If you are in the Chicagoland area this summer, come to our 5th Annual Veggie Fest! August 7th and 8th in Naperville, IL (Chicago area). Click on the logo above for more information.
Report on Veggie Fest 2008
Veggie Fest Chicago 2008, held on the grounds of the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center in Naperville, Illinois attracted 10,000 visitors
on the weekend of August 1 – 2, 2009.
Saturday morning, Naperville Mayor George Pradel participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the festivities, sponsored by Science of Spirituality. The mayor then took a tour of the grounds. He was impressed to see people who came from all over the world, representing many faith traditions, working and having so much fun together. The mayor commented on seeing many happy young people in attendance and said he was grateful this was taking place in Naperville.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj was the keynote speaker on both days. Vegetarians and non-vegetarians attended the talks and enjoyed various events. According to coordinator Jonathan Kruger, this third Veggie Fest was the largest yet: "It was a family event with dozens of activities to keep kids entertained—face painting, clowns, magicians, and crafts—while grown-ups had a chance to browse through over 40 vendor booths. Physicians spoke about the benefits of a vegetarian diet in preventing coronary artery disease and diabetes. Homeopaths, chiropractors, and a massage therapist gave informative talks. Free blood pressure screenings, glucose testing, and a blood drive were all part of the event. Veggie Fest ‘had it all’ and all these events were free."
Cooking demos included ethnic foods as well as how to prepare raw foods and make kid-friendly meals. Dishes from diverse cuisines were available, highlighting the variety and richness of the vegetarian diet.
One participate noted, “This was my first Veggie Fest and I’m already l ooking forward to the next one. I learned so much and had a great time. The food was delicious!”