The popular Vegan Vibes festival is returning to Mount Maunganui this month.

About 2000 people are expected through the gates for this year’s festival at Soper Reserve on October 26.

The annual festival aims to give people the tools to live sustainably by connecting festival-goers with community groups and businesses, as well as educate and entertain through food, products, talks, live music and workshops.

But festival director Rachelle Duffy said you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy the event.

“Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or just love eating good healthy food - Vegan Vibes is a festival for everyone to relax, have fun and eat some good kai.

“It’s a festival celebrating a sustainable way of living, finding plant-based inspiration in the kitchen, hearing from the experts, and mixing with new and innovative people.”

Entertaining the crowds will be musicians including No Reply, DJ Sophie, Matt Bizzle, DJ Mike, and Frente Sudaka.

The family friendly – and animal friendly – event includes free workshops, such as pottery with The Pottery Studio, sewing with Sarah Lancaster from Sew Love, and yoga classes with Yoga Papamoa.

Plus, there will be fun free activities, including mini golf, backyard games, face painting and a photobooth.

Shop the markets for some amazing plant-based products, and graze on some delicious vegan food from a range of local vendors and food producers.

This year’s speakers include the Matcha Wednesday girls, Ben Eitelberg from Athletes for Nature, Jim Annear from Jim’s Forestry Workshop, Lyss Baumgartner from Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary, and the popular Healthy Kelsi.

Rachelle and her husband Chris launched Vegan Vibes in 2016 and this year the popular plant-based festival has been launched with a fresh new look.

“It’s going to be a fun festival. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.”

Vegan Vibes Tauranga

-When 10am-3pm, 26 October 2024

-Where Soper Reserve, Mt Maunganui

-Tickets ticketfairy.com