2027 VegFest Returns Sunday August 22 at a New Location
The Rochester Public Market
from 10 am to 5 pm!
Why are we moving from Parcel 5 to the Rochester Public Market?
We loved having VegFest at Parcel 5 but we had rain the last two years that put a damper on the festival. The VegFest team wants to ensure the festival will go on no matter the weather and take advantage of other resources at the Public Market to expand and improve the festival.
The Rochester Public Market will provide:
- Covered space for all our vendors and exhibitors booths – no need for tents
- Covered space for our speakers and food demo chefs
- More booth spaces so we can expand the number of vendors and exhibitors
- Lots of parking for our festival guests
- Joint marketing opportunities with the Public Market to expand awareness of the festival
Vendor Registration for the 2027 VegFest will open soon! Please stay tuned!
And while you’re waiting for the next festival in August, look out for Beyond VegFest gatherings during 2027 to keep our healthy plant-based community momentum going!
BEYOND VEGFEST:
KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!
VegFest 2026 was hosted again at Parcel 5 on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Thank you for joining us at our annual festival celebration of healthy plant-based living!
Watch VegFest Previews on WHAM 13 / Fox Rochester News!
This Year’s Theme was:
Powered by Plants, United by Compassion!
There was a full day of plant-powered celebration, showcasing the best in vegan food, ethical living, and sustainable practices. This free outdoor festival featured a lively mix of food and retail vendors, engaging speakers, cooking demos, live music, family-friendly activities, and community resources!
Thank you to our VegFest 2026 Sponsors!
Where world-changing breakthroughs meet genuine, hardworking people connected by the traditions we share, the opportunities we embrace, and the progress we seek.
VegFest 2026 Full Day Program Summary
| Time | Speaker Tent | Activity Tent / Community Tent |
| 10:00-11:00 | Monroe County VegFest Proclamation | Yoga with Niki Januzzi (Community Tent) |
| 10:15-11:30 | Dr. Milton Mills | 10:30-11:15 Music with OG Sketti |
| 11:30-12:00 | Plant Based Treaty Workshop with Dr. Kimmy Cushman | |
| 12:00-1:00 | Dr. Faraz Harsini | Food Demo with Chef Nick Bovenzi |
| 1:30-2:30 | Tim Kaufman | Food Demo with Chef Anthony Miller |
| 3:00-4:00 | Jonell Chudyk | 3:30-4:30 Music with Archive Ravens |
| 4:15-5:00 | Ask a Vegan Doc Panel |
2026 Speakers
10:15 AM
Dr. Milton Mills
Critical Care Physician,
Plant Based Nutrition
International Lecturer
Click for more information
11:30 AM
Plant Based Treaty Workshop with
Dr. Kimmy Cushman
Scientific Advisor at
Plant Based Treaty,
Yale PhD Physicist
Click for more information
12:00 PM
Dr. Faraz Harsini
Biomedical Scientist,
CEO of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection
“The most important speech you will ever hear“
Click for more information
1:30 PM
Tim Kaufman
Author, Speaker, CEO of FatManRants, LLC
“Eat Like Your Life Depends on It—Because It Does (How Changing My Food Changed Everything)”
Click for more information
3:00 PM
Jonell Chudyk, LCSW, AASW
Founder and Executive Director of Mockingbird Farm, a 501(c)3 farm animal sanctuary
Click for more information
4:15 PM
Ask a Vegan Doc Panel
with Dr. Zachary Burns, Dr. Ted Barnett, and Dr. Kerry Graff
Click for more information
2026 Yoga and Food Demos
10:00 AM
Free Yoga, Niki Januzzi
Founder of Yoga Love of Honeoye Falls
Click for more information
12:00 PM
Food Demo, Chef Nick Bovenzi
Chef at Natural Oasis
Click for more information
1:30 PM
Food Demo, Chef Anthony Miller
Founder of The Veg-E-Table
Click for more information
2026 Live Music
10:30 AM
OG Sketti is a Rochester artist bringing mindful lyrics and positive energy to the local hip-hop scene.
Click for more information
3:30 PM
Music with The Archive Ravens,
a unique blend of Latin, folk, jazz and original music.
Click for more information
Other projects from your VegFest Team:
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