Fourth annual vegan festival returns to Tucson this Sunday

Burgers, tamales and barbecue are set to take over the Whistle Stop Depot on Sunday — but everything will be meatless.

The annual VegOut vegan food festival is slated to return to Tucson for its fourth year on Sunday, Nov. 10.

The festival will feature cooking demonstrations, fitness speakers, live music and about 30 vendors that “fit the vegan lifestyle and (whose products) are made with no animal producers or derivatives,” VegOut Events founder Clayton Kammerer says.

Vendors range from apparel and jewelry to body care. A dozen restaurants and farmers market vendors will also be in attendance to serve up vegan food, he says.

Kammerer says attendees can expect vegan goodies from local spots including Cashew Cow and Charro Vida, in addition to tamales from Del Cielo Tamales, barbecue from Carole’s BBQ and mozzarella sticks from No-Doh.

VegOut made its Tucson debut in 2016.

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“I was approached by a couple longtime vegans in the community to start a vegan festival,” Kammerer says. “At the time I didn’t even know what that was.”

He attended two vegan festivals, one in Phoenix and the other in Boston, and ultimately decided to start a festival in the Old Pueblo.

VegOut has since expanded into Scottsdale and Portland.

“Really, (the festival) is just to share a lot of viewpoints and experiences on how a vegan lifestyle is not only healthier for you, but it’s more humane and better for the environment,” Kammerer says. “We try to touch every angle of the vegan argument to create more awareness.”

Admission to the event grants attendees access to the festival’s programs, including a “swag table” with complimentary merchandise on a first-come, first-served basis. Food is not included in the admission cost.