• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

An a-maize-ing time at Sarasota Veg Fest

Vendors selling everything from gluten-free cookies to environmentally friendly soap filled the Sarasota fairgrounds.


  • By Brynn Mechem
  • | 5:41 p.m. May 4, 2019
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • Share

Guests were greeted by a giant talking carrot as they entered Sarasota Veg Fest, but the fun didn't stop there. 

Once inside, visitors could peruse various vendors selling anything from environmentally-conscious T-shirts to kombucha drinks. 

Kids were jumping on trampolines, making their way through blow-up courses and bouncing around in zorb balls. 

In addition to food and merchandise, animals such as dogs, horses, bunnies and cats were up for adoption. 

Tom Bardroff greeted guests as they arrived to Veg Fest.
Tom Bardroff greeted guests as they arrived to Veg Fest.
Maisie Pacinelli slides down an inflatable course.
Maisie Pacinelli slides down an inflatable course.
Visitors could buy EcoJoía shirts.
Visitors could buy EcoJoía shirts.
Molly Moore and Karen Black show off their gluten-free, vegan-free product.
Molly Moore and Karen Black show off their gluten-free, vegan-free product.
Olivia Hamilton tries to do a flip on a trampoline.
Olivia Hamilton tries to do a flip on a trampoline.
Nadja Marks-Shafton paints Sam Hard, who requested to look like Voldemort.
Nadja Marks-Shafton paints Sam Hard, who requested to look like Voldemort.
Jackson and Sam Lara enjoyed running into each other in their zorb balls.
Jackson and Sam Lara enjoyed running into each other in their zorb balls.
Jared and Nathaniel Barden
Jared and Nathaniel Barden
Juliet, the moluccan cockatoo, was on display.
Juliet, the moluccan cockatoo, was on display.
Elizabeth Palmer got creative with paint.
Elizabeth Palmer got creative with paint.
Guests could pet a hanovi standardbred gelding.
Guests could pet a hanovi standardbred gelding.
Kendal DaSilvia snuggled up with lab/retriever mix Fiona.
Kendal DaSilvia snuggled up with lab/retriever mix Fiona.

 

Latest News

Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
Part of the renovation of Fruitville Library is a new History Center, replacing a building in Osprey a document calls "aging and inadequate to house the county's collections of historic artifacts.''
  • December 12, 2025
Fruitville Library renovations begin with Dec. 18 closure
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

A Kwanzaa display rests on the table during the event.
  • December 11, 2025
Kwanzaa celebration prepares community for the holiday
  • December 11, 2025
Monday’s Child is Fair of Face
  • December 11, 2025
Florida Families Can Help Neighbors and Celebrate an Energy-Efficient Holiday
Sarasota Deputy Police Chief Scott Mayforth delights a young shopper at a previous Shop with a Cop event.
  • December 10, 2025
Shop with a Cop event returns Saturday
Jolly (Flynn Nolen, center) is surrounded by the other characters including Candy (Christiana Allison), Mrs. Claus (Jillian Hurley), Jangle (Ray Barber), Tinsel (Vanessa Smith), Jingle (Mareece Love) and Santa Claus (Dellan Short).
  • December 9, 2025
'Deck the Halls' celebrates the holidays, Sarasota-style
With a sparkle in his eye and a wave of the hand, jolly old St. Nick illuminated the lights on St. Armands Circle's 60-foot Christmas tree at a lighting festival on Dec. 5.
  • December 7, 2025
St. Armands celebrates magical Christmas tree lighting

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now