Robin Quivers is the keynote speaker for this year’s DC VegFest. (Photo courtesy of DC VegFest’s Facebook page.)

This year’s DC VegFest is poised to be the best yet. Run by Compassion Over Killing, the festival is free and will be held this Saturday, September 20th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Yards Park. This is the same location as last year, but with twice the space — which is good because at last year’s Veg Fest, it was hard to move around with so many long lines and folks milling about. So, what’s all that new-found space going to be filled with?

Speakers
This year’s speaker schedule is promising, including several cooking demonstrations by D.C’s cupcake darling Doron Peterson at 2:30 p.m. in the Kid’s Area; the Washington Post’s Joe Yonan (who has won two James Beard Awards for food writing and published Eat Your Vegetables) at 1:50 p.m. on the Main Stage’ and Afro-Vegan author Bryant Terry at 12:25 p.m. on the Main Stage, among others. Two other speakers stand out: Robin Quivers and Dr. Betty Smith.

ROBIN QUIVERS: Yes, she is Howard Stern’s smart and sassy sidekick, but she’s also the author of The Vegucation of Robin, which details how her switch to plant-based foods transformed her health. This speech is sure to be both entertaining and informative. You can catch Robin Quivers at 1:15 p.m. on the Main Stage.

DR. BETTY SMITH: I heard Dr. Betty Smith speak briefly at the media preview. This 73-year-old ultra-marathon runner tells amazing stories about how going vegan and running crazy distances has lowered her heart rate and blood pressure to such extents that her doctors were initially worried. Now, they call her a medical marvel (though the idea of running a six-day, continual marathon is more than a tad frightening). You can catch Betty Smith’s Aging Agelessly, Running Long Distances Powered by Plants at 11:30 a.m. on the Main Stage.

Speakers and cooking demonstrations run from 11:20 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check the online schedule to be sure you don’t miss out.

Restaurants

Twenty-five vegetarian restaurants all in one place! Bring a huge appetite, or be prepared for some tough decisions. Vendors include many of DCist’s favorites, including Falls Church’s Loving Hut, Amsterdam Falafelshop, Pete’s Apizza, Sticky Fingers, Everlasting Life, Vegetable Garden, Dama and Woodland’s Vegan Bistro (garlic kale anyone?), as well as some others we are less familiar with but eager to try, including The Randy Radish, Stefwiches, and Mango Grove. But, there are two places you should not miss: Vegan Treats Bakery and Busboys and Poets.

VEGAN TREATS BAKERY: The one place you do not want to miss is Vegan Treats Bakery from Bethlehem, Pa. Now’s your chance to sample their sweets without having to make the three-and-a-half hour trek up north. While you can taste some of their deliciousness at local restaurants like Busboys and Poets, their spread at VegFest is going to be insane: ten types of French pastries (including my favorite the Peanut Butter Mousse Bomb), two types of cannoli, peanut butter cups, three types of brownies, lemon bars, whoopie pies (including pumpkin!), nine kinds of doughnuts (including the amazing-sounding Fried “Chicken” and Waffles), four types of cookies, cinnamon rolls, and sticky buns. Several gluten free options will be available.

NEW VEGAN DISHES FROM BUSBOYS AND POETS: Busboys will be debuting new vegan menu items at VegFest, including chicken satay skewers with a tasty peanut dipping sauce and vegan sliders. The new sliders have a more traditionally meaty taste and texture than Busboy’s current Indian-spiced veggie burger and are quite good. (At the media preview, a comedically mad dash to the server occurred every time anyone spotted a tray full of sliders.)

Free Product Samples
Every VegFest has a ton of free samples and this year’s will be no exception, with over 60 exhibitors, including Tofurky, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Embitterment Bitters, Charm School Chocolate, and Max & Ruffy’s Organic Treats for Dogs. Get there early if you want your free samples pre-compiled: the first 1,000 attendees get a free VegFest tote bag full of samples and coupons. Late arrivers still get free samples though, so I’m more apt to recommend early arrival to see the speakers and get in line at Vegan Treats.

VegFest is free and will be held rain or shine on Saturday, September 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Yards Park, located at N and 1st streets SE.