RI VegFest, the Ocean State’s only fully vegan festival, will host its annual event showcasing plant-based foods, beverages, and businesses at WaterFire Arts Center (475 Valley St., Providence) on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. This two-day celebration of compassionate plant-based eating and living is proudly sponsored by Narragansett Beer, Vedge Your Best podcast, Bootstrap Compost, Topo Chico, Hungry Ghost Press, Plant City, Vegan Power Co/Vegan Power Fright, Trinity Beer Garden, Spirit of Change and Sam’s Soulutions.

The 2023 vendor and exhibitor line-up features over 85 local and national vegan/vegan-friendly brands from ten different states. Attendees will be able to shop vegan products, eat, drink, and sample vegan food and beverages, and learn more about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle from regional, national, and international non-profit organizations. This year’s vendors include Wildflour Bakery, Thrive Tribe Café, The Donut Shack, JA Patty, High Tide Mushroom Farm, Plant City, Off Our Rocker Cookies, Culture Pop Soda, Basil & Bunny, Pianta, Nostalgia Chocolates, Nourish Vegan Artisan Cheese, and dozens more. The full line-up of restaurants, food producers, artists, and makers, can be found on the RI VegFest website (rivegfest.com). Vendors and giveaways are also being announced weekly on RI VegFest’s Instagram (@rivegfest) leading up to the event.

“As a vegan of over 25 years, it has been amazing to see the options grow and expand in both Rhode Island and around the country,” says RI VegFest’s founder, Robin Dionne. “We are looking forward to our third annual RI VegFest, where food lovers of all backgrounds can eat, shop, and learn from local favorites and some exciting new businesses. Vendors from as far away as Los Angeles will be joining us, and we even have an animal rescue based in Cancun, Mexico, which was founded by a Rhode Islander, coming to the event.”

RI VegFest has partnered with local compost processor, Bootstrap Compost, to help ensure that as much waste as possible will be diverted from the landfill and transformed into useable soil. The event will use as many fully compostable products as possible.

“Large scale food events can generate a sizable amount of waste, and we’re focused on making our events as sustainable as possible,” adds Dionne. “At our last event, the outdoor RI Vegtoberfest held in September 2022, Bootstrap Compost helped us reduce our landfill waste by an incredible 95 percent. That large food event welcomed over 1,500 attendees, and we left with only nine small bags of non-compostable waste, as all other waste was able to be composted. We very much look forward to seeing the impact that they’ll help us make at our even larger event in February.”

For ticket availability and event info, visit www.rivegfest.com. Tickets are on sale now but are likely to sell out and may not be available at the door.

RI VegFest, founded by Rhode Islander and 25+ year vegan, Robin Dionne, was created to promote a fun and compassionate plant-based vegan lifestyle here in Little Rhody. RI VegFest’s goal is to build a community, introduce eaters of all backgrounds to the incredible and growing list of plant-based options, and support vegan/vegan-friendly restaurants and businesses from Rhode Island and beyond.