North American Vegetarian Society Hosts 26th Annual Summerfest at UNCA

The North American Vegetarian Society’s 26th annual Summerfest, hosted by UNCA’s Special Academic Programs, opened Wednesday on the UNCA campus. The five-day conference focuses on health, nutrition, exercise, food preparation, animal rights and the environment. Some 600 participants are attending more than 80 cooking demonstrations, plenary sessions, exercise classes and social events conducted by noted movement leaders.

Friday’s highlights include sessions with Robert Cohen, founder and executive director of America’s Dairy Education Board; Ruth Heidrich, world famous triathlete and fitness trainer; Suzanne Havala, a North Carolina nutritionist and author; Ken Bergeron, vegan chef and International Culinary Olympics gold medal winner; and Dr. John McDougall, medical director at St. Helena Hospital and author of several books.

Saturday will feature sessions with Howard Lyman, cattle rancher turned vegetarian and executive director of Voice for a Viable Future; Gary Francione, Rutgers University Law professor and author; T. Colin Campbell, Cornell biochemistry professor and director of the China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project; Jennifer Raymond, author and nutritional consultant for the USDA School Lunch Program; and documentary film makers James LaVeck and Jenny Stein.

Sunday’s events wrap up the conference with sessions by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, family practitioner and author; Steven Druker, public interest attorney and founder/president of Alliance for Bio-Integrity; Karen Davis, author and founder/president of United Poultry Concerns; and Vance Lehmkuhl, author and cartoonist for Philadelphia City Paper and the New York Times Syndicate.

Summerfest events are open to the public, but seating is limited and priority will be given to pre-registered guests. Tickets are $13 for classes, $16 for plenary sessions and $20 for cooking demonstrations. Tickets must be presented at the door and may be purchased in advance at the information table in the Lipinsky Hall lobby. Please call 828/251-6059 for ticket availability.

An exhibition area located in Lipinsky Hall lobby and a specialty bookstore located in Karpen Hall room 005 are free and open to the public.

For a complete listing of events, visit the Summerfest web site or call the Summerfest information line at 828/251-6991.

Media Contacts:

• Justice Fields, Summerfest Public Information officer, 828/251-6991
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information assistant, 828/251-6526