Vegan camp out is a festival like no other I've been to before! It's an absolute must for anyone who wants to spend a weekend surrounded by all things vegan.
I've been to Vegan Camp Out three times now, once in 2019, once in 2021 and again last summer. In 2019, alongside three friends and over 7,500 other festival goers, I saw Earthling Ed, Viva!, Dr Klaper, Gaz Oakley and Matt Pritchard among other speakers. Zak Abel and Akala were my personal music highlights and both Benjamin Johnson (Ethcs) and Shikari Sound System hosted an incredible after party!
My experience in 2021 was slightly different as I'd booked to go on holiday a few days after the festival, so I had to be careful about catching Covid. I took my vegetarian best friend along with me, hoping that the weekend would magically turn her vegan! We had a great time sampling lots of food and attending talks with our masks on. We danced outside the music stage to Benjamin Zephaniah and away from the crowds at the back of the hall during the afterparties. In fact, the after parties were our first taste of clubbing since clubs had shut down, so they felt equally as incredible as the afterparties of Vegan Camp Out 2019 despite our social distancing efforts. We watched Russel Brand, BOSH! (who later hosted a DJ set) and Lex Rigby who is the head of investigations at Viva! and her talk on fish farming and the other harmful practices we inflict on marine life was one of our highlights from the weekend.
Last Summer was my favourite yet! The location was amazing, there was a lake to swim in during the day and a secret forest rave for partying at night. It was simply amazing to be among 12,000 other vegans too.
On to the food! The food has been outstanding every year with the likes of Unity Diner, One Planet Pizza, Purezza, Halo Burger, VFC, The Hogless Roast, What The Pitta and sweet treats from Dappa, Doughnotts, Booja Booja and a host of other vendors. Across the three years, I've had a Vausages original hot dog with their signature blue sauce, a What The Pitta donner wrap and a Donner Summer kebab, some philly-cheese fries from Herbivorous, churros from Love is Churros and an Oreo bubble waffle from Juice Junkies. I tried a delicious dosa from a stand serving Indian street food, the Vegan Vice peanut butter burger, Unity Diner’s fish and chips, A Happy Maki avo roll, The Hogless Roast bun with apple sauce and Doughnotts giant apple crumble donut!
As well as the talks, the music and the food, I also have a brilliant time walking round the stalls selling sustainable gifts, reusable flasks and lunchboxes, vegan and cruelty free perfumes, candles and clothing. There are also several educational stalls run by Animal Rebellion and Viva! amongst others. If you can drag yourself out of your tent for some exercise, there's also a running group, yoga and other exercise or mindfulness classes. Speaking of tents, the camping experience is far more pleasant than any other festival I have attended. There are nice toilet and shower units by the tents and portaloos in the main arena as well as outdoor taps that can be used to refill water bottles. Everything feels clean and fresh, and there's absolutely no littering.
So, with an abundance of vegan food, talks, music and after parties, exercise classes, stalls and friendly vegan people, what’s not to love! I already have my ticket for 2023 and the rest are selling out fast. I thoroughly recommend you grab one too if you want to spend a few days in vegan heaven.