Good for the planet and the heart, Vegan 2 the Soul brings back yoga and animal-product-free dishes to Lemann Park.
On July 22, the food and lifestyle festival will assemble for the sixth time with creative vegan eats featuring items like the MLT (mushroom, lettuce, tomato), jackfruit stew, fried plantains and whole coconuts. Traditional New Orleans fare is remade into vegan Cajun and Creole dishes, while Middle Eastern and Caribbean stands offer their own spin on international cuisine.
Attendees at the 2022 Vegan 2 the Soul festival participate in morning yoga.
The event will include 50 local vegan restaurants and businesses. New food and art workshops will also be offered.
After attending a season of festivals severely lacking in vegan and vegetarian food, Vegan 2 the Soul organizer and founder Teresa Thomas knew there had to be more to vegan life than fries and salads.
“There’s a ton of vegan options in the city,” she said. “This is a way to bring them together and support small, local and healthy businesses.”
Teresa Thomas sits on a sign welcoming attendees to the Vegan 2 the Soul Food and Lifestyle Festival in 2022.
A focus on sustainability is another important part of the festival, Thomas said. There will be no styrofoam, and attendees are encouraged to recycle and bring their own containers for to-go orders.
The vegan community in New Orleans remains tight-knit and continues to see change. Jazz Fest brought new options to its lineup this year, and more restaurants are including vegan plates in their menus.
“Veganism is an important way to make us all more aware of our impact, and be intentional about the things we do and the foods we eat,” Thomas said.
Admission is free, but those interested are encouraged to RSVP. Festival gates are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, with a yoga and fitness class kicking things off at 10 a.m.
