Vegan Fest Leads the Charge on Sustainability
The Bermuda Tourism Authority announced the second renewal of Vegan Fest set for August 25 in the Royal Naval Dockyard. The sustainably focused event, which debuted in Summer 2023, attracted over 3,600 attendees to the free food and wellness festival. Canada-based author, content creator, and vegan chef, Lloyd Rose (IG @plantcrazii) has been celebrated internationally for his influence in the vegan movement. He will travel to Bermuda for the local festival, sharing his experience on his platforms to elevate Bermuda’s appeal to his Canadian and international followers.
Tashae Thompson, VP Experiences at the Bermuda Tourism Authority, stated, "Vegan Fest aligns perfectly with Bermuda's National Tourism Plan, supporting both the innovation and the ‘green’ pillars. By adapting our experiences to align with current travel trends, we strategically bolster offerings for visitors during a time when there historically been a lull in similar activations. This event is designed to cater to visitors' desires while supporting local partners and attracting locals, creating a balanced mix that fosters meaningful interactions and lasting memories."
Vegan Fest boasts an enhanced experience for its second year with new vendors, and improved experiences for all attendees. Year on year data shows a recent rise in the numbers of travellers under eighteen-years old visiting Bermuda, and family-friendly events such as this aim to serve multi-generational travellers. The festival will feature a variety of plant-based foods, sustainable products, and live performances. From fresh-pressed juices, matcha and healthy mocktails to tasty meat-free dishes, attendees will enjoy a diverse array of vegan food options. While wellness-inspired entertainment, experiences and educational sessions will be available throughout the day for everyone, kids can enjoy free facepainting and arts and crafts courtesy of venue hosts, WEDCO. To enhance the experience and enable frictionless transactions, attendees will be able to purchase goods with cash or card. For attendees exploring vegan cuisine, sampler options will be available to purchase.
Jasmine Furbert, BTA project manager for the Vegan Fest event said, "We are excited to build on the success of last year's event and take our sustainability goals even further. By collaborating with partners like Redo and KBB, we aim to set a new standard for eco-friendly events in Bermuda. We look forward to welcoming everyone to a day of delicious food, inspiring wellness activities, and sustainable living."
Vegan Fest’s sustainability objectives support those within Bermuda’s National Tourism Plan. Organisers hope that it might highlight the viability of environmentally friendly events demonstrating that they can be profitable and replicable. Multi-user hydration stations, sponsored by Watlington Waterworks will be available to reduce use of single-use plastic bottles, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles. The event has partnered with Redo, retailer, and eco-friendly proponent, to support sustainable food practices at the event by elimination of plastic utensils and food service items.
In the event's inaugural staging, vendors enjoyed $55,000 in economic impact on the day. Research has shown that visitors seek out these types of unique experiences prompting organisers to promote Bermuda’s culinary culture in new ways, engaging vegan influencers to inspire future travel. The festival aims to put a spotlight on Bermuda's vegan businesses, driving economic impact and enhancing the visitor experience. With almost twenty vendors and two cruise ships scheduled to dock that day, Vegan Fest 2024 promises to be a significant event.
Lending their voice to the call for sustainability KBB Executive Director, Angel Smith, said, "Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB) is thrilled to support the BTA's 2nd annual Vegan Fest and applaud the organizers for their commitment to sustainability. We encourage all attendees to bring their reusable bottles to take full advantage of the hydration station, helping to minimize plastic waste. Small actions, such as using eco-friendly utensils and bringing your own bottles, contribute immensely to preserving Bermuda's natural beauty. Vegan Fest exemplifies how hosting environmentally friendly events is not only feasible but also practical. Together, we can create a cleaner, greener and more beautiful Bermuda for all."
Vegan Fest takes place on the North Lawn at the Royal Naval Dockyard from 2pm – 8pm. Patrons curious about vegan cuisine and eco-conscious lifestyles will enjoy vegan sampler platters, interactive stations, yoga, and the Sustainability Conversations on the main stage. Live DJ sets will be peppered with live performance sets by the Tino Martinez Quintet and local soca artist, Ponaflex. Free parking is available at the nearby Cross-Island and a complimentary shuttle service will run every ten minutes from the cross-island car park to the north lawn during Vegan Fest hours.
For more information, vendor listing and the event schedule, visit https://www.gotobermuda.com/our-island/festivals-holidays/vegan-fest.
