10 Photos From Inside Michigan’s VegFest

NOVI, MI — The Michigan VegFest drew a record number of attendees this year, with well over 5,000 showing out for the event that brings people together around healthy eating and living.

The Novi event featured dozens of vendors, restaurants, demonstrations and presenters. Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick was the highlighted speaker, sharing how much more energy he has and how much quicker he recovers from injuries and game days after taking up a plant-based diet.

For vegans and vegetarians, there good food, of course, but there was also a sense of strength in unity.

“There’s a lot more people here than I expected,” said Macomb resident Kelly Lawer, who just became a vegan five months ago. “I enjoy that because I have a lot more people I can relate to.”

Longtime vegan Mandie Carpenter traveled four hours with her 8-year-old daughter and friend to attend the event.

“I’m amazed to see this many people with the same mindset,” she said. “And I love all the variety of stuff you don’t see every day.”

Carpenter sat in the grass outside the venue, sampling snacks from a food truck and using a VegMichigan pamphlet “counting the animals” her young daughter Paisley has “saved” by being a vegan since she was born.

Like many other plant-based eaters, Carpenter cited personal nutrition, environmental welfare and animal ethics as reasons her family stays clear of animal products.

Organizers say the trend to eat less meat and more plant-based foods is catching on. VegFest Michigan president Paul Krause said that people being more mindful of what they are consuming is what draws people into events like this one.

“I think that the last 3-4 years people have started to realize that their food choices make a big difference in preventative health care,” he said. “Just like smoking took awhile for people to grasp the harm of, these types of events are educating people and they are finally starting to realize the importance of their food choices.”

Photos by Jessica Strachan/Patch