Naperville Food Festival to Highlight Veggies, Healthy Living

This weekend it will be all about fresh veggies, live music, food demonstrations and more as one of the largest vegetarian food festivals comes to Naperville. 

The 7th annual Veggie Fest will be held Saturday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the grounds of the , 4 South 175 Naperville Rd.

More than 100 exhibitor booths as well as raw food and vegan chefs will be on hand to provide food demonstrations and give healthy lifestyle information to attendees. Along with demonstrations, the fest will have an international vegetarian food court.

This year's fest will also include the first annual Veggie Fest Art Show, which is inspired by a local college art student. The art will feature original paintings and drawings celebrating vegetarianism, love toward animals, and meditation. 

"We're thrilled to provide an outlet for creative people of all ages to express their love of vegetarianism and spirituality," said Veggie Fest Art Show coordinator, Debbie Purdy in a press release.

Folk act The Giving Tree Band, opera singer Marisa Marisa Buchheit and Live Wire, a kids rock and roll band with a vegetarian nine-year-old behind the drums, are set for the Veggie Fest music stage this weekend as well.

For those who are new to the vegetarian lifestyle, the fest welcomes attendees to try the Vegetarian Challenge, which encourages people to eat a vegetarian diet for a week. The challenge offers menu plans, nutritional facts as well as vegetarian recipes.

Admission and parking for the event are free and coupon books for local businesses in the Chicagoland area will be available.

To sign up for the Vegetarian Challenge, to enter the Veggie Fest Art Show, or for more information, visit www.VeggieFestChicago.org.