Vegan Camp Out
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Short description|UK based festival}}{{Infobox music festival
| name = Vegan Camp Out
| image = Vegan Camp Out 2022 Scene.jpg
| location = Various
| country = UK
| years_active = 2016–present
| first =
| attendance = 12,000 (2024)
| activity = Music, comedy, activism, educational talks, yoga, food
| URL = {{URL|vegancampout.co.uk}}
}}
Vegan Camp Out (also known as VCO) is an annual camping festival in the UK featuring music, comedy, talks, health & wellbeing activities, and various workshops. Launched in 2016, Vegan Camp Out has been held at various venues in the UK, and an additional festival also ran in Australia in 2023.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=World's largest vegan camp-out at Glenworth Valley |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2023/11/worlds-largest-vegan-camp-out-at-glenworth-valley/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Central Coast News}} It has visitors from over 40 countries regularly attending the festival each year.{{Cite web |title=Vegan Camp Out |url=https://www.vegansociety.com/news/events/vegan-camp-out |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Vegan Society }}
The festival focuses on veganism, animal rights and environmentalism. Most performers are publicly vegan, typically including influencers, activists, comedians, and musicians.
History
The festival was founded in 2016 by Jordan Martin.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-10 |title=Vegan festival to return to Newark this year, hoping to host 10,000 people |url=https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/vegan-festival-to-return-to-newark-this-year-hoping-to-host-10-000-people-9147881/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Newark Advertiser |language=en}} Martin previously co-organised the festival with artist Kate Louise Powell from 2016 to 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/thousands-set-attend-vegan-camp-3100735|title=Thousands set to attend Vegan Camp-Out where 'the vibe is chilled'|first=Dawn|last=Hinsley|date=17 July 2019|website=Lincolnshire Live}} then vegan influencer Claire Michalski in 2020{{Cite web|url=https://london.vegfest.co.uk/speakers/claire-michalski/|title=Claire Michalski}} and most recently with his sister Ellis Goodridge since 2021.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=UK's Biggest Vegan Event, Vegan Camp Out Returns for 2025 at a New Location! - Smart Vegan |url=https://smartvegan.org/uks-biggest-vegan-event-vegan-camp-out-returns-for-2025-at-a-new-location/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |language=en-US}}
Vegan Camp Out festival has received sponsorship from Viva! since 2017. The festival has changed locations multiple times, sometimes following criticism after hosting at venues with links to industries such as farming and hunting.{{Cite news |last=Bodkin |first=Henry |date=2022-05-14 |title=Vegan festival called 'hypocritical' for hosting event at shooting estate |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/14/vegan-festival-branded-hypocritical-hosting-event-shooting-estate/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
= 2016 =
The festival took place on 16–17 July 2016 at the Riddings Wood Caravan and Camping Park, Derbyshire.{{Cite web |title=The Official UK Vegan Camp Out |url=https://www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/events/official-uk-vegan-camp-out |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=The Vegan Society |language=en}}
The first Vegan Camp Out event. Around 400 people attended. Entertainment was provided by a DJ, and one food vendor was present.
= 2017 =
The festival took place on 7–9 July 2017 at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/1734821326777001|title=Vegan Camp Out 2017|website=Facebook }} Over 2,700 people attended.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/whats-on-news/controversial-peta-president-guest-vegan-1869541|title=Controversial PETA president will be guest at Vegan Camp Out in Notts|first=Lynette|last=Pinchess|date=7 August 2018|website=Nottinghamshire Live}}
Main acts included Earthling Ed, Tim Shieff, Keegan Kuhn, Patrik Baboumian, Joey Carbstrong, James Aspey, Fiona Oakes and Carl Donnelly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.veggies.org.uk/event/vegan-uk-camp-out/|title=Vegan Camp Out 2017 – Veggies Catering Campaign (Nottingham) Ltd is a collectively-run workers co-operativeEstablished on 3/9/87 in England and Wales under the companies Act 1985Company Limited by guarantee No. 2160798Registered Office: 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HXVeggies Catering Campaign (Nottingham) Ltd|date=15 April 2016}}
This was the first VCO to become a multi-day event.
= 2018 =
The festival took place on 17–19 August 2018 at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Kat |date=2018-04-28 |title=Vegan 'Carnage' Director and Comedian Simon Amstell Headlining UK's Vegan Camp Out |url=https://www.livekindly.com/vegan-carnage-director-comedian-simon-amstell-headlining-uk-vegan-camp-out/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=LIVEKINDLY |language=en-US}} More than 5,600 people attended.{{Cite web|url=https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/uk-vegan-camp-out-2018-sees-over-5600-vegans-from-over-30-countries-attend/|title=UK Vegan Camp-Out 2018 sees over 5,600 vegans from over 30 countries attend|first=Vegan Food &|last=Living|date=31 August 2018|website=Vegan Food & Living}}
Main acts included Simon Amstell, JME, Macka B, Heather Mills, Jona Weinhofen (Bring Me the Horizon/I Killed the Prom Queen), Neal Barnard, Ingrid Newkirk (PETA founder) and Melanie Joy.
= 2019 =
The festival took place on 30 August – 1 September 2019 at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.{{Cite web |title=Farm charity criticised for hosting 'sinister' vegan event |url=https://www.farminguk.com/news/farm-charity-criticised-for-hosting-sinister-vegan-event_53910.html |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=www.farminguk.com |language=en-gb}} Around 7,500 people attended.
Main acts included Akala, Shikari Sound System (Enter Shikari side project), Zak Abel, Earthling Ed, Matt Pritchard (Dirty Sanchez), James Aspey and Michael Klaper.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/22/a-vegan-camping-festival-is-coming-to-the-midlands-and-its-set-to-be-the-uks-biggest-10438108/|title=UK's biggest vegan festival is happening next month|date=22 July 2019}}
= 2020 (cancelled) =
Main festival: Originally scheduled: 21–23 August at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.
'Back to Basics': Originally scheduled: 25–26 September – Riddings Wood Caravan and Camping Park, Derbyshire.
Festival organisers initially held off from cancelling the 2020 festival despite the COVID-19 lockdown regulations, due to speculation within the events industry that restrictions might be eased by the time the festival was due to take place. The event was eventually cancelled on 8 June 2020.{{Cite web |last=Michalski |first=Claire |date=2020-06-08 |title=Event Postponed To 2021 |url=https://www.vegancampout.co.uk/post/event-postponed-to-2021 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Vegan Camp Out}} Following the cancellation of the main event, organisers announced they would be holding a smaller version of the festival, 'Back to Basics', with a lower attendance capacity of 1,000 and without stages for live entertainment.{{Cite news |date=2020-09-15 |title=Controversial vegan music festival cancelled due to Covid-19 |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/controversial-vegan-music-festival-cancelled-4518251 |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=Derbyshire Live |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} After coming under public scrutiny, the licence application was subsequently withdrawn under pressure after around 50 objections were raised by local residents of the Amber Valley area, including Derbyshire County Council's public health advisor. The council then used emergency powers to block from the application from being resubmitted.{{Cite news |date=2020-10-19 |title=Coronavirus: Call for law change after vegan festival blocked |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-54600605 |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}}
= 2021 =
The festival took place on 20–22 August 2021 at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire. 12,000 people attended.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ommagazine.com/vegan-camp-out-2022/|title=Vegan Camp Out 2022 | website=Om Yoga Magazine|date=15 March 2022}}
Main acts included Russell Brand, Chris Packham, Benjamin Zephaniah, BOSH!, Joey Carbstrong, Fiona Oakes and P Money.
= 2022 =
The festival took place on 15–18 July 2022 at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire.{{Cite web |last=Edmonds |first=Lizzie |date=2023-08-01 |title=Sam Ryder performs at festival with swollen eye after surgery to remove lump |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/sam-ryder-vegan-camp-out-festival-surgery-swollen-eye-b1097996.html |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} 12,000 people attended.
Main acts included Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), JME, Simon Amstell, Earthling Ed, Gaz Oakley, Preacher Lawson, Lucy Watson, Macka B and Bimini Bon-Boulash.{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Joanna |date=2022-02-25 |title=Vegan Camp Out 2022 Going Ahead As Covid Restrictions End |url=https://plantbasednews.org/culture/events/vegan-camp-out-covid-restrictions/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Plant Based News |language=en-GB}}
The festival took place during a heatwave (reaching {{Convert|36|°C|°F}} on the final day){{Cite web |title=Unprecedented extreme heatwave, July 2022 |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2022/2022_03_july_heatwave_v1.pdf |website=www.metoffice.gov.uk}} and a lack of water supply became an issue throughout the weekend, for which the organisers apologised on their official Facebook page.
= 2023 – UK =
The festival took place on 28–31 July 2023 at Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=Sam Ryder to headline 'world's largest vegan camping festival' |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23666503.bicester-sam-ryder-headline-vegan-camp-festival/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}
Main acts included Romesh Ranganathan, Sam Ryder, Josh Franceschi (You Me at Six), Peter Egan, BOSH!, Etherwood, Bob Vylan and Joey Carbstrong.
Some criticism was received after reports of vandalism in the local area - specifically, graffiti with the words 'go vegan' appearing in multiple places around Bicester.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-10 |title='Vegan graffiti' appears across town following festival |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23709262.bicester-suffers-vegan-graffiti-following-festival/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Oxford Mail }}
= 2023 – Australia =
The festival took place on 24–26 November 2023 in Darkinjung / Glenworth Valley, New South Wales.
Main acts included Earthling Ed, Ali Tabrizi, Patrik Baboumian, Nimai Delgado, and Tash Peterson.
= 2024 =
The festival took place on 26–29 July 2024 at Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Vegan Camp Out Festival |url=https://festivalcalendar.uk/vegan-camp-out-festival/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Festival Calendar UK }} Organisers stated that over 12,000 people attended the event.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Popular vegan festival will NOT return to Oxfordshire town next year |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24483317.vegan-camp-will-not-return-bicester-next-year/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Oxford Mail }}
Main acts included Chris Packham, Kate Nash, Earthling Ed, Simon Amstell, Peter Egan, Gaz Oakley, P Money, Macka B and Michael Greger.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=Vegan Camp Out festival to return to Bicester with celebrity appearances |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24349574.chris-packham-kate-nash-among-line-vegan-festival/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en}}
= 2025 =
The festival is scheduled for 29 August - 1 September 2025 at Bygrave Woods, Hertfordshire.{{Cite web|url=https://festivalcalendar.uk/vegan-camp-out-festival/|title=Vegan Camp Out Festival 2025 {{!}} Vegan Food & Music Festival {{!}} 28 August - 1 September|website=Festival Calendar UK|date=28 August 2025 }}
The proposed line-up includes Sara Pascoe, BOSH!, Josh Franceschi (You Me at Six), Kip Andersen, Dale Vince, Matt Pritchard (Dirty Sanchez), Etherwood, Alexis Gauthier, Zacchary Bird and Mobius Loop.{{Cite web |last=Greaves |first=Helen |date=2024-11-06 |title=The UK's biggest vegan event is returning for 2025 - here's what you need to know |url=https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/vegan-camp-out-2025-what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Vegan Food & Living }}{{better source needed|date=March 2025}}