14 Reasons Why Pitchfork Music Festival Is Vegan Paradise

Chance The Rapper, Wilco, and Sleater-Kinney perform this weekend as part of the 10th annual Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, and the abundant vegan options will amp fans even more for this stand-out three-day event. The summer festival’s 50,000 attendees won’t have to worry about smuggling energy bars in a fanny pack: up to two-thirds of food vendors are serving plant-based options. In between moshing and noshing, concert-goers can check-in with animal-friendly sponsors One Tail at a Time Adoption Center, Heartland Small Animal Rescue, and Mercy For Animals.

Goose Island Beer Company: Headliner Chance The Rapper has collaborated with Goose Island for a vegan Helles-style lager called No Collar. If this Chi-town-only brew doesn’t excite you, Goose Island offers 11 other vegan beers; just watch out for The Muddy stout, which is not vegan-friendly.

BAKE: This Chicago bakery serves popsicles with exciting summer flavors such as roasted peach, black raspberry, strawberry watermelon, pink lemonade, and cherry popsicles, all made from locally sourced fruit.

Big Delicious Planet: Who says you can’t find healthy food at a festival? The Vegan Salad Box uses organic vegetables and herbs from Big Delicious Planet’s urban farm in Chicago’s West Town.

Black Dog Gelato: This gourmet creamery, named after the founder’s black dog Kaya, offers a unique Blood Orange Sorbet piled high in a cone.

Café Bustelo: This pop-up has your caffeine fix with Cuban-style espresso.

The Chicago Diner: The vegan menu offered by this local diner never disappoints Pitchfork attendees. Fan favorites include gyros, cheesy waffle fries, hand-dipped corn dogs, vegan bacon, and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. They’re also serving a brand-new hand-battered chocolate chip cheesecake on a stick for your insatiable sweet tooth.

Chubby Wieners: Craving traditional festival fare? This hot dog joint has you covered with its Vegan Viener—we dare you to keep a straight face when you’re ordering.

Dia De Los Tamales: Known for crafting “Revolutionary Tamales,” this eco-conscious kitchen is offering vegan Spicy Black Bean & Corn Tamale with salsa roja.

Estrella Negra: Snackers beware: this Mexican gourmet street food specialist will have you coming back for seconds of their chips with mango or roja salsa, sweet potato churro fries, and corn kernel tamales.

Goddess and Grocer: A regular caterer at festivals, this eatery will serve Vegetable Curry & Rice Wrap. It’s no wonder Justin Timberlake and plant-based Miley Cyrus are fans.

Virtue Cider: This Michigan-based vegan cider company is pouring its craft Prince Hal and Lapinette, made from local heirloom apples.

Whole Foods Market: Grocery stores don’t frequent music festivals often, but with Whole Foods on the scene, fresh apples, bananas, cherries, strawberries, Kettle Brand chips, Primal vegan jerky, and TruJoy Sweets Choco Chews are only a line away.

Wishbone: Wishbone hasn’t forgotten vegans, cooking up a black bean burger with mango salsa, kale salad with soy ginger dressing, and Hoppin’ John salad.

More Booze: Enjoy the Don Julio tequila and Deep Eddy Vodka, but steer clear of Dark Horse Wine—which is filtered with animal products such as fish bladder and gelatin.