While fried bubblegum, corny dogs and turkey legs will be in the hands of many at Fair Park this weekend, one group has an alternative way to spend a fall afternoon.
Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake will offer vegan fried foods, music, art and guest speakers as part of the Texas State Veggie Fair on Sunday.
As the fried delicacies were being perfected for last year’s State Fair of Texas, Jamey Scott, founder of DallasVegan.com, felt there was a need for another kind of fall festival.
“I always thought over the years that it would be fun to have a fair just for vegan food,” he said. “At the same time, I thought it would be great to have more — not just a contest for food, but more of a festival.”
While different “veg fests” go on throughout the country, Scott decided to bring in guest speakers, music and informational booths.
Scott said that last year the event was only quickly planned but still brought in nearly 750 people.
This year, the fair has 15 vendors with a wide array of food and information. Designed to be entertaining and informative, the completely vegan fair will also have live music, arts and “other entertainment indicative of the established vegan scene in Dallas.”
The fair is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, but the two days before the fair are also filled with events, including a pre-party hosted by Mercy for Animals, a national nonprofit animal-protection organization.
“Vegetarianism is a growing trend in Texas as more and more people recognize that replacing meat, dairy and eggs with plant-based alternatives is a great way to protect their health, the health of the planet and animals,” said Nora Kramer, campaign coordinator for Mercy for Animals.
Taylor Adams is the editor of the White Rock neighborsgo and can be reached at 214-977-8058.
If you go: Texas State Veggie Fair
When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake, 950 E. Lawther Dr.
Admission: free