Lots of samples to introduce new foods, products too
As seen in A Fresh Squeeze, Sept. 29, 2009
By Jessica Tobacman
Chicago is about to experience a festival that celebrates all things vegan and will showcase how living a vegan lifestyle is about more than food.
The free, first Chicago VeganMania is coming up on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Wicker Park's Pulaski Park field house between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Free samples of vegan food, live music, an art show, speakers, vendors and a fashion exhibit are on the schedule of events. The first 100 people who show up will be awarded bags of food and body care samples donated by a wide array of companies, says John Beske, co-founder of the event with his wife Marla Rose.
Along with free admission, all attendees will receive free tickets for five samples among the vendors at the festival. There will be many tastes available, from vendors including The Chicago Diner, Delicious Cafe, Great Taste Cafe (formerly The Balanced Kitchen), and Chicago SoyDairy.
"We know diet is such a huge factor in the future of the planet," Rose says, "This deserves a place in sustainability. We want to show it [veganism] is eminently possible."
Rose and her husband also are co-founders of EarthSave Chicago, which educates individuals about healthy food choices. After organizing five conferences in five years for EarthSave Chicago, Beske and Rose decided to celebrate veganism. "We felt like it was time to dedicate an entire festival to the vegan options in town, including food, non-profits, clothing and cruelty-free" organizations, Rose says. Everyone involved in the event is a volunteer, she notes.
Chicago VeganMania will showcase at least four bands and different genres of music, including contemporary acoustic folk by Bryan Harrell, energetic funk rock by Darmata, electronica by Dreamlogicc, and teenage riot-girl rock by Circular Convention. SPUNN will perform spinning poi and dance, and Deserae will delight the audience with belly dancing.
"It should be a really good, fun mix of entertainment," Beske says.
The festival will also include a room with speakers, including Nathan Runkle of Mercy for Animals, who has done exposes of the food industry, Dr. Michael Greger of the Humane Society of the United States and Caryn Hartglass, executive director of EarthSave International, who created EarthSave TV and hosts its signature show, "Going Green with Caryn Hartglass."
There will also be an inspirational workshop on vegan food conducted by Rae Sikora and JC Corcoran of Plant Peace Daily. Chicago VeganMania will feature a children's room, too.
Every presenter at the festival is vegan. "We wanted to show veganism in a different light, to showcase the diversity of the community," says Rose.
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