RI VegFest is Rhode Island’s first-ever vegan festival, held annually in Providence. Hosted by a vegan of 28+ years, we’re committed to creating a fun, compassionate, kind, and welcoming space for everyone, whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just interested in trying new things.

Our goal is to support vegan and vegan-friendly businesses while making plant-based options more accessible to our community. Join us for a fun weekend of meeting new people, discovering local and national businesses, and trying something new.

We hope you’ll join us for our 7th annual event, featuring vendors, nonprofit organizations, restaurants, artists, retailers, and more.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

RI VegFest is a fun and educational, fully vegan indoor event featuring restaurants, vegan artists, makers, food producers, nonprofit organizations, and more. When selecting vendors, we prioritize businesses owned by vegans, as well as restaurants that have demonstrated a strong commitment to the vegan community by consistently offering vegan options.

Attendees can shop from a wide variety of vendors, connect with nonprofit organizations, discover new products, and enjoy delicious plant-based food throughout the weekend. Restaurants will have full meals available for purchase, and some may also offer samples.

The Inside Voices bar will be serving beer alongside a menu of creative vegan mocktails and cocktails featuring local and regional spirits, making RI VegFest a fun destination for both longtime vegans and the vegan-curious alike.

TICKETS:

Tickets to this event are non-refundable, but you are welcome to give them to a friend if you are unable to attend. Simply forward your tickets to another person via email or send them a screenshot. Each ticket has its own unique QR code and we MUST be able to see the QR codes at check-in. We cannot look up tickets for someone if the tickets are not in their name. Please note that this event has several entry times over the weekend, and that your ticket is good for entry at a specific time. We cannot allow you to enter earlier than your ticket entry time, but you are welcome to enter later than your ticket time. Early entry VIP tickets (Very Important Planteaters) allow you to enter an hour before General Admission opens, and they come with a tote bag full of coupons and giveaways from local and national vegan friendly brands.

WEATHER:

This event is held indoors and will take place rain or shine. There may be a short wait to get in, which we will work through quickly, but plan to be outside for a bit and dress accordingly just in case!

DRINKING:

Bring your ID if you plan on having delicious vegan cocktails and beer at our bar! Coffee and non-alcoholic beverages will be available, too. We recommend bringing your reusable water bottle, as the venue has several water bottle filling stations.

PETS & ANIMALS:

We love our rescue pugs, but this event is not pet friendly, per the Department of Health. Please leave your pets at home. This includes pets/animals in carriers, strollers, and bags. Service dogs that are specifically trained to assist with disabilities are welcome. Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support or companionship are not considered service service animals, under federal or Rhode Island state law, and are not permitted at this event.

KIDS:

This event is, as always, family friendly! Children under 4 are welcome to attend at no cost, but anyone 4 years old and older requires a ticket for entry. Strollers are welcome, but please be careful of our vendors and other attendees, as this event does get busy.

OMG, A BOOK SWAP!

Bring your gently used books (vegan cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction, whatever you like!) to the event and swap them at our book swap table. At the end of the event, we will donate whatever isn't claimed. Please, no bibles, dictionaries, encyclopedias, or text books.

ACCESSIBILITY:

The WaterFire Arts Center and this event are accessible to those with mobility aids, though the event does get busy. If you use a mobility aid, please look for our security guard outside so that he can direct you to enter the venue and wait in a reserved seating area. Handicap parking is located right out front.

PARKING:

Parking is free and plentiful in the WaterFire Arts Center on-site parking lot. There are many handicap parking spots available. Please do not park in handicap spots unless you have the legal authority to do so - you will be towed.

SHOPPING:

We recommend bringing your reusable tote bag! Most vendors will accept cash, cards, and cash app payments, but please be aware that there is no ATM on site.

NOTICE OF FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY:

Our events are documented by professional photographers and videographers, as well as local media and members of the press. By attending RI VegFest, you are entering an area where filming and photography occur. By attending this event, you understand that you may be photographed, filmed, or videotaped and you hereby give RI VegFest/Ampersand Creative Co LLC the unqualified right to take pictures and/or recordings of you and grant the perpetual right to use your likeness, image photo (collectively, “image”), without compensation, for broadcast or exhibition in any medium and to put the finished pictures/recordings to any legitimate use without limitation or reservation. You hereby waive, release and forever discharge RI VegFest/Ampersand Creative Co LLC from and against any and all claims or actions arising out of or resulting from any use of your image.

RI VegFest reserves the right to implement a mask requirement for this event and though we do not anticipate needing to do so, we will make that determination as the date approaches. This event has multiple entry times over two days to accommodate as many guests as possible while maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment. In the event that RI VegFest 2027 needs to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 or any other reason, tickets will not be refunded and will be valid for a rescheduled date in the future.

Contact the host of RI VegFest