Senior Voice -

Registration is open for Alaska’s first-ever “VegFest,” a day-long event Sept. 6 in Anchorage focusing on vegetarian and vegan lifestyle choices. Activities include keynote presentations by three internationally known authors, cooking demonstrations and an organic lunch provided by Organic Oasis (included with cost of registration).

Organizers say similar events are popular in other parts of the country.

“As people become more health conscious, as awareness grows of the meat industry’s addition to greenhouse gases, and as the plight of farm animals gets more attention, Americans are becoming more and more interested in a plant-based diet,” VegFest PR Coordinator Elaine Albertson wrote in a press statement.

Speakers include:

• Julieanna Hever, MS, RD, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition,” and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Gluten-Free Vegan Cooking”

• Janice Stanger, Ph. D, author of “The Perfect Formula Diet: How to Lose Weight and Get Healthy Now with Six Kinds of Whole Foods”

• Rae Sikora, co-author of “Plant Peace Daily: Everyday Outreach for People Who Care,” and co-author of the Plant Peace Daily blog and website.

The event will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 825 S. Klevin St., from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Cost is $40, or $45 if registering after Aug. 24. Discount available for Alaska Vegan Society members.

For more information and online registration, visit http://www.AlaskaVegFest.com. Or call 373-1526.