EVENTS: Food Festivals for the Weekend of 9/20 [DC]

[Vegan Treats' chocolate peanut butter cheesecake on a stick from last year's VegFest; photo by Carrie Epps]

In addition to bacon, here's a selection of the other food related events going down this weekend. I hope you plan on cloning yourself/your stomach, because your belly’s gonna be full:

SATURDAY
DC VegFest
Yards Park, 11am-6pm
Free, but make sure you bring money for food and drink

DC VegFest -- or, as I like to call it, Plant-Based Christmas -- highlights the best of plant-based cuisine in the DC area. From cooking demos and food samples, a kid’s area, a dog park, and a beer and wine garden hosted by Dupont Circle’s veg-friendly pub Bread and Brew, there’s a little something for everyone at the sixth annual food fest. As for food vendors, you can’t go wrong with offerings from local mainstay Woodland's Vegan Bistro (their mac and cheese is THE BEST mac and cheese, hands down), DC's first (but not only) vegan food truck The Randy Radish (jackfruit pulled pork sandwich; get it and believe/be prepared to seriously confuse your tastebuds), and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s Vegan Treats bakery (which will have an obscene line, but trust me, it's worth it). Speakers include radio's Robin Quivers, Washington Post Food Editor (and personal hero) Joe Yonan, and eco-chef and cookbook author Bryant Terry. [Event website]

H St Festival
H St NE, between 4th and 14th Sts NE; 12-7pm
Free, but make sure you bring money for food and drink

Despite the efforts of activists and politicians, DC has not yet achieved statehood -- doesn’t mean we can’t party state fair-style. The annual H Street Festival is designed to highlight its eponymous neighborhood, but it also manages to capture -- in my estimation in any case -- an accurate reflection of the current demographic state of the District. I’ve never seen such diversity: old and young; black, white and brown; new residents and DC area natives. And while there will be performances (previous performers include HR from Bad Brains), fashion shows, and an appearance from the Washington Nationals’ Racing Presidents, the H St festival does not skimp on the food and drink options. H St is a nightlife hub, lousy with great bars and restaurants, and the festival consistently does a great job highlighting what’s good to eat and drink. This year’s iteration boasts 70 restos, food trucks, and vendors (getchu some fried Oreos) in attendance, and, per tradition, more beer gardens and patios than you can shake a stick at. Do not miss this. [Event website]

DC State Fair
Old City Farm & Guild, 925 Rhode Island Ave NW; 12-7 pm
Free, but make sure you bring money for food and drink

Speaking of state fairs, a lower-key affair is to be found at the DC State Fair held at Old City Farm & Guild, a nursery in the heart of Shaw. Highlighting the homegrown talents of District residents, expect contests a-plenty (pie, ice cream, and pickles for example). Vendors include coffeeshop Cafe Diem, Thunder Beast root beer, Tres Creole Catering, Whisked! bakery, and a beer garden sponsored by Union Market. [Event website]

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
District Oktoberfest
Restaurants all over Chinatown/Penn Quarter; 12-8pm
Ticket prices range from $45-$80

If you like your beer in abundance, and prefer to drink for extended periods of time, get your liver ready for District Oktoberfest. Over the course of eight hours, celebrants can imbibe a full 12oz pour at each participating restaurant, and there are eight, so, you know, pace yourself. I’m not sure a two-day long pub crawl is what Bavarians had in mind when they held festivals to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, but ‘Murica. Lederhosen optional. [Event website]