The inaugural Niagara VegFest was held in 2012. It was founded by a group of local citizens concerned about the hazards of intensive animal farming. The program of the first festival included a screening of Vegucated, an American documentary exploring the challenges of converting to a vegan diet. The festival was a success and became an annual event, joining the growing VegFest movement in North America.
Niagara VegFest is an annual weekend event that takes place in multiple venues in downtown St. Catharines. Every year vendors, exhibitors and speakers from the Niagara region and other parts of Canada come to St. Catharine to celebrate and promote the benefits of a healthy, compassionate, plant-based lifestyle.
The festival is open to everyone and you don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to attend. There is no official charge to attend Niagara VegFest, however attendees are encouraged to make donations that will help towards the increasing cost of producing the event.
Niagara VegFest features numerous vendors and exhibitors offering an impressive selection of vegan foods and animal-friendly items. The exhibitors also include animal welfare organizations, health and wellness organizations, organic cosmetic brands, vegan and vegetarian caterers, and more.
There also are lectures on plant-based diet and cruelty-free lifestyle delivered by some of the best speakers. One of the festival’s highlights is VegFest in the Vineyard, a series of vegan wine and food pairings hosted by four wineries throughout the Niagara Region.
