Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Enjoy Plant-Based Food, a Vegan Chili Cook-Off and Yoga at the Annual Cincy VegFest

Cincy VegFest is happening Saturday, June 1 at the Burnet Woods Bandstand.

May 2, 2024 at 11:59 am

Cincy VegFest Photo: facebook.com/cvegfest

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A celebration of plant-based living returns to Clifton this June with plenty of food, yoga, music and a vegan chili cook-off.

The sixth-annual Cincy VegFest will be held at the Burnet Woods Bandstand on Saturday, June 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival is free to attend.

The event kicks off with community yoga with Anna Ferguson, the author of World Peace Yoga, at 11 a.m. Attendees can experience food demos from some Cincinnati plant-based chefs, enjoy vegan fare, shop vendors and listen to live music from performers like MayaLou Banatwala and Nicholas Radina. There will also be children’s music with Manuel Susarret and Bob Graff, standup comedy from “The Succubus of Satire” Emily Buttrick and an arts and craft area sponsored by Clifton Cultural Arts Center.

Also returning this year is the Vegan Chili Cook-Off. It’ll be the second year for the cook-off, with last year’s winners, 9-year-old best friends Noah and Bella, returning as judges alongside Heather Donaldson of Mad Cheese and Alex Nager of Harmony Plant Fare at Findlay Market.

Cincy VegFest organizers say all community cooks, chefs, home kitchen gurus or anyone who loves sharing plant-based chili may enter the contest. To see the official rules and enter, visit Cincy VegFest’s website.

If you’re more interested in eating chili than cooking it, you can buy a Taste Ticket to sample the entries. Tickets are $10 prior to the festival and $15 the day of. You can buy those tickets here.

Burnet Woods, 3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton. More info: worldpeaceirl.com/cincy-vegfest.

Slideshow

26 Cincinnati Restaurants Offering Excellent Vegetarian Dishes

Rooted Juicery + Kitchen 3010 Madison Road, Oakley From coolers housing a rainbow display of juices to vegan meal bowls to a mini bakery, Rooted is out to prove that plant-based eating offers a vast variety of flavors and quality options. The Mexican grain bowl (quinoa, black beans, guacamole, walnut crumble, cashew cheese) is a favorite in the bowl category. Everything is as locally sourced as possible and the downtown location features a full coffee and matcha bar. Photo: Rooted Juicery + Kitchen

Good Plates Eatery 235 W. McMillan St., Clifton Good Plates focuses on simple foods and bold flavors, offering a variety of sandwiches and bowls (of the quinoa and salad variety). Each item has a little twist that takes it from standard to satisfying, often found in the sauce. Several menu stand-outs include the meatball sub, made with chorizo and beef, complemented by a sweet red sauce (there's also a vegetarian version); as well as the sweet potato and black bean quinoa. All bowls and salads come vegetarian, but patrons have the option to add meat. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Unwind Wine Bar 3435 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park This expansive indoor and outdoor space around the corner from Hyde Park Square has fused an upscale-casual ambiance with a wide selection of New World and Old World wines and small plates that complement the drinks. All of the food is either vegetarian or vegan (the owners are vegan). With choices such as crostini, flatbread, warm olives, cheeses and a hummus sampler, along with a few desserts, theres enough for a light meal  or at least some satisfying bites to accompany your wine. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Whole Bowl 364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton This is the perfect spot for people who dont like to make decisions, since Whole Bowl offers one menu item. While there is an easy vegan alternative, Whole Bowls titular dish is comprised of brown rice, beans, black olives, cheddar, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream and a lemon-garlic sauce. The only real choice a diner needs to make is whether or not they want a small or large portion. Photo: Facebook.com/TheWholeBowlCincinnati

Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside A loosely nautically themed and ironically landlocked Rock club from two local music and mixology veterans, the Northside Yacht Club is all fun. Lay down a base layer with a bar-food menu that features veggie-conscious eats like their popular cauliflower wings, tofu tendies, vegetarian or vegan mac and cheese, fried broccoli or the creature fries. The cocktails  served by tattooed bartenders in the vein of Sailor Jerry  are masterful, made with fresh juice, fruit and herbal garnish. The tropically themed and navy-inspired drinks are deceivingly potent. Photo: Kellie Coleman

Rollin Bowls Find upcoming truck locations online Rollin Bowls is a plant-based food truck with Monica Meier in the drivers seat. Meier made the switch to living a fully plant-based lifestyle several years ago and says it dramatically impacted her health and energy. The most popular menu item is the Dynamite Bowl  a crunchy and colorful blend of veggies with teriyaki-marinated soy tenders over a bed of fluffy long-grain rice. Its finished off with a thick drizzle of vegan yum yum sauce made from scratch. Beyond the bowls, Meier serves quesadillas and tacos, soups and sandwiches, including plant-based burgers. Photo: Paige Deglow

Condado Tacos 195 E. Freedom Way, Downtown; 3329 Vandercar Way, Oakley; 5070 Deerfield Blvd., Mason Condado commits to the build-your-own tacos concept down to the type of tortillas. For protein, customers have several options  even multiple ones for vegetarians!  like Thai chili tofu, BBQ pulled jackfruit, black beans and roasted portabello. Theyve got the toppings, too; cilantro and onions, jicama and cabbage slaws, queso fresco and more. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...