2025 Guest Speaker: Adam Durand

Adam Durand is a filmmaker, web developer, and graphic designer who has spent the past two decades channeling his creativity into animal rights advocacy. He first gained national attention through his work with Compassionate Consumers, a grassroots group he helped found to expose cruelty in animal agriculture. Their 2004 investigation of a Wegmans egg farm sparked national controversy and was covered by The New York Times, ABC News, and City Magazine (formerly City Newspaper), bringing mainstream visibility to the realities of factory farming and the fight for transparency.

Since then, Adam has remained a steadfast presence in the movement, taking part in open rescues, organizing strategic campaigns, and challenging laws that punish people for acting with compassion. His efforts have been highlighted in National Geographic, Vox, and cited in legal scholarship such as Cornell Law Review.

Passionate and principled, Adam invites audiences to rethink what’s possible when we act with courage, strategy, and heart.

Catch Adam Durand at Rochester VegFest 2025

🕛 10:30–11:15 AM, August 24th
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

The Doc & Chef at Rochester VegFest 2025

Dr. Jim Loomis & Chef Caryn Dugan
Where Science Meets the Skillet: Your Prescription for Plant-Based Health

The Doc & Chef is a dynamic wellness duo featuring Dr. Jim Loomis, a board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, and Chef Caryn Dugan, a nationally recognized plant-based culinary educator. Together, they are transforming how people think about food and health through their engaging video series, live events, and educational outreach.

Meet Dr. Jim Loomis

Dr. Jim Loomis

Dr. Jim Loomis is the Medical Director of the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and has served as team physician for the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. He is featured in the documentaries Forks Over Knives and The Game Changers and is an expert in lifestyle medicine, using evidence-based nutrition to prevent and reverse chronic disease.

At Rochester VegFest 2025, Dr. Loomis will speak about the power of plant-based nutrition to transform personal and public health—sharing clinical insights, practical guidance, and stories of healing through food.

🕛 1:50–2:35 PM, August 24th
📍 Speaker Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester

Meet Chef Caryn Dugan

Chef Caryn Dugan

Chef Caryn Dugan, also known as “STL Veg Girl,” is the founder of the Center for Plant-Based Living in St. Louis—the first plant-based culinary and nutrition education center in the U.S. After losing her father to cancer and battling her own health crisis, Caryn dedicated her life to teaching others how to thrive through plant-based food.

Join Chef Caryn for a live cooking demo at RVF 2025, where she’ll share a flavorful, approachable plant-based recipe that’s perfect for both seasoned vegans and newcomers alike—proving that eating for health can be delicious and doable.

🕛 11:20 AM–12:05 PM, August 24th
📍 Food Demo Tent, Parcel 5 – Downtown Rochester


Together, The Doc & Chef blend cutting-edge medical research with approachable, delicious recipes to help people take control of their health—one meal at a time. Their mission is simple: to make healthy living practical, evidence-based, and irresistibly tasty.

For more information and to explore their offerings, visit The Doc & Chef YouTube Channel or follow them on Instagram at @thedocandchef.

2025 Vendor & Sponsorship Opportunities

Be a part of Rochester’s most vibrant celebration of plant-based living! The 2025 Rochester VegFest invites local businesses, organizations, and advocates to showcase their support for personal health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.

About the Event

Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025
Time: 10am – 4pm
Location: Parcel 5, Rochester, NY

This year’s theme, Compassion in Action: Eat Plants! Save the Planet!, celebrates plant-based living as a fun and powerful way to align our choices with our values. It’s about showing up for ourselves, our planet, and our fellow earthlings — and exploring how everyday actions can help build a more just and sustainable world.

VegFest 2025 will feature:

  • Inspiring speakers and panel discussions
  • Interactive food demonstrations
  • Delicious vegan food vendors
  • Live music, yoga, and engaging children’s activities

Become a Vendor

Showcase your products and services to a diverse and passionate audience! Whether you’re a food vendor, business, or nonprofit, we welcome your participation.

Vendor Deadlines:

  • Early Bird Pricing Discount ends May 9, 2025.
  • Last Day to receive full refund: May 30, 2025.
  • Late Fee applied after May 30, 2025.

ROC VegFest 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities

Support Rochester VegFest and enhance your visibility within our community. Our sponsorship packages offer excellent promotional opportunities tailored to various levels of engagement:

TierPriceVendor BoothRecognition
Headline Sponsor$500010′ x 20′ Space,
Prime Loation
✔️Top logo on T-shirt
✔️ Website, newsletter, & social media announcements
✔️ Digital ad feature (x2)
✔️ Full page ad in event program
Gold Sponsor$250010′ x 10′ Space,
Prime Location
✔️Mid-size logo on T-shirt
✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements
✔️ Digital ad feature
✔️ Full page ad in event program
Silver Sponsor$100010′ x 10′ Space,
Prominent Location
✔️ Small logo on T-shirt
✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements
✔️ Digital ad feature
✔️ Half page ad in event program
Bronze Sponsor$50010′ x 10′ Space,
Prominent Location
✔️ Name on T-shirt
✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements
✔️ Quarter page ad in event program
Advocate$250
No booth
✔️ Name on T-shirt
✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements
✔️ Logo in event program
Friend$100No booth✔️ Website, newsletter & social media announcements
✔️ Logo in event program

In-Kind Donations Welcome!

We also welcome in-kind contributions such as goods, services, or raffle prizes. These donations receive the same recognition as monetary sponsorships of equivalent value.

👉 Contact us here if you’re interested in contributing to our raffle, offering a service, or donating something to enhance the event experience!


We appreciate your support in making Rochester VegFest 2025 an impactful, educational, and joyful experience for our entire community. Together, we can promote compassionate choices for a better future!

2024 VegFest T-shirts!

Thank you to everyone who ordered our 2024 VegFest shirts! We had an overwhelming response and sold out early at the event. Our second order period has now closed as of September 10th. We are no longer accepting T-shirt orders at this time.

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing everyone sporting their VegFest shirts soon!

Pickup Location: 

Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen

777 Culver Rd, Rochester, NY 14609

Additional Pickup Information:

Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen offers a gourmet, oil-free meal-prep service that is healthy, delicious, and completely vegan-friendly!

To give it a try, follow these simple steps:

  1. Choose your meals from the A La Carte Menu
  2. Place your order for pickup or delivery.
  3. Heat and enjoy!

Once the shirts are ready, we will send an email with detailed pickup instructions and a discount code for 10% off your next Sweet Pea order!

Unisex Fit
Unisex fit

Please make sure your email address in Paypal is accurate, as that is how we will contact you. If you have any questions or haven’t heard from us in a few weeks (perhaps we went to your spam), feel free to email us using the 2nd contact form.


Thank you to all of the talented artists who submitted designs, and to everyone who voted. Congratulations to Julia Jones, creator of the winning VegFest T-shirt design!

Check out more of Julia’s work:

www.julia-jones-design.com

Instagram: @design.slush

For graphic design inquiries, contact juliamjones777@gmail.com

Rochester Area Vegan Society

Rochester Area Vegan Society (RAVS), co-organizers of VegFest, will have a booth offering valuable information on veganism and will be operating the Ask A Vegan booth. Interested in going vegan but have some concerns? Or maybe you’re already vegan and need help with common questions from family and friends? The Ask A Vegan booth is here to help!

RAVS has been promoting veganism since 1989, focusing on health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. They also host monthly meetings featuring potlucks and guest speakers. Be sure to stop by their booth for advice and support!

Become a member: rochesterveg.org

#RochesterVegFest #RAVS #AskAVegan #VeganCommunity

Long Weekend Bakeshop

We’re excited to have Long Weekend Bakeshop at Rochester VegFest! 🍪✨

This plant-based, vegan bake shop from Lancaster, NY, will be bringing pre-packaged cookies to VegFest. Known for their wide range of desserts and gluten-free options, their treats are a must-try!

Visit their booth on Saturday, August 24th!

Sweet Farm

We’re thrilled to have Sweet Farm as a vendor at Rochester VegFest! 🌟🌾

Sweet Farm is a nonprofit sanctuary that tackles climate change, animal welfare, and regenerative agriculture. They’ve rescued over 170 farm animals and support sustainability through innovative climate tech.

Visit their booth on Saturday, August 24th, for more information and to shop their merch! Proceeds will support their mission to create a more sustainable and compassionate world.

Learn more: sweetfarm.org

Save Rochester

We’re thrilled to have Save Rochester joining us as a vendor at Rochester VegFest! 🌟🍃

Founded in 2020, Save Rochester provides essential resources like food baskets, toiletries, and toys, while advocating for social progress and community engagement in the Greater Rochester Area and beyond.

Stop by their booth on Saturday, August 24th, to discover their vital work and see how you can support their mission to assist families in need.

Find out more about Save Rochester: saverochester.org