The festive event which is now in its fourth year was organised by Pudz Animal Sanctuary, which is based in South Killingholme, North Lincolnshire.
The festival was held at the County Assembly Rooms and hosted a variety of exhibitors, who sold a large selection of ethical and sustainable products, as well as vegan fish and chips, pizza and cakes.
Co-director of Pudz Animal Sanctuary Ian Fairless said: “We have a range of stallholders and here, at the festival they can show to the public what they’re doing.”
One business called Becky’s Emporium which is based in a small village called Tattershall; located in Lincolnshire’s East Lindsey district, sold a range of cruelty-free soaps and bath bombs.
Owner Becky Leech believes that it is ‘important to raise awareness’ on veganism.
She said: “I have done a lot of activism in both London and Lincoln, and what is changing now is that people are actually going out and talking about it.”
The aim of the festival is to raise awareness on vegan living, animal welfare and the environment.
Mr Fairless said: “Veganism isn’t just within the local community, it’s worldwide and people are now getting more information about global warming, and the effects of intensive animal farming which has a negative impact on the climate.”
The Lincoln Christmas Vegan Festival was originally set up in order to help raise funds for Pudz Animal Sanctuary, which was founded by Shena and Ian Fairless in November 2013.
“We have got everything at the sanctuary, it’s all small animals and we also rescue wildlife.
“With the wildlife our aim is to rehabilitate them and then to try and introduce them back into the wild again, which we have had a lot of success with,” said Mr Fairless.
