DJ Soul Emcee’s Planet Bethesda Food & Music Festival
Posted on May 25, 2023
Contacts: Lisa DeCrescente, lisa@farmusa.org
Nicole Berger, n.berger@sustainableeartheating.org
104.1 DJ Soul Emcee’s Planet Bethesda Food & Music Festival, Shares Inspirational Health Journey and Dance Party Beats
Event Spotlights BIPOC Food Vendors, Multicultural Foods
(Bethesda, MD – May 25, 2023) When the Planet Bethesda festival returns to Elm Street Park on June 4, 2023, the party will be pumping with beats from 104.1 DJ Soul, one of the most recognizable DJ’s in the DMW. DJ Soul will also share his health journey, telling his personal story of how a health scare led him to change his eating habits and commit to veganism. American inspirational jazz musician and D.C. native Jeff Majors will join DJ Soul on stage for a not-to-be missed conversation and musical entertainment.
The Planet Bethesda festival celebrates World Environment Day and the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. With more than 45 vendors, event attendees can expect multicultural fare from a variety of cultures, including Indian, Italian, Latino and African and Caribbean. Vendors and local restaurants will offer innovative and multicultural plant-based cuisine. The festival will be held in conjunction with a National Alternative Dairy Month celebration and include a return of the popular plant-based pie eating contest,
Emphasis on BIPOC Vendors, Multicultural Cuisine
A unique aspect of Planet Bethesda is its focus on spotlighting BIPOC vendors. More than a third of participating vendors are owned and operated by individuals who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color. “We were intentional in making sure the participants reflected both the diversity of the region and the diversity in plant-based food offerings,” said event organizer Lisa DeCrescente, Farm Animal Rights Special Projects Director.
One BIPOC owner, Sabina Jules of Motherland Kitchen, who specializes in offering African and Caribbean cuisine from locations in Frederick and Northeast D.C., is excited to bring her foods to new audiences. “Our focus is introducing African vegan foods to the DMV. I strongly believe that veganism started in Africa due to the lack of financial means to add meat items to our foods. Most of our meals were completely plant-based and most of the illnesses today were not known back then.”
Anna Cobb, owner of Rejuvenation, opened her specialty plant-based energy drink business in D.C. in 2020 after experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction to an energy supplement. Her health scare coupled with her love of juicing and a degree in plant science inspired her to create a healthy alternative for people who were addicted, like herself, to highly sugary and chemically enhanced energy drinks.
Additional BIPOC vendors include BK Juices, NK NutriJuices, Health Food Nut, In The Raw with Soul, Zoe’s Vegan Delights, JusRedor, Jarabe, Troy’s Italian Kitchen, Tikka Masala, Bethesda Curry Kitchen, Custard & Cones, Rosa Bakes, Shuck Shack and the Vegan Factory.
Not Just For Foodies – Fun for All Ages
Planet Bethesda will also include an interactive Kid’s Korner with free activities, a Mad Science show, a Canine Courtyard, a Bier Garten, live Animal Ambassadors compliments of Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary and adoptable puppies from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and some insane giveaways.
The event is hosted by FARM Animal Rights Movement in association with Sustainable Earth Eating (SEE), and the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).
The event will be on June 4, 2023 from 12:00-6:00pm and is free to the public. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Elm Street Park is a two-minute walk from the Bethesda Metro Station and FREE parking is available. Dog attendance is encouraged.
For more information visit www.PlanetBethesda.com.
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About FARM
Founded in 1976, Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) is a national nonprofit organization advocating for animal rights, veganism and sustainability.
About Sustainable Earth Eating
Sustainable Earth Eating is a nonprofit organization that engages in outreach, advocacy, and educational initiatives to provide accurate information on the outsized contribution of animal agriculture to climate change.
About PCRM
The Physician’s Committee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving human and animal lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research.