RI VegFest Brings Wide Array of Plant-Based Offerings to Providence

RI VegFest, the Ocean State's only fully vegan festival, returns for its sixth year to the WaterFire Arts Center on February 21–22, showcasing plant-based foods, beverages and businesses. The two-day celebration of compassionate plant-based eating and living is sponsored by Inside Voices, Epic Renewal, Topo Chico, Narragansett Beer, Providence Tourism Council, Hungry Ghost Press, Unity Farm Sanctuary and Dr. Kumara Sidhartha.

The 2026 vendor and exhibitor lineup features more than 90 local and national vegan and vegan-friendly food and beverage producers, restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, artists and makers from 13 other states, with vendors traveling from as far as California, Florida, Colorado and Indiana. Attendees will be able to sample vegan food and beverages, shop vegan products and learn more about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. The event also features a book swap where guests can bring pre-loved books and cookbooks and swap for something new (or new to them). Participating restaurants, food producers, artists and makers can be found on the RI VegFest website and social media.

"Providence has always been considered a 'foodie' destination, and as a vegan of over 25 years, I cannot tell you how much it means to see plant-based dining become a larger contributor to Providence's acclaimed food scene," says RI VegFest's founder, Robin Dionne. "This event started as a way to bring Southern New England plant-based food lovers together, and six years later, it has really become a special destination event." In 2025, the festival saw attendees from 29 states and 11 countries, highlighting the rapidly growing interest in plant-based options.

RI VegFest has partnered with local compost processor Epic Renewal to ensure that as much waste as possible is diverted from the landfill and transformed into usable soil. Inside Voices, the event’s fully vegan bar, along with every participating food and beverage vendor, has committed to using only fully compostable materials to ensure the event is environmentally friendly. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has awarded RI VegFest with a “Green Events” certification for making the event completely compostable.

Get your tickets today at www.rivegfest.com before they sell out!

Author

Robin Dionne

Robin Dionne is the Co-Founder/Communications Director of Ampersand Creative Co, a Rhode Island-based creative agency that focuses on large-scale community events like RI VegFest, The Good Trade Makers Market and Little City Thrifty. She is a partner in Bloom Flower & Home Market and has worked in state government, and local and national nonprofits. She is currently the Vice President of Amenity Aid.