Food and more at VegFest

The South Street Headhouse District will once again host Philly VegFest, bringing music, food and the vegan experience to South Philly.

Now in its fifth installment, Philly VegFest 2025 will celebrate all things plant-based living with a free day of family-friendly activities on June 14 at Bainbridge Green that goes well beyond the food. 

“For me, the focus is on programming,” said Richard Weston Rogers Jr., Director of Philly VegFest. “I like to make sure we have a rich offering on our stages with live bands and people who are up there speaking and delivering their different messages about this lifestyle. I want people to be able to come and learn from various forms of occupation. It gives a variety of depth and knowledge.”

The event, which returned in 2023 after the pandemic, has grown into one of the city’s most popular summer festivals, uniting people of all backgrounds through shared values and vibrant community spirit. It is committed to sustainability, inclusivity and empowering people to make compassionate, informed lifestyle choices. It runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Bainbridge Street between 3rd and 5th streets.

There are plenty of options for vegan enthusiasts, but there’s also a chance for non-vegans to take a peek into a different lifestyle without judgment.

“The one thing we don’t do is bash people over the head with activism,” Rogers said. “We don’t want people protesting and throwing paint on people. It’s low-key. Usually for someone who is not of the vegan or plant-based lifestyle, what brings a lot of people in is the food. It’s great to come to something like this and experience food that is developed in a way that you never imagined.”

The festival will feature more than 50 vendors with delicious plant-based food, products and services, speakers and panel sessions featuring leading voices in plant-based health and activism, live bands and music and a family-friendly atmosphere. The event is free and pay-as-you-go for food. There’s a little bit of adventure to experience for everyone, whether it’s food or the overall message. 

“People get so scared with the word ‘vegan,’ ” Rogers said. “It can be misused. It’s a lifestyle. It’s not just a way to cook. It has to do with everything that’s not exploiting animals. It’s about compassion. For non-vegan people, come out and enjoy the food and listen to the music. You can’t hear music and think that’s vegan music. There will be awesome bands there.”

That list includes Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise (New Age Hip-Hop Soul), The Verdict (Reggae), Leon Jordan Sr. Quartet (Straight-Ahead Jazz), The Missing Frets (Indie Rock), The Reality Check Experiment (Independent Jam Band). A list of set times can be found at https://www.phillyvegfest.com/.

A variety of speakers and panelists include keynote speaker and plant-based physician Dr. Milton Mills, recognized from such films as What the Health and Forks Over Knives. He will highlight the importance of proactively taking control of health through the power of plant-based foods.

Philadelphia restaurateur Nicole Marquis, founder of “Hip City Veg,” “Bar Bombon” and “Charlie Was a Sinner,” will share the details of her personal and professional vegan journey during her keynote address. One of the dynamic panels will highlight the successes of entrepreneurial BIPOC Women who have made great strides in the vegan business world.

Other speakers and panelists include Sgt. Vegan (Author/Plant-Based Lifestyle Advocate), Christopher KP Brown (Poet-KP Ultra), Naijha Wright-Brown (Black Veg Society/Vegan SoulFest), Vance Lehmkuhl (Philly Vegan Historian/American Vegan Center), Dr. Anabelle Morales Broadbent (Verde Ops/Vegan Athlete/Food Scientist), Dr. Lakshman Mulpuri (Dr. Lucky/Plant-Based Ophthalmologist/Community Advocate), Coach Robert Moore (Health/Wellness Coach), Richard Weston Rogers Jr. (Wellness and Life-Shift Coach/Philly VegFest Director). 

Another speaker will be Indra Lahiri of the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, which has been a Philly VegFest partner since 2018. The sanctuary provides rescue and care for 200 farm animals at its 100-acre site in Dalton, Lackawanna County. Indraloka will be the festival beneficiary and donations can be made at phillyvegfest.com, indraloka.org or in-person at the Festival.

“It’s just a cool place and the work they do is immeasurable,” Rogers said. “And they need support.”

Thousands are expected to attend. Most will come for the food. This year’s VegFest will feature everything from plant-based comfort food to health-forward dishes such as pizza, soul food, vegan sushi rolls, ice-cream, banana whips and pastries.

Not hungry? Guests can purchase eco-conscious goods and cruelty-free products, including essential-oil-infused body formulas, vegan art and handmade jewelry. 

The event is getting bigger and better each year.

“My goal for 2026 is to become a nonprofit organization to properly solicit companies and industries for support,” Rogers said. “We want to make this thing grow and add new features every year.”