GREEN SCENE

2025 VegFair Coverage

By Gemma Gurcak

May 20, 2025

The 2025 VegFair held on April 26th was the perfect Saturday hangout for foodies and animal lovers alike. Located on the East End, Rockwell Park provided the perfect setting to experience all the sensational vendors VegFair had to offer in its second-year run. The early spring weather, combined with the neighborhood’s charm, made it the perfect backdrop for a day full of delicious plant-based eats, inspiring local vendors, and feel-good community vibes.

A glimpse at the day

The lineup started with food trucks outside of the venue with food offerings and refreshments from Pittsburgh favorites like Pitaland, 1:11 Juice Bar, and Veggies N’at. Each brought their A-game, serving up classics like 1:11’s refreshing Made in P(each)GH or a warm crispy falafel Pitaland sandwich. Whether you were a seasoned vegan or just looking to try something new, there was something to satisfy every craving.

Once inside, vendor booths as far as the eye could see were lined up serving customer after customer. The aroma of additional innovative food options filled the air. Unique products, cruelty-free self-care items, and handcrafted accessories were on the market and truly showcased how sustainability meets creativity in 2025.

VegFair vendors

Healthy Heart Beets provided free samples of their Beet, Chia Seed and Hemp Seed blend in both Coconut Vanilla and Plain Coconut Agave yogurts. After one spoonful, a bag of their Beet Blend to-go was a must for many.

Of course, VegFair wouldn’t be complete without a nod to our four-legged friends. Pawfect Match Outfitters brought handmade pet goods ranging from adorable, custom-designed bandanas to eco-friendly reusable paper towels. Even better, founder Kaitlyn Ruhl explained 100% of the day’s sales were donated directly to Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue, a no-kill shelter in McDonald, PA. Supporting such a great cause while receiving a new stylish bandana, or two, never felt so good.

No more bad treats with Whisk & Whiskers Bakery, a beloved local vendor serving up vegan, vet-approved pet treats as a VegFair and VegFest veteran. Whether your pup prefers peanut butter or carrot, each treat is preservative free made with only simple ingredients. After all, if you’re going home with a new bandana for your furry friend, it only makes sense to grab a treat too.

Lessons in sustainability

After snagging all the necessary treats for yourself and furry friends, it was time for a true lesson in personal sustainability. Focused on improving the environment and the community they service, Carbon Compost offers Pittsburgh residents a bi-weekly (every other week) curbside compost collection service. Carbon Compost exists to solve the massive problem of organic waste management and is triple bottom line focused. Currently serving 16 Pittsburgh area zip codes, both residential and commercial customers can become an active participant in this pressing environmental, economic, and social issue. With a place like VegFair, educational vendors like Carbon Compost have a place to make aware of the importance of composting and how it works.

VegFair 2025 proved once again that living compassionately and sustainably doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, fun, or style. With a growing lineup of passionate vendors and an even bigger crowd than last year, VegFair is fast becoming a Pittsburgh favorite. Mark your calendars for VegFest on Saturday August 16th, more details on their website www.pittsburghvegfest.org.

Find the great businesses mentioned in this article on Instagram!

• @pittsburghvegfest
• @rockwell_park
• @pitaland
• @111juicepittsburgh
• @veggiesnat
• @healthy_heatbeets
• @pawfectmatchoutfitters
• @whiskandwhiskerbakery
• @carboncompostpgh