FOODIES will be delighted to hear a celebrity entrance will launch the sixth annual Reading Vegan Festival.

The upcoming festival will be opened by a Downton Abbey star on Saturday, September 16, reading for families and festival-goers to enjoy the free event.

Downton Abbey actor and animal rights activist Peter Egan will be opening the festival at the entrance of The Market House at 11am.

The festival will host over fifty stalls selling a wide range of vegan products: including cakes, plant-based street food, and ethical and eco-friendly gifts. There will also be charity stands.

Aside from shopping, there will also be a programme of talks and workshops which will include campaigners, bodybuilders, a meditation expert, and appearance from comedian Carl Donnelly.

A new addition this year will be an after-party with a DJ.

The event, running from 11-4pm, is suitable for all ages with a host of children’s activities, such as free face painting, craft workshops, bubble artists, and story time.

Attendees will also receive free goodies from Lindt Chocolate, Fruit-tella Sweets, Linwoods Flaxseed, and Bird & Blend teas (while stocks last).

The festival is 100 per cent ethical and exclusively for Vegan businesses to trade. Organisers say the festival’s mission is to support vegan businesses and to help promote kindness towards animals, the environment, and human health.

Sarah Zeneli, from Reading Vegan Festival, said: “Reading Vegan Festival is a fantastic event to raise awareness in the community about veganism and to showcase it as the fun, friendly and cruelty-free lifestyle that it is.

"We are also very excited to be working with The Market House again who are turning completely vegan for the event. This year we will also be expanding down the whole length of Broad Street, so will be taking over even more of the town centre.”

More information can be found at www.sparkleveganevents.com/readingveganfestival and on Facebook and Instagram: @rdgveganfest.