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Compassionate Choices Blog

Twin Cities Veg Fest 2025: A Celebration of Compassion and Plant-Based Living

Blog, Events/Programs, Info/Facts, Restaurants, Twin Cities Veg Fest

October 6, 2025

The 2025 Twin Cities Veg Fest, held on September 21 at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, was a vibrant celebration of plant-based living, compassion, and community. With over 5,000 attendees, the festival offered something for everyone — from seasoned vegans to curious newcomers. Beautiful weather helped set the stage for an unforgettable day of learning, tasting, and connecting. Check out our Flickr album to relive the festival!

Twin Cities Veg Fest: Vibrant Entertainment and Fun Activities

There was a wide variety of things to see, do, and sample at the festival. From almost 100 vendors to speakers, cooking demos, music and fitness there was truly something for everyone. Attendees sampled innovative foods, learned about ethical and sustainable living, and discovered resources to support a more compassionate lifestyle. The vendors included plant-based restaurants, local businesses, wellness organizations, and nonprofits. 

Highlights of the festival included:

Festival Survey Insights: Inspiring Change for a Lasting Impact

To assess the impact of the festival and make plans for the future, CAA conducted a post-event survey with a $100 gift card prize. The results show that the 2025 Twin Cities Veg Fest not only entertained attendees but also motivated meaningful shifts in dietary habits. Here are some of the key findings: 

  • Survey results show that over 92% of attendees were satisfied with the event.
  • As always, the festival attracted individuals with a wide variety of eating habits. This seems to vary a lot year to year! This year, 56% were vegan, 18% were vegetarian, 15% were omnivores, and 11% were flexitarian.
  • Over 64% of attendees reported being likely or maybe likely to reduce use of animal products like leather, wool, or silk.
  • At least 50% of attendees who consume animal products said they would be likely or maybe likely to reduce their consumption of dairy.
  • Around 50% of attendees who consume animal products said they would likely or maybe reduce their consumption of eggs.
  • 44% of reducers said sampling vegan foods and visiting vendor booths influenced their choices, while 18% were motivated through conversations with other attendees.
  • Survey responses show that trying new vegan products was the top reason for attending, with over 90% selecting this option. Other popular reasons included: Socializing: 49%, followed by making and finding vegan food (21.1%) and learning about the benefits of vegan products (19.1%).

Overwhelmingly Positive Feedback for the Festival

Attendees also shared comments about their responses. Here are some samples:

“I came with friends so it was the best time ever, and the cupcakes were life-changingly good.”

“I’m not fully vegan, but after today, I’m committed to eating more plant-based meals each week.”

“The vendors and cooking demos inspired me to try things I’d never thought I could cook at home.”

“I learned so many easy ways to add more plant-based meals into my week!”

“The festival helped me discover incredible local businesses I want to support regularly.”

“Veg Fest is the best and most important vegan gathering of the year. It is so enabling that admission is free and so enhancing that vegan products, information, and activities are included along with the amazing vegan food.”

“The food options and new bakers were fantastic. Loved the speaker Austin Frerick and Kelso’s moderation.”

“I have been thinking about how to reduce my consumption of animal products, so this was a nice reminder of the options open.”

Attendees overwhelmingly praised the food and vendors, with repeated mentions of all the delicious vegan food, the variety of options, including gluten-free choices, exposure to small businesses and unique vegan products, lots of live music, Zumba, and interactive demos.

The survey results demonstrate the festival’s continued power to educate, inspire, and connect. With over 90% attending to try new vegan foods and a majority being already plant-based or considering dietary changes, the festival is a clear driver for expanding plant-based eating in the region.

Big Thanks to Our Volunteers and the Organizing Committee

Twin Cities Veg Fest wouldn’t happen without the dedication of nearly 200 volunteers. Special recognition goes to volunteer coordinators Mike Odell and Jared Rolsky, whose leadership ensured a smooth and welcoming festival experience. Special thanks also to our skilled photographers who captured the amazing photos you see on our Flickr page: Matthew Goblish, Sara Olson, Jennifer Magnus (Fire Horse Photography), Alysia Nelson, John Pierce, Amy Rodriguez, and Theresa Zingery.

The 2025 organizing committee worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring everything together: Kelso Anderson, Tracy Berg, Laura Bolduan, Jason Brubaker, Deborah Brister, Abbey Feola, Cyndi Harles, Itzel Herrera, Laura Hofer, Tamuno Imbu, Breanna Knutson, Catherine Krummey, Sheryl Lyke, Laura Matanah, Sarah Matanah, Caitlin Michel, Faustine Michel, Kim Milligan, Trent Nelson, Sara Olson, Mike Odell, Lexy Race, Jared Rolsky, Oriana Rueda-Krauss, Andrew Seffrood, Fred Tio, and Brittany Williams. Their dedication ensured that every program, activity, and booth ran seamlessly.

Stay tuned to our newsletter, social media, and the Twin Cities Veg Fest Website starting in the late winter for your opportunity to be on the organizing committee next year. Volunteer and vendor sign-ups start in spring. Help us make next year’s festival even better!

Sponsors That Made It Possible

This year’s festival was supported by an incredible group of sponsors:

  • Gold Sponsors: American Vegetarian Association, Metro Transit
  • Silver Sponsors: Picnic Linden Hills, Reverie Cafe + Bar
  • Bronze Sponsors: Building Healthy Communities, Farmaste Animal Sanctuary, Humane World for Animals, Lotus Health Foundation
  • Product Sponsors: Bada Bean Bada Boom, Bobo’s, The Bridekick, Connect For Animals, Crunchmaster, Focus Health, Hodo Foods, HourCar, Marshay in the Garden, PURIS Pantry, Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS), Sand + Rose Crystal Co, Sunshine on Cedar, That’s It.

Their support helped ensure that Twin Cities Veg Fest remains the Midwest’s premier plant-based festival, offering high-quality programming, activities, and learning opportunities for all.

Media Coverage and Highlights

Although the event is over, you can enjoy the videos of the TV appearances now on CAA’s YouTube channel. And you can help us get more visibility for our channel if you like these videos:

While there, check out the other videos on our CAA channel and subscribe!

Keep the Festival Spirit Alive

Even after the festival ends, you can keep the experience fresh by having our swag. Festival merchandise – most not even available at the event – is available at our online shop now, including shirts, hoodies, sleeveless tees, mugs, and more.

Planning ahead, mark your calendars for the 2026 Twin Cities Veg Fest, set for September 2026. With the goal of more speakers, more vendors, and more ways to engage, it promises to be another incredible celebration of compassion and plant-based living.

Past Festivals Also Had a Big Impact

Check out these posts about previous festivals:

A Festival That Makes a Difference

The 2025 Twin Cities Veg Fest demonstrated the power of community and shared values. With over 5,000 attendees, nearly 200 volunteers, and almost 100 vendors, the festival is at the heart of Minnesota’s plant-based movement. And the survey data shows the event makes a real impact on the lives of countless animals through changing hearts and eating habits.

Whether you’re exploring a vegan lifestyle or looking to deepen your commitment, Twin Cities Veg Fest is the place to learn, connect, and celebrate a compassionate world.

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