Meet Katie from Vegan Events Gloucestershire
Having been the home of Gloucester’s annual Vegan Christmas Market since 2017, we thought it was time to introduce you to the person that works so hard to make the events happen. Meet Katie, co-founder of Vegan Events Gloucestershire.
Tell us a little bit about you and your business
My name is Katie I am from Gloucester, I now live in Cheltenham with my husband and our cat Jazzie and new rescue puppy Gertie.
Vegan Events Gloucestershire was born when a friend decided in 2017 that we should put on an event in Gloucester because there were never any vegan fairs on locally. I had gone vegan after attending the Cheltenham Vegan Fair in 2016 and wanted to get involved to help others and promote veganism in Gloucester. The first Gloucester Vegan Christmas Market happened in December 2017. I now run Tewkesbury Vegan Fair every September as well as the Christmas Market every December.
Shoppers Sample the Hundreds of Options Available at the Vegan Christmas Market
What three words would you use to describe Vegan Events Gloucestershire?
Vegan Events Gloucestershire covers the practical description! I would say otherwise the business can be described as ethical, vegan, and local.
What’s your biggest highlight to date?
The first Christmas Market took us so by surprise by being so popular, but seeing so many people come back year after year is the highlight for me. I love that people come from outside Gloucestershire and have made it part of their festive traditions now, some will also visit other attractions in Gloucester and make a day of it like visiting the cathedral or the quays.
What inspired you to get into event planning?
I love putting on a day that people enjoy and seeing everyone having a great time. I also wanted to promote veganism in a positive way, and show that you can still have a lovely Christmas time with all cruelty free and vegan food and gifts. I have had lots of people attend who are in the verge of making the lifestyle change and have made the transition after attending the events, which is what I did back in 2016 when I attended my first vegan fair.
Guests enjoy the variety of food vendors in Blackfriars’ cloister garden
What drew you to organise events at Blackfriars?
The venue is a hidden gem in the city centre, it’s so beautiful and feels like you are away form it all but actually really central and accessible! The venue staff are also amazing with helping with all of the set up and on the day.
Anything exciting coming up?
We are back with the Gloucester Vegan Christmas Market at Blackfriars on Sunday 5th December, its great to be back after not being able to put it on last year and we have an amazing trader list lined up of 50+ local and vegan small businesses.