05/18/2026
Kendra and I produced the very first NJ Vegan Food Festival back in October of 2016. We had absolutely no large-scale event producing experience at all, but the desire to foster the growth of veganism in New Jersey blinded our better judgement (haha!) and we did it anyway. The number of vendors that wanted to participate and the amount of people that showed up absolutely blew us away. Since then, NJ VegFest has produced over 60 events all over the state. It has been the craziest, my friends. This event has grown and evolved in ways I never expected over the past 10 years. The team has experienced tons of growing pains and hard lessons along the way. The amount of work, faith, focus, sleepless nights, blood, sweat and tears that each event requires is more than I ever anticipated, but when thousands of people come from near and far to eat, drink and be merry in the name of making this world a more compassionate place, it is 100% worth it all.
Every. Single. Time.
Know that with every cruelty-free meal you eat, every non-animal sourced piece of clothing you wear, and every dollar you spent to support a local plant-based small business, you are changing the world for the better. Your impact is greater than you may realize. And whether you have been to our events before or the 2026 Asbury Park Vegan Food Festival was your first one, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts and with everything we have, for being there. Thank you for being a part of the compassionate change.
- Marisa ( )
