First vegan festival at CastleCourt in Belfast

 As Culture Night Belfast immerses the city in nature with The City Garden, CastleCourt will be joining the movement to offer a plant-based experience like no other on Saturday 18th September.

 CastleCourt’s CityScape Belfast will host The NI Vegan Festival, a joint venture alongside Urban Events NI and Truffleupagus Vegan Yums, bringing together a feast of plant-based foodies, restauranteurs and businesses who are committed to helping people on their vegan journeys.

 The day-long festival will deliver wellbeing workshops, cookery demonstrations, entertainment and a chance to taste some delicious samples from vegan foodie producers alongside a vegan food court to whet appetites and satisfy curiosities.

 With four times as many families choosing to opt for a vegan lifestyle than there were four years ago, CastleCourt Centre manager Leona Barr says this is a prominent time to welcome the Festival to their rooftop, especially during Culture Night Belfast which will transform the centre’s surrounding areas into a tranquil garden to reconnect visitors with nature.

 Leona added; “What we consume is a huge part of the chain that has an effect on Climate Change, and as a responsible business, we are committed to doing all we can to relieve pressures on the climate emergency we are experiencing.

 “As a destination, our visitors are seeking alternative days out, experiences that have meaning and will impact their lives in a positive way. We have had many changes and upgrades at CastleCourt in recent months and we’re very excited to host the NI Vegan Festival on our CityScape Belfast rooftop.”

 Thomas Ferris from Urban Events NI continued; “NI vegan businesses work tirelessly to produce innovative and accessible products and services to make the vegan lifestyle available to all who want to consume more mindfully, whether that be through a plant-based diet or making more sustainable decisions in their everyday life from cosmetics to clothing.

 “The past 18 months have allowed people to reflect on their lifestyles and take the first steps to making changes on their impact to the planet and we’re here to show them just how easy that can be, and doesn’t have to cost the earth – literally!”

 The NI Vegan Festival takes place on Saturday 18th September, 10am – 5pm at CityScape Belfast, CastleCourt. Tickets are £3.50 per person, and can be purchased online via NIVeganFestival.com.

CastleCourt Centre Manager Leona Barr (left) is pictured with organisers of the NI Vegan Festival, Thomas Ferris and Sheena Bleakney. CastleCourt's CityScape Belfast venue will host its first NI Vegan Festival on Saturday 18 September.