ABOUT RI VEGFEST
RI VegFest promotes a fun and compassionate plant-based vegan lifestyle here in Little Rhody. We love eating plants, and if given the right opportunity, we think everyone else will, too!
In February 2020 (after SIX years of planning and research!), we hosted our inaugural RI VegFest at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, RI. We had a great community response, with over 85 vendors from across the US and Canada, and a sold-out crowd of 1,800 attendees! After a long but necessary hiatus, we returned with our outfood food and beer sampling event, RI Vegtoberfest, in fall of 2021. We now hold both events annually, and RI VegFest has grown into a two-day festival.
Applications for our February RI VegFest event open about eight months in advance, and RI Vegtoberfest applications open about seven months in advance.
About the organizers
RI VegFest is brought to you by Robin Dionne and BJ Mansuetti.
Robin Dionne is a 25+ year vegan with a big big love of planning Rhode Island community gatherings that take up all of her nights and weekends. She’s a communications professional who has worked with The Arcade Providence, Trinity Brewhouse, TEDxProvidence, Local 121, RI NOW, New Harvest Coffee & Spirits, Great International Beer Fest, RI Spring Flower & Garden Show, HealthSource RI, RISD, and more. She spends her days as the Chief Public Affairs Officer at HealthSource RI, working to help Rhode Islanders obtain affordable health coverage. She’s a partner in Ampersand Creative Co, which hosts several large-scale community events, including Little City Thrifty, The Good Trade Makers Market, and is a partner in Bloom Flower & Home.
BJ has been building brands through strategic and authentic content development, design, outreach, events, and innovative grassroots marketing programs for nearly fifteen years. His true passion is to help brands engage with the communities they serve in deeply personalized and meaningful ways. BJ served as Narragansett Beer’s Brand Director for seven years, where he created an Emmy-award winning event and video series. He is also a partner in Ampersand Creative, hosting Little City Thrifty, The Good Trade Makers Market, and is a partner in Bloom Flower and Home.