Leeds hosts celebration of the vegan lifestyle
A Celebration of the vegan lifestyle drew thousands of people to the city for a two-day festival.
Cooking demonstrations, food stalls and live music were enjoyed during the Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival at Leeds Town Hall at the weekend.
Food fans were treated to more than 150 stalls selling meat-free meals and snacks at the event.
The event is Yorkshire’s biggest vegan festival and is staged every two years in aid of animal welfare charities. Vegan cheesemaking was among cooking demonstrations at the volunteer-run festival, along with interactive workshops, yoga sessions, salsa classes and talks on the benefits of the vegan diet. A vegan speed dating session was part of the festival programme and films promoting the vegan lifestyle were screened, including Forks over Knives, which argues that the popularity or process foods has caused epidemic rates of obesity and diabetes.
Talks were given at the festival by vegan enthusiasts including animal whisperer and spiritual healer Kate Berridge .
Performers at the event included Zoe Francesca, of The Dance Studio Leeds, music and free-form dance group Mobius Loop and Wakefield-based vocal duo Souls 22:22.
Organisations supported by the festival include Miracle’s Mission, a non-profit charity which helps stray and homeless animals.