DC VegFest 2016
As a local resident in Northern Virginia, I’m always excited to visit the annual DC VegFest at the Yards Park in Washington, DC, located next to the Stadium where the local baseball team, the Nationals (the Nats), play. This event is organized by Compassion Over Killing and brings dozens of vendors and hundreds of vegans, vegetarians, or anyone interested in learning more about animal friendly and healthy foods. Best of all is that it's a free event with free samples of food and drinks. Some of my favorite vendors, and to be honest, every other vegan in DC as well, are Vegan Treats, Craft Kombucha, and others.
For next year’s event, I recommend getting there early as the lines can easily cover a mile from the actual location. However, this is only if you desire to get a free tote with samples, coupons and other goodies. I didn’t get one this year as the lines were too long. And while I support everything vegan in the area, I must say that the long lines waiting for free samples or even the paid vendors were too long. Hopefully next year, they can have additional helpers from each vendor selling food and drinks. On the contrary, the location is amazing as you can ride the DC Metro, walk if you live nearby, or simply drive and park in one of the many parking lots adjacent to the Fest.
A new attraction for this year was Busboy & Poets, who were selling vegan-friendly alcoholic beverages to those 21 and older. The variety of vegan drinks and foods will not disappoint, mainly the reason for the long lines. Plan to arrive with an empty stomach, cash and totes as they will come in handy once you eat and carry the leftovers. At the end of the day, you can always just drink, listen to music, or attend one of the many planned exhibitions.
Overall, the event was great with hundreds of people visiting, trying to discover a new vegan vendor, or simply amass treats from Vegan Treats. And while this is event is meant to be healthy, some of us not looking to diet simply end up in a food coma after sampling the vast amounts of vendors. In the end, most of us attend to have a good time, socialize with other vegans, and ultimately help in our commitment to the animals and the environment.
Hope to see you at the DC VegFest next year!
