Twin Cities Veg Fest is a highlight of the metro area summer calendar, bringing nearly 100 exhibitors and more than 5,000 attendees together each September for good food, connection, and compassionate celebration. For many of us, it feels like it’s over in the blink of an eye. In fact, one of the most common pieces of feedback we receive each year is that attendees wish the festival was longer!
We wish we could make Twin Cities Veg Fest a year-round celebration. But putting it on is no easy task! Our staff and volunteers take at least six months each year to recruit sponsors and exhibitors, plan our programming, file paperwork and process payments, and manage day-of volunteer registration to make sure everything is on track to run smoothly. By the time the festival comes around, we’ve put in thousands of hours to make it the best for people — and animals — as we can.
We truly couldn’t make Twin Cities Veg Fest happen without the help of our dedicated planning committee. Volunteering to help plan the festival can be a rewarding experience if you care about farmed animals, plant-based food, or building strong and healthy communities. Everyone who shares our values is welcome to join, regardless of current diet. With 20+ roles to choose from, you can take on as little or as much of the work as you’d like. Every role is important, and every effort makes our planet and community healthier and helps spare animal lives.
What Does the Committee Do?
Everyone on the Twin Cities Veg Fest Planning Committee brings unique talents, experiences, and interests and collaborates to host the largest plant-based festival of its kind in the Midwest. Whether you’re interested in coordinating vendors or entertainment, marketing and social media, logistics, zero waste stations, or something else, we’ve got space for your help!
The Planning Committee meets every other week from March through September to discuss all aspects of festival planning. Meetings are held at the CAA office on weekday evenings, with online options available too. Attendees to the in-person version take turns providing delicious plant-based dinners. At the meetings, we discuss larger things like the annual theme, t-shirt design, potential guest speakers and musical guests, and more, and update the team on our individual progress. Outside of the meetings, members may have tasks to complete related to their specialty area.
Why Volunteers Love Being on the Committee
Many of our volunteers and committee members return year after year to help out. It’s fun and rewarding work and a great way to discover community, make lasting friendships, and make a difference for animals and our community. Here’s what past committee members have to say about their experiences:
Jesse Johnson, Bike Crawl and Zero Waste Coordinator (volunteer profile): “I started attending the festival back in 2012. I liked it so much I started volunteering to help set it up and take it down. Then I helped launch the first bike crawl fundraiser and joined the committee to work on Zero Waste.”
Laura Hofer, Cooking Demos Coordinator (volunteer profile): “I was drawn to event committee work because I believe in the power of joyful, welcoming spaces to highlight all the best parts of veganism. Events that center delicious food and community connection are a great way to show how fun and accessible a vegan lifestyle can be.”
Oriana Rueda Krauss, Zero Waste Coordinator (volunteer profile): “The amount of committed, generous people that come together to help bring forth a more fair and considerate way of being has left a lasting impression on me. I believe that volunteering is a great way to give something back, add to our community, and meet cool people in the process.”
Itzel Herrera, Social Media Team (volunteer profile): “CAA nurtures a sense of community with compassion, mission, and empathy. It shows that veganism isn’t something unpleasant — it’s something to celebrate. I’ve always loved writing and sharing ideas about our relationships with other living beings. Working on social media lets me do that while also editing videos, photos, and graphics to educate others.”
Join Us for an Info Session
On February 24 and March 3, we’ll be holding interest sessions for people who want to learn more about being a member of the Twin Cities Veg Fest 2026 planning committee. Attendees can come online or in-person to the Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) office at 34 13th Ave NE, Ste 108, Minneapolis, MN 55413 (and in-person attendees will enjoy a free vegan dinner provided by CAA). Choose the date that works best for you — no need to attend both.
Are you a prior committee member interested in coming back? If we haven’t already talked, please shoot us an email at info@tcvegfest.com.
Not sure if you’re interested? Reach out to info@tcvegfest.com for more information and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Come join us, find out more, and discover just how fun it can be to serve on the Twin Cities Veg Fest Planning Committee!
