Texas State Veggie Fair Fries No Animal Friends

This weekend's the second annual Texas State Veggie Fair, which is not actually at the State Fair of Texas but at lovely Winfrey Point on White Rock Lake. It's like the State Fair in that there are carnival games, music and food vendors, but unlike the State Fair in that it's free to attend and the food is all vegan, all the time. Vendors include the new Jackalope Mobile Kitchen, Dallas' first vegan food truck, and its fancy Chicago pedigree. Also on the roster: The Denton Vegan Cooperative, Gennarino's, Hail Merry, Holy Combucha, Little Eden Bakery, NadaMoo! and the Spiral Diner.

And lest folks think vegans don't party like the rest of the State Fair folks, there's also a kick-off celebration at the Sons of Hermann Hall this Saturday night, with "decadent vegan hors d'oeuvres," benefiting Mercy For Animals. Here's the press release:

ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUP CELEBRATES TEXAS STATE VEGGIE FAIR WITH OFFICIAL KICK-OFF PARTY IN DALLAS

Guests Entertained Over Decadent Vegan Hors D’Oeuvres, Drinks, and Live Music

Dallas, TX — On Saturday, October 22, Mercy For Animals, a national, non-profit animal protection organization with an office in Dallas, is holding the Official Kick-Off Party for the Texas State Veggie Fair. Hosted by MFA’s Executive Director Nathan Runkle, the Kick-Off Party will raise funds to support Mercy For Animals’ lifesaving work to protect farmed animals from cruelty and abuse.

Set in the traditional Texas ballroom of the Sons of Hermann Hall, guests will dance to the DJ stylings of Andy Svoboda and enjoy delicious vegan hors d’oeuvres provided by local caterers and restaurants, including V Spot, Spiral Diner, Crosby Catering, and more. Guests will also enjoy a raffle and silent auction, and hear about MFA’s inspiring work.

Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011

Time: 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Location: Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St., Dallas, TX

The exciting event is the official kick-off party for the much anticipated Texas State Fair, a free, daylong festival complete with vegetarian fried food contests, live music, carnival games for the whole family, educational speakers, and delicious food. Visit www.texasstateveggiefair.com for more information.

“Vegetarianism is a growing trend in Texas as more and more people recognize that replacing meat, dairy and eggs with plant-based alternatives is a great way to protect their health, the health of the planet, and animals,” says Nora Kramer, Mercy For Animals’ Texas Campaign Coordinator. “Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or just veg-curious, the Texas State Veggie Fair and Kick-Off Party are the perfect way to get a taste of vegetarian living.”

Advance tickets are just $20, and tickets are $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at http://texasveggieparty.com/. All proceeds go to Mercy For Animals’ work to protect farmed animals from needless suffering.

Mercy For Animals is a national non-profit animal advocacy organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals and promoting compassionate food choices and policies. With offices in Dallas, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Columbus, OH, MFA works to be a voice for animals through proactive consumer education and advertising campaigns, research and undercover investigations, rescues, working with news media, and grassroots activism.