Save the Date for the 4th Annual Free Vegan Festival
To beat the heat, we've moved our annual free summer festival to a new date and location! Join us on Sunday, September 15th in downtown Farmington for a celebration of all things vegan. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy live music on the concert lawn! As always, there is no admission fee and free parking. The festival will be held at Riley Park in Downtown Farmington , located at 33113 Grand River Avenue. The fun begins at 11am.

The food will amaze you! Cool new vendors such as vegan Thai, farm to table, build-your-own healthy bowls, and even an all-vegan hot dog cart! Plus, The Old Shillelagh will be returning with items off their all-vegan menu, including reuben rolls and nachos! There will be 30 restaurants and specialty food vendors to choose from. Add in great entertainment and the perfect location and you're not going to want to miss it! Save the date and share with friends! Visit vegmichigan.org for more information. We hope to see you there!
Please Support Our Festival Sponsor
Detroit's iconic Irish pub, The Old Shillelagh, introduced a fabulous vegan menu last year, featuring Shepherds Pie, tacos, super nachos, chili dogs, mushroom french dip, and a mushroom smoked gouda Beyond burger. They've also recently added a vegan brunch on the weekends as well as Green Beat Happy Hour, featuring a rotating vegan menu every Thursday through the summer. The Old Shillelagh is located at 349 Monroe in Detroit.  See the Vegan Menu
Local Activism that is Making a Difference
38 people came out last week in Orion Township to learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet and to try a variety of great-tasting vegan food, all free of charge. Over 80% of survey respondents said that they will move toward a plant-based diet or go vegan as a result of this program. On August 1, we have over 100 people signed up for our presention featuring Dr. Joel Kahn that includes a delicious plant-based food samples from a variety of local restaurants. This presention will also be broadcast on the Livonia TV station. As important as national organizations are, we are a grassroots organization reaching many Michigan communities and sharing with them the information and local resources they need to transition to a plant-based diet. These high-quality programs are expensive to run. Please consider becoming a VegMichigan member to support this important work. Learn more at vegmichigan.org
Events This Month
Check out our online calendar for details on all of our upcoming events or visit the Meetup page for your area ( Metro Detroit , Flint , Greater Lansing , Ann Arbor Area ).

Thursday, August 1 @ 6:30pm - 8pm

Sunday, August 4 @ 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Sunday, August 4 @ 6pm - 8pm

Sunday, August 11 @ 12pm - 4pm

Thursday, August 15 @ 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Saturday, August 17 @ 6pm
Ice Cream Social at Shimmy Shack
Our friends at Shimmy Shack are hosting a Vegan (and Gluten Free!) Ice Cream Social on Saturday, August 3rd . Stop by the brick-and-mortar location at 1440 Sheldon Road in Plymouth anytime between 12pm and 8pm for mouth-watering flavors including, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, blue moon, mint chocolate chip, and mocha chocolate swirl. Add your own toppings, including chocolate sauce, Swedish fish, sprinkles, and more! Click here for details.
The Game Changers In Theaters Next Month
Are you interested in learning more about why so many professional athletes are going plant-based? On September 16th, movie goers will be able to view the long-awaited documentary produced by James Cameron, Novak Djokovic ( 2019 Wimbledon winner ), Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others. The Game Changers is making its global premiere at more than 1,000 theaters around the world with 18 of them located right here in Michigan - including metro Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Holland, Kalamazoo, Bay City, and Grand Rapids. The film busts myths surrounding protein, meat, and strength, and features some of the most prolific athletes of our time. Get tickets and find out where its showing near you by clicking here . VegMichigan will also be hosting a number of Meetups in Michigan so we can watch the movie together.
Farm Sanctuary President: "The Best Way to Help Dairy Farmers is to Get Them Out of Dairy Farming"
In a recent Washington Post Op-Ed piece, Farm Santuary president and co-founder, Gene Bauer, discusses the problem with federal subsidies to dairy farmers amidst rapidly declining demand and makes a case for transitioning dairy farmers to sustainable agriculture, including vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Read the full article here . Aside from the health risks and the ethical implications of consuming dairy and other animal-based foods, our food choices also affect greenhouse gas emissions, a significant contributor to climate change. To read more about the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the foods you eat, check out this article i n Popular Science . Spoiler alert: meat and dairy are the top two culprits.
'Cooking With Que' Opens Cafe in Detroit
Longtime VegMichigan friend, Quiana Broden, now has her own cafe, The Kitchen by Cooking with Que . Recently opened in New Center in Detroit, located at 6529 Woodward Ave., the cafe is open for lunch Tuesday-Friday from 11am-2pm and will also feature a Friday evening "community wind down" from 4pm-8pm. Be sure to check our calendar for a future dinner club announcement at The Kitchen by Cooking with Que. In the meantime, you can find Que's famous vegan mac n cheese recipe here .
Plant-Based Companies Sue States Over Vegan Meat Labeling Laws
In response to recent laws passed in Arkansas , Mississippi , and Missouri that ban traditional meat terms from being used on vegan food packaging, vegan food companies, Tofurky and Upton's Naturals, along with the Plant Based Food Association (PBFA), whose mission is "to promote the plant-based foods industry by removing obstacles to a fair and competitive marketplace for alternatives to animal ingredients and products" are taking these states to court. Similar bills are also being introduced in dozens of additional states, many with no exemptions for qualifiers, such as "meatless meatballs," "veggie burgers," or "vegan jerky." Upton's Naturals and Tofurky view the laws as an impingement on free speech and argue that consumers are not confused by these terms, they're clearly choosing vegan products over those made from dead animals. In addition to plant-based products, many of the bills also take aim at cell-cultured, lab-grown meats , which have not yet hit the market. In the meantime, delicious new vegan alternatives continue to launch around the country. To read about exciting new products from Gardein, including Nashville Hot Chick'n Tenders and Porkless Thai Curry, click here .
More Vegan Headlines
Video of the Month
Click on the photo above to watch vegan celeb, Mayim Bialik's, entertaining take on how to raise vegan kids.
VegMichigan is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization focused on promoting the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of a vegan diet. We work to educate the public by offering a wide range of activities for learning and socializing.