LIFE Vegan Festival comes to the capital this Saturday

As more and more people consider alternative ways of living during the coronavirus pandemic, the LIFE Vegan Festival on Saturday looks like being a popular event.

From 10.00-22.00 on 19 September, Brussels’ Place du Marché aux Poissons, near Place Sainte-Catherine, is offering veganism and all that it entails as one way forward.

“2020 sure has been a wild ride,” the organisers say on the festival website. “We want to give a clear and loud message that life is still worth celebrating by coming together and sharing good food, a dance, a hug and our opinion on the world.”

Billed as a “think global, act local, open-minded and sustainable festival” that features “dialogue and dancing” as well as street food, entrance to LIFE is free but, in accordance with Covid-19 rules, you have to reserve your place.

The aim is to show everyone, from the passionate vegan to committed carnivore, that cutting meat, fish and dairy from your diet will  leave you with more than plants and seeds to eat. Some 20 food trucks are coming from all over Belgium to offer delicious fare, including Chez Pois Chiche’s Middle Eastern dips and falafel and Plant a Pizza’s 100% vegan pizzas.    

Veganism is more than food, it means and even necessitates a different way of consuming and living: “It’s people, the planet, animals, everything,” one 2018 Festival goer explained. So LIFE also offers a range of talks and workshops to allow visitors to find out more – for example on veganism and sport; or its role in health and nutrition.

LIFE Vegan Festival further demonstrates the role of veganism in how you dress. Fast fashion is not necessary. You can still look cool without wearing leather, wool, alpaca, silk, mohair and of course, fur. The festival’s eco-friendly clothes market will highlight vegan brands, including Ornament Hemp, showing that garments can be made out of vegetable fibres, even vegan leather from pineapple, cork or apple. And, naturally, all the fashion ranges will have ‘bio’ certificate labels for cotton or linen and privilege local producers.

Finally, aiming to show that veganism does not mean dull – the festival will feature music and concerts throughout the day.

For more information and tickets: https://www.lifeveganfestival.com/