A major vegan fair to take place in Tallinn this weekend

This Saturday and Sunday, October 12-13, the 14th Vegan Fair ’Veganmess’ will be held at Tallinn’s Creative Hub, showcasing plant-based products and the vegan lifestyle. The event will feature discussions, presentations, a film screening, and workshops over two days and on two stages. There will also be a children's area.

"This year’s theme is dreaming. We invite everyone to dream big and imagine the environment they wish to live in, their culinary dreams, or what a dream world could look like," said Vegan Fair project manager Regly Johanson. "Throughout the two days, we’ll bring inspiring presentations and panels to the stage, encouraging more dreaming," Johanson added.

On both Saturday and Sunday, well-known and exciting local and international speakers will take the stage. On October 12, a video link with the world-famous Ed Winters, also known as Earthling Ed, will be featured. Earthling Ed is a globally recognized British vegan, animal rights activist, public speaker, YouTuber, content creator, and best-selling author. His YouTube speech "You Will Never Look at Your Life in the Same Way Again" has been viewed over 4.6 million times. On Sunday, Ken Spector, one of the owners of the popular HappyCow app and website, will speak about the latest vegan trends. HappyCow is the world’s largest guide to vegan and vegetarian restaurants and shops.

In addition, over the two days, attendees can listen to panels and presentations on the development and market introduction of vegan products in large retail chains, reducing food waste, the intelligence of plants, vegan soldiers on Ukraine's front lines, vegephobia, and pet ownership culture. Practical workshops will cover topics such as vegan parenting, growing microgreens, making vegan cheeses and natural cosmetics, and modern, animal-centered, empathetic dog training.

Speakers and workshop leaders include Tiina Toomet, Jaan Mettik, Maru Metspalu, Meelik Samel, Marit Mäesaar, Mikk Mägi, and other experts in their fields.

The Vegan Fair will also screen the documentary Eating for Tomorrow (USA), narrated by Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet. The film features voices from Sir Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, and leading ocean scientist Sylvia Earle. Before the screening, there will be a video call with producer Mark Galvin.

During a charitable flash tattoo event, attendees can adorn their bodies with vegan tattoos and support the animal-friendly beauty program LILU.

The Vegan Fair will be open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on October 12 and from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on October 13. Tickets cost €10 in advance and €15 on the day of the event. Children 12 and under can attend for free. Tickets are available on Fienta.com and at the event venue. The first 100 visitors who have purchase tickets will receive a gift bag.

The Vegan Fair is organized by the marketing company Vegekspert and the animal protection organization MTÜ Loomus. Sponsors include R-Kiosk and Deary. Tallinn Vegan Fair is the oldest vegan lifestyle fair in the Baltics, dating back to 2011.

Vegan Fair 2024 Program:

SATURDAY 12.10
11:15-11:45: Anu Tensing (Loomus) – “Can We Live Without Exploiting Animals?”
12:00-12:30: Vegan Cheese-Making Workshop (Helene vegan kitchen)
12:00-13:00: Tiina Toomet, Kersti Seksel, Anni-Anete Mõisamaa (MTÜ Varjupaikade), Geit Karurahu (Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals) – “A Dream of a Just and Caring Coexistence with Pets”
13:00-13:40: Microgreens Workshop (Marit Mäesaar)
13:15-14:15: Dario Martinelli (Italian Semiotician) – “A Top 5 of Missed Steaks” (presentation in English)
14:10-15:10: Britt Purdelo – “Dog Body Language and Human Body Language in Relation to Dogs”
14:30-15:15: Jaan Mettik (Tallinn Botanic Garden) – “The Unknown Wisdom of Familiar Plants”
15:30-16:30: Maru Metspalu, textile and food artist – “Dreaming of a World Where Food Doesn’t Harm, in Words or Deeds...”
15:30-16:15: “Dreaming That Food Doesn't End Up in the Trash!” (Tartu Food Sharing)
16:45-17:30: Earthling Ed (UK) – “How to Be Vegan in a Non-Vegan World” (presentation in English)
18:00: Film Screening – Eating for Tomorrow, followed by a video call with producer Mark Galvin

SUNDAY 13.10
11:30-12:30: Peeter Tava (Thormi – plant-based meat alternative), Margus Vetka (Deary, Tere Piim), Marilin Jürisson (Rimi Estonia), Triin Remmelgas (Mati Foods) – “The Journey from Dream to Supermarket Shelves: Challenges of Launching New Products and the Role of Retail Chains”
12:00-13:00: “Natural Beauty Care with Medicinal Herbs” (Rosehippie)
12:45-13:45: Ken Spector (HappyCow Vegan Guide & Community, USA) – “Global Vegan News and Trends” (presentation in English)
13:00-13:40: Microgreens Workshop (Marit Mäesaar)
14:00-14:45: Mikk Mägi (Vegan Restaurant V) – “On the Ukrainian Front Lines: Diaries of Vegan Soldiers”
14:00-15:00: “Discussion for Parents of Vegan Children: Tips and Tricks” (Liisa-Indra Pajuste)
15:00-15:45: Meelik Samel (musician, Meelik) – “Why Are Vegans So Annoying?”