Justine de JongeHow long have you been vegan for, and what drew you to the lifestyle? Also, have you always lived in Adelaide?
My vegan lifestyle began around 8 years ago. This year is actually my 30th year without eating animal flesh and I am almost embarrassed it took me so long to go vegan. I thought being vegetarian was enough for the animals when I actually had no idea, or exposure, as to what was happening in the egg and dairy industries. Once I learned more I had to adapt my lifestyle to align with my beliefs. This is one of the driving factors in the Vegan Festival and other events I run. As with most vegans, I wish I had done it sooner. I believe education is the key whether this be through exploring new foods, learning about the realities animals endure or running workshops and demonstrations in our city. Adelaide has been my home for most of my life with a time spent in in the UK & interstate.
In my view, Adelaide is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Australia. How would you describe your hometown to another vegan who hasn’t yet visited?
South Australia has always been known to be a leader in social change, so it just makes sense that veganism is such a strong movement here. Adelaide is also a huge ‘foodie’ city with amazing restaurants and market gardens and chefs who are willing to take on the challenge of creating stand out plant based meals. The vegan restaurant and café scene is continuing to grow, even during covid times, we have actually seen a number of new venue’s arrive which is amazing. It would be hard to go anywhere to dine these days that does not have vegan options available as the demand for cruelty free food increases.
You are the Director & Festival Coordinator for Vegan Festival Adelaide, and you’ve been in the role for five years plus two as a volunteer. Can you give us a snapshot of your journey in this role and how the festival has evolved since its inception in 2007?
I had been to the festival as a guest a few times over the years and when I was asked to join as a volunteer in 2015 I jumped at the chance to put my event management skills and my passion for veganism together. The festival had around 1,500 people in 2007 & now excitedly hosts around 15,000 over the two day event. Not only does it attract vegans, but entices the general public who keep hearing the word vegan, and well, want to see what all the fuss is about! It has been an absolute privilege to be facilitating such a wonderful event where I get to meet some incredible businesses and meet people who really are making a positive impact on our planet.
How do you and your team keep creating an innovative festival program year after year? Is it getting easier, now that veganism is becoming more popular?
It is definitely getting easier to fill our program, there are some hugely motivating vegan warriors out there and each year things evolve within the movement bringing new information, stories and inspiration to share. The festival is a both a chance to celebrate and educate and this lets us get really creative finding ways to entice vegans, and ‘pre-vegans’ along. SA is known as The Festival State, with the event held over two days in the gorgeous tree filled parklands it’s positive reputation see’s crowds growing each year. It is so exciting to see people count down the days until our event as if it is Vegan Xmas!
Do you have one festival moment that stands out for you? What makes this moment so special?
When the gates open on day one! I remember the first time we had a line up at the gate and I felt overwhelmed with joy at how many people cared! How many vegans there now were that they would line up to come to our event. Every year now this is my favourite moment, seeing people start lining up well before opening time with huge smiles and a buzz of excitement.
Vegan Festival Adelaide is unique in the sense that some of its sponsors are state government bodies. How important are government supporters of vegan events like this? What role can they play in terms of veganism in Australia? Perhaps veganism is more accepted in Adelaide when compared to other cities in Australia?
We are honoured to have the support of the SA Tourism Commission and the City of Adelaide. Each year we reduced our waste and promote sustainability which aligns with the councils objectives, and just fits with a vegan lifestyle. As vegan businesses increase in our state and the awareness for the environment grows, our festival showcases how limiting our impact on our planet can be achieved. Having state government support and their belief in us says a lot about how accepted being vegan is becoming and we are thrilled to be accepted by the Adelaide community so warmly. There is still a long way to go with acceptance for living a compassionate lifestyle, a fact that always shocks me, but things are changing, there is so much more on offer from food, to products and more conversations.
As a Melburnian who has experienced Vegan Festival Adelaide, it is a lovely festival that is well-positioned in Adelaide’s CBD on the land of the Kaurna people. You can’t ignore the festival’s inclusive vibe. Anyone – humans and pets – can walk in off the street, join in and enjoy it and explore all facets of veganism. Why does inclusivity play such a pivotal role in the festival?
We want a vegan world right? Including and inviting as much of the community as we can works toward that goal. As with so many aspects of veganism, the festival is marketed as a main stream event where people can come have fun, be entertained, taste incredible food and while they are there, they just might learn a thing or two. It is a great vibe, like living in our vegan bubble for two days and the excitement is contagious, for long term vegans, the v-curious and even for pre-vegans.
COVID-19 has put a pause on a lot of events around Australia. How has the pandemic affected your festival plans and how have you overcome the challenges faced thus far?
It has for so many around the world, been the most challenging and uncertain of times. Adhering to government regulations, which often change daily, is exhausting but I think the reason we have been so successful getting festivals across the line is that it is more than just an event. This is my biggest piece of activism each year, there is a reason for the festival, more than purely entertainment as other events may be. The vegan festival really has purpose and stands for something for so many of us, here, interstate and overseas believe in. The animals, our planet, and human health, need a vegan world now more than ever. Giving up on trying to get the message out there, really is not an option.
Vegan Festival Adelaide is scheduled for late October this year. What can visitors to the festival expect?
Fabulous food, like minded people, dogs to pat and cruelty free products to purchase. Live local musicians (we hire vegan bands!), huge range of workshops from fitness, to fostering, Seaspiracy with some Sea Shepherd crew, Doctors for Nutrition will share the benefits of plant based eating and Kathy Divine is hosting a Vegans in Politics panel (including AJP’s Andy Meddick, Georgie Purcell and Louise Pfeiffer!). We may have to combine live and streamed aspects of our program again this year, but are ever hopeful that the borders will open in time. Kids have two full days of activities from nature play to a Halloween monster mash disco. Cooking demonstrations to inspire from the likes of Simon Toohey from Ten’s Freshly Picked and Adam Guthrie showing delicious WFPB meals and fun kitchen banter with Haans Siver from Bare Cravings. This years event has a really strong female focus and I am thrilled to see more and more women rising to the forefront of the movement. I simply cannot wait to welcome everyone to the 2021 Vegan Festival Adelaide.
For all the details, head over to https://www.veganfestival.info/
