National Vegetarian Week

Many vegetarians follow a meat-free diet in an attempt to lower the pressure meat production places on the environment. According to wikipedia.org, growing crops for farm animals requires nearly half of the United States’ water supply and 80% of its agricultural land.

National Vegetarian Week (NVW) is perfect for veggie events large and small, from pop-up themed veggie dining and street food experiences to large scale foodie festivals.

The Week is the annual awareness-raising campaign promoting inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle. Celebrated by the Vegetarian Society since 1992, the Week is now an established event that gets bigger and better every year. It runs from the third Monday of May to Sunday (seven days).

The Vegetarian Society is a charity that influences, inspires and supports people to embrace and maintain a vegetarian lifestyle. Being a vegetarian is a choice that is kinder to animals, to people and to our living planet. Established in 1847, Society are the oldest vegetarian organisation in the world.

There is also the International Vegetarian Week (IVW), October 1 to 7, where many events promoting the vegetarian lifestyle take place in several nations of the world. This annual week begins with World Vegetarian Day.

We should also mention the VegWeek, event held in April, which starts on the third Monday of the month. That’s a nationwide (and increasingly international) campaign empowering thousands of people to pledge to choose vegetarian foods for at least seven days as a way to discover the many benefits and flavors of vegetarian eating. Every time we choose a meat-free meal, we can protect our health, the planet, and animals!

Compassion Over Killing - first launched VegWeek in 2009 with inspiration from Maryland Senator Jamie Raskin who commented during a media interview that a simple way each of us could help protect the planet is to choose vegetarian foods at least one week out of the year. The first-ever Takoma Park VegWeek celebration was created - and Sen. Raskin who represented the Maryland District where COK is based - was the first person to officially sign up for the 7-day Veg Pledge!

Also recall that World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated on 1 November, by vegans around the world and World Vegetarian Day is observed annually on October 1.

There are 52 weeks in a year. Why not make one of them vegetarian?

Source: vegsoc.org | usvegweek.com | nationalvegetarianweek.org

In 2025 National Vegetarian Week in USA falls on May 19.