Seeking eats outside your typical day-to-day options is a significant reason to travel, and vegans are perhaps the most likely demographic to arrange their plans around restaurants and food stalls. However, there’s another reason to travel, and yes, it still involves food: vegan festivals. This year marks the return of these inclusive outdoor celebrations in full force, and tickets are going fast. We’ve bookmarked the nine biggest vegan festivals in the US, UK, and Canada so you can arrange your 2022 travels accordingly. 

The Top 8 Vegan Festivals

Beyond Sushi

1 NYC Vegetarian Food Festival: May 21 & 22

New York City is consistently ranked as one of the best cities for vegans, which means any plant-based festival it throws promises to be a good time. Don’t let its name fool you, though. This is a fully vegan festival, and it will take place at the Metropolitan Pavilion from 11am to 6pm each day. You can purchase a one-day general admission ticket or a VIP two-day pass if you prefer to pace yourself throughout the weekend. Insider tip: show up at 4pm for $5 end-of-day tickets (just hope the vendors haven’t sold out of the hit items). Kids 10 years and under are always free. 2022 marks this festival’s 10th anniversary, so arrive hungry and be prepared to party!
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Vegandale

2 Vegandale: Beginning May 21

Vegandale bills itself as North America’s fastest-growing vegan festival, and with locations in six cities, it would be hard to argue against that. This year, the festival will bring its vegan experience to Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and Chicago. Miami will kick off the ticketed celebration on May 21 (children under 12 years old are free). While you’ll certainly find your fair share of local vegan food, you can also listen to a live DJ and MC hosting games and giveaways on stage throughout the day. 
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PLNT Burger

3 Planet Bethesda: June 5

Bring your kids and your dog (there’s a canine courtyard) to this inaugural free vegan event. Brought to Bethesda by Farm Animal Rights Movement in association with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Sustainable Earth Eating, the festival is bound to have something for every interest. Sample vegan dishes from some of the Greater D.C. area’s hottest plant-based restaurants, participate in a plant-based pie-eating contest, rock out to live DJ music, whet your whistle in the Bier Garten, and keep the kids entertained in the Kid’s Korner.
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Bizerkley Food Festival

4 Bizerkley Food Festival: July 3

Despite Berkley, CA’s long reputation for vegan eats, its first vegan festival didn’t emerge until 2021. This year, the aptly named Bizerkley Food Festival is back and bigger than the original event. Expect over 40 vegan-friendly vendors along with hard kombucha and wine tasting (for the 21-and-up crowd), live performances, and free samples from select booths. Ticket sales will go toward the Benefiting Friends of Berkley Animal Care Services nonprofit. 
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VegFest Colorado

5 VegFest Colorado: August 6 & 7

If you’ve always wanted an excuse to visit the Mile High City, now you have one. VegFest Colorado is the state’s largest vegan festival, and although details are still being worked out and vendors are still being added to the roster, the venue is set. Large-scale coffee bar, Improper City, will host the collective of vegan awesomeness. Keep your eyes on the event’s Instagram page (@vegfestcolorado) to regular exhibitor announcements and ticket sales. 
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La Vida Vegan Co

6 Vegan Street Fair Nights: October 8 & 9

The annual Vegan Street Fair in North Hollywood, CA has passed, but its sister event promises the same amount of epicness, but at night. Free to the public for the first year ever, Vegan Street Fair Nights showcases over 100 vegan vendors under the Los Angeles stars. The food options are intermixed with a live band, giant lawn games, and a 21-and-up Beer & Booze Garden. It’s the best of vegan LA all contained within a few city blocks.
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Montreal Vegan Festival

7 Montreal Vegan Festival: October 8 & 9

It doesn’t matter whether you speak English or French (or neither)—veganism is a universal language. Vendors are currently being added, but attendees can be sure to find a dizzying abundance of Quebec’s best plant-based options in addition to cooking demos, lectures and workshops, and non-food exhibitors. Admission is free, which means you’ll have a few extra Canadian dollars to splurge on all the vegan eats. As with all of these events, look to the organization’s Instagram for the latest updates on vendors and ticket sales.
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Vegan Sweet Tooth London

8 VegFest UK: November 12 & 13

London is a booming vegan town—we would expect nothing less than fabulous from its signature vegan festival. The two-day event is the UK’s largest indoor festival, and it’s returning to the Grand Olympia London after a three-year, pandemic-enforced hiatus. Expect to decide from over 300 vendors amongst your fellow 15,000 attendees. Because it will coincide with COP 27, the UN Climate Change Conference, the focus will be on sustainability. Bring your own reusable utensils and to-go containers! 
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For more vegan event news, read: 
How to Cater a Vegan Wedding Everyone Will Love
Oklahoma City’s First VegFest Draws 4,000 People
The Insider’s Guide to Planning Your Own VegFest

This post was originally published on VegNews.com.