October Food Festivals - World Vegetarian Day Edition

by Jose Ralat Maldonado, Posted Oct 1st 2009 @ 11:00AM

Photo: vegetarianfestival.jp.

There are loads of meat-this/meat-that festivals, but in honor of World Vegetarian Day, Slashfood would like to highlight international veggie gatherings.

Day Without Meat, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Oct. 3-4: To raise awareness for the benefits of a vegetarian/vegan diet, the Brazilian Vegetarian Society in partnership with Greenpeace, Instituto Nina Rosa and others will provide information on vegetarianism, screen films, hold workshops and offer food and wine tastings.

Vegetarian Festival, Kyoto, Japan, Oct. 4: Held at the city's Okazaki Park, visitors to the festival can attend concerts and sample vegetarian dishes from local restaurants. This celebration of the vegetarian lifestyle creates a forum where people can learn about world hunger, environmental changes and the need to respect all life.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Phuket, Thailand, Oct. 18-26: More of a religious festival, this event is an opportunity for individuals, especially of Chinese heritage, to spiritually cleanse themselves over 10 days through the observance of a vegetarian or vegan diet. Beyond sacred rituals at holy sites, participants can walk over hot coals and climb ladders with bladed rungs. It's believed the outcome is a grant of good luck.

Boston Vegetarian Food Festival, Boston, Oct. 31-Nov. 1: The 14th annual fête unites vegetarian natural-food producers, chefs, educators and proponents of vegetarianism. Festival-goers will be able to watch cooking demos, attend lectures by health and nutrition experts, consult with registered dietitians and purchase products from the exhibitors. It won't be all business and commerce; there will be fun and games for kids, too.

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