant competition to the entrenched standards of the modern economy in Adelaide and beyond.
2022’s Vegan Picnic maintained the Festival’s green credentials
In 2022, 1.2 tonnes of waste disposed of at Vegan Picnic. Of this, 0.9 tonnes were either recycled or composted. For the second year, no waste was sent to landfill.
Year on year, the Vegan Festival Adelaide continuously improves its environmental impact, striving for the goal of being a Zero Waste Event. Marketing materials are produced from reused or recycled materials, and all furniture is hired or reused from previous events. Managing the waste of a growing population is a major issue and, unfortunately, festivals tend to produce a high concentration of waste. However, this also places us in a good position to demonstrate and educate attendees on how to divert as much waste away from landfill as possible. General, organics and recyclable bins are provided to maximise reuse and minimise landfill. In addition, food and drink stall holders only use compostable or recyclable ware so that minimal waste is produced. This allows attendees to place most of their day's waste into the organics bins. Furthermore, on-site cleaners will use environmentally safe cleaning products, ensuring that our venue is left as a beautiful park in the centre of Adelaide without exposing the environment to harmful chemicals. Following the Festival, the only things lingering will be great memories.
We did it! In 2021, no waste went to landfill!
In 2021, 1.2 tonnes of waste disposed of at Vegan Festival Adelaide. Of this, 0.9 tonnes were either recycled or composted. New for 2021, we sent waste to be used to generate energy - this has a carbon footprint but prevents waste being stored underground.
In 2020, we continued to drive down landfill waste. Only 13% of waste went to landfill.
In 2019, 28,720 litres of waste disposed of at Vegan Festival Adelaide. Of this, 23,840 litres were either recycled or composted. The increase in cardboard and reduction in recycling reflects the switch to cardboard, compostable foodware, rather than simply recyclable (including plastics) items.
in 2018, 36,800 litres of waste was disposed of at Vegan Festival Adelaide. Of this, 31,280 litres were either recycled or composted. This year, General waste was reduced to 15% of the total, in comparison to 25% in 2017. Not only that, in 2018 ~7,000 litres less waste was generated than in 2017
In 2017, we'd reduced our none reusable waste down to only 25% of our total waste! Compostable waste was 42%, an amazing 18600 litres. Recyclables were a third of our waste, coming in at 14560 litres. As we push our total waste down, we want the proportions of compostable and Recyclable waste to increase.
Help us understand the environmental impact of Vegan Festival Adelaide
Collaboration with the City of Adelaide
The City of Adelaide is committed to making the city more sustainable and is collaborating with event managers to improve environmental outcomes in city festivals and events.
With funding assistance from Council, Vegan Festival Adelaide is playing its part by:
Mandating compostable, reusable or recyclable packaging for stall holders
Using three bin waste separation to maximise recycling and waste sent to landfill
Providing solar phone charging stations to provide a clean, renewable energy options for patrons
Educating the community on what being sustainable means
Surveying patrons to better understand recycling and environmental impact behaviours
Reducing personal carbon footprints via conscious consumption
Crew
Our crew dedicate their time to the Vegan Festival Adelaide. They are proud of this incredible event and believe everyone can make the change to a more compassionate lifestyle: one festival at a time!
Lea McBride
Director & Festival Coordinator
As a long-time event coordinator, Lea has had the pleasure of being involved in Adelaide’s vibrant arts and festival scene, curating fun & memorable experiences. When she’s not juggling event plans, you’ll probably find her at local festivals (purely for "research," of course!) or exploring Adelaide’s amazing vegan food scene. While Lea may not be the loudest voice for animals, she does have the skills & connections to bring together passionate voices to make sure their message is heard. Joining the festival as a volunteer in 2015, she took on the role as Director in 2017 & is proud of the community created.
Lea McBride
Festival Planner | Social Media | Onsite Director & Coordinator | Sponsorship Coordinator | Stalls, Workshop, and Kids Zone Coordinator | Volunteers Coordinator
Cooking Demonstration Supervisor
Photography & Video Coordinator
Information Booth Supervisor | Volunteers Supervisor
Instagram Advisor
Venue Waste and Security Supervisor
Paul Kalenjuk
Finance | Website | Onsite Venue Supervisor
Andrew G. Farrer
Website | Researcher | Graphic Design | Overseas Correspondent
Fabulous array of humans
Volunteers
Site Set Up Supervisor | On ground Volunteer Supervisor
Charities
Charities and Projects supported so far:
2. The Happy Herd Cow Sanctuary
3. The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds
6. Trees for Life (Carbon Footprint Offset)
10. Jethro, Claudia and Finley
11. Fairview Lodge Animal Shelter SA
14. Edgar's Mission
15. Guardian Angel Animal Rescue
17. Wombat Awareness Organisation
18. Moving Paws Inc.
19. Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre
20. Billie Dean Deep Peace Trust
21. Dominion
23. Villa Kitty Australia
25. Moorook Shelter
27. Saving Nemo Conservation Fund
28. Australian Marine Wildlife Research & Rescue Organisation
If you have a suggestion of a charity or vegan project that you think should be supported from Festival proceeds please submit your vote below. Thank you.
Founder: Vegan Festival Adelaide
Founder | Director | Visionary | Festival Coordinator 2007-2016
Without Grace's belief and passion, there would be no Vegan Festival Adelaide to celebrate Adelaide's compassionate community.
