Founded by longtime vegan and communications professional Robin Dionne, VegFest grew out of years of attending plant-based food festivals around the country and wondering why Rhode Island didn’t have one of its own. After years of planning, research, and development, Rhode Island VegFest was ready to launch in February 2020—selling out its first year and proving that the appetite for plant-based food, shared experiences, and an inclusive party was very real.
What followed in the weeks after, as the world slowed down for a global quarantine, led to VegFest pausing in 2021.
Planning a festival of this scale takes nearly a full year, and with no way to guarantee safety or avoid catastrophic cancellations, Robin made the call to wait. But VegFest didn’t disappear. Instead, it adapted. That adaptation came in the form of Vegtoberfest, an outdoor fall festival held at the Trinity Beer Garden in downtown Providence. The event was masked, regulated, logistically complex—and a needed boost for local businesses.
“The restaurants really needed a boost during that time,” Robin said. Vegtoberfest kept the community connected and supported local businesses during one of the hardest periods the hospitality industry has ever faced.
If VegFest feels unusually well run—and it does—that’s not an accident. Robin may jokingly describe event planning as “a fool’s errand,” but her background in communications and community organizing prepared her well.
In its current form, VegFest is a two-day event featuring nearly 90 vendors and welcoming close to 5,000 attendees. Vendors come from all over Rhode Island, New England, and—this year—from 13 other states, with some even traveling from Canada. That kind of growth doesn’t happen casually. Capacity is carefully managed. Vendors are given realistic attendance numbers so they can prepare properly. Temporary health permits, tax documentation, and electrical needs are handled with near-obsessive attention to detail.
“Vendors believe us when we tell them how many people are coming,” Robin said. “They prepare for that number. This is a huge undertaking for them.”
Restaurants pack up staff, equipment, and food for an entire weekend—sometimes traveling across Providence, sometimes across state lines. Trust matters. And that trust has paid off. VegFest has become a genuine launchpad. Some businesses debuted at VegFest as food trucks and now operate brick-and-mortar restaurants. Others started in shared kitchens or food incubators and built loyal followings that allowed them to grow sustainably. The community shows up—and keeps showing up.
Part of VegFest’s appeal is how clearly it reflects the evolution of plant-based food itself. Robin and I both vividly remembered the early days of being vegetarian and vegan. Being vegan for Robin once meant pooling money with friends to mail-order
cheese alternatives from the West Coast—packed in dry ice and, by her account, “the worst thing you’ve ever tasted.” For me, I remember restaurants only offering a single token vegetarian option, usually pasta with sautéed vegetables. Sometimes less.
Fast forward to now. Italian restaurants on Federal Hill offer thoughtful vegan options. Vegan bolognese appears on menus. Vegan tasting menus exist. Vegan chefs are James Beard nominees (hello, Foglia). Fully plant-based restaurants are no longer novelties—they’re here to stay.
What’s changed isn’t only the number of fully vegan restaurants—though Providence now has plenty—but the willingness of non-vegan restaurants to take plant-based dining seriously. Creative vegan options are no longer an afterthought. Restaurants have realized that vegan diners want to celebrate, want to dine out, and want food that feels intentional, rather than like a compromise. That shift helps explain why VegFest draws such a broad audience. Many attendees aren’t vegan at all. They come because they love food and because they’re curious. Because they saw something online that looked incredible. Because a friend invited them. Because food, as Robin put it, “is the great connector.”
In a city that prides itself on its food scene, VegFest feels exactly right: joyful, fun, and deeply communal. It’s not just a celebration of plant-based food—it’s a reminder that food, at its best, brings people together.
RI Vegfest will be held February 21 and 22 from noon to 5pm at Waterfire Arts Center. For more information and to buy tickets, visit their website here.
Margaret Rizzuto is a photographer with over 15 years of capturing the beauty of food and people. As a Brooklyn-born Italian, her love of food runs deep. Margaret relocated to Providence in 2020 and quickly fell in love with the city—especially its vibrant food scene. When asked how she enjoys life in Providence, her response is always the same – “It’s so easy to be here!” which is a reflection of the city’s welcoming nature, its people, and the incredible foods. www.margaretrizzuto.com @aprovidencepalate
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