Press Release - 15/10/09


CROWDS SET TO FLOCK TO VEGAN EXTRAVAGANZA IN WOLVES

On Saturday 24th October, the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton will showcase the very best in veganism. With a wide range of exciting attractions including a feast of food, stalls, talks, cookery demos and live entertainment throughout the day, the West Midlands Vegan Festival will be the largest such event ever staged in the region and is expected to attract people from across the country!

The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Surjan Singh Duhra will cut a ribbon, give a short speech & open the festival at 11am.

The festival has been organised by Midlands Vegan Campaigns(MVC), a small group of volunteers. [1]

Kevin White, MVC founder & event coordinator said, "The festival will offer all you need for healthy, cruelty-free, eco-friendly living. Festival-goers don`t have to be veggie or vegan to attend, all are welcome! We encourage everyone to come and discover why people are increasingly adopting a vegan lifestyle".

"Veganism is widely known as a healthy & cruelty-free alternative, but increasing numbers of people are now avoiding meat and dairy due to environmental and world hunger concerns. A United Nations study in 2006 found that meat & dairy livestock are responsible for more climate changing gases than all the world`s transport combined!" [2]

Outside of London & Bristol, the West Midlands Vegan Festival is the largest annual vegan extravaganza in the UK! Last year`s festival, also at the Wulfrun Hall, attracted over 1,000 visitors & even more are expected this year.

The festival will feature many attractions. There`ll be a wide variety of hot & cold food(including many free samples) provided by popular vegan caterers from as far away as Manchester, London & Devon. For non-vegans, Kevin White says that "the fantastic feast will demonstrate how delicious, appetising and varied vegan cuisine has become. We promise to tempt the taste buds of even the most committed carnivores!!".

In total, there will be nearly 60 stalls which, apart from food, will offer clothing, footwear, cosmetics, toiletries, healthcare products, books, gifts, information, campaign news and lots more!

Throughout the day, 4 cookery demos will take place in a separate room. Each demo will be tailored to suit either novice vegan cooks or those with a little more experience. All attendees can tuck in to the delicious results and take home recipes.

There will be 2 talk areas, each with a full programme of speakers, films, workshops etc. Talks will focus on a diverse range of issues including going vegan, animal politics, vegan nutrition, saving wildlife through direct action, raw living food diets, vegan campaigning, the environmental cost of meat/dairy and lots more.

A dedicated entertainment room will feature a range of performers throughout the day, including a performance poetry session, live bands, folk musicians, a hip-hop singer and more.

The first 200 people to present an advert from local press on arrival, will be treated to FREE goodie bags which will be packed full of cosmetic samples, chocolates, guides to going vegan and lots more! [3]

Other major attractions include a magic show with Kristoff the Clown, a yoga workshop, a raffle with hundreds of pounds worth of prizes, lots of FREE stuff, competitions and lots more!

Kevin White continued, "Whether you`re vegan, an aspiring vegan or just vegan curious, there`s only one place to be on Saturday 24th October 2009."

"People who choose not to eat animal products do so for a whole range of reasons, not the least being that a varied vegan diet lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers and increases life expectancy. It also eliminates suffering and saves the lives of thousands of animals as well as being a lot kinder to the planet. Vegan food is not only nutritious but it's delicious too, as everyone visiting the festival will discover."

The festival is taking place at the Wulfrun Hall, within the Wolves Civic between 11am and 5pm. Admission is just £1, under 16`s get in for free. The admission price entitles visitors to attend all the talks, cookery demos and entertainment.

Anyone seeking more information can find full details, including the programme for the day and a list of all the stallholders, on the festival website www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk or by calling 01527 458395.


ENDS

Notes for Editors

1. Midlands Vegan Campaigns is a small group of volunteers, committed to promoting healthy, cruelty-free, eco-friendly plant based diets/lifestyles across the West Midlands region. See the MVC website www.veganmidlands.org.uk and the festival website www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk

2. In November 2006, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation report titled `Livestock`s Long Shadow` exposed the devastating environmental impact of meat and dairy production. See  http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0612sp1.htm

3. If you would like to print our attractive, colour advert(which offers free goodie bags) alongside an article/feature, please contact us and we`ll send it in PDF format.

4. Kevin White of MVC can be contacted on 01527 458395 or 07758 106395 or via email  info@veganmidlands.org.uk