Every year for the past few years, I’ve always wanted to go to Vegan Campout, but since I don’t have any vegan friends, I’ve always passed up the opportunity. That is until 2025, when I stopped to think about just how silly that logic is! I’ve solo-travelled, moved cross-country on my own, and made amazing new friends as I’ve moved from city to city. I often talk about not waiting for the ‘perfect’ time, or the ‘right’ person to start living your life – it was time to practice what I preached.
The drive was long, which gave me plenty of time to think – or rather overthink. With my windscreen wipers on top speed, I couldn’t help but toy with the idea of turning back and crawling into my lovely, comfy, warm, dry bed. But I really had come too far. I decided to pull in at the services just before the festival grounds and sit in my car waiting for the rain to pass. I popped in to use the loos and get myself something to eat. Then I sat in my car and waited.
I waited and waited until it felt silly to wait any longer. This is British summer after all, sunshine is never guaranteed. In the end, I just had to force myself to bite the bullet. I arrived soggy, cold, and rather apprehensive. ‘What have I got myself into?’ I thought. Solo travelling is one thing, but a festival? That’s something you enjoy with friends. I felt a pang of loneliness as I watched others around me sprint through the rain, laughing and joking with their mates. All the while, as I slowly trudged through the mud, lugging a huge trolley full of stuff (look, I’ve always been an overpacker), and questioning my life choices.
As I made my way up to the solo camping area, I tried to scan for a decent-sized pitch, preferably next to someone who looked friendly. The problem was, everyone was taking shelter in their tents as the rain continued, barely a soul in sight. I picked a spot and got to work. As I did, the rain eased, and I felt that this brief pause in the floods must be a sign from the universe that I’m in the right place. A little nudge of encouragement.
But before I had even got my tent out of the bag, a head popped out of a nearby tent with an offer of assistance. Before I knew it, two more girls appeared, and we were all working against the clock (for the imminent downpour) to get my tent up. I was wholeheartedly touched by the sense of community I seemed to have stumbled into.
Throughout the weekend, it really just kept getting better. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get talking to and make friends with all the people around me. As someone who has never had many vegan people in their life, it was utterly inspiring to see so much kindness, community, and compassion in one place.
There were talks from some incredible vegan activists, companies, chefs and more. A huge range of activities for just about everyone – from yoga & breathwork workshops, to karaoke and drag queens. So let’s break it down.
Food
Let’s get onto the exciting stuff – FOOD. Boy, was I spoilt for choice. My fellow vegans will know the struggle of having one or maybe two options in most places; so suddenly having access to over 40 vendors in one place, all serving 100% plant-based goodness… I WAS IN HEAVEN!
I have to say, my absolute highlight food-wise (from a company I have been dying to try for a very, very long time) was the Hogless Burger from The Hogless Roast. Now, this seriously was everything I dreamed of and more. Warm, chewy, crispy, hearty. Heaven.
There are vendors for just about every cuisine you could be craving, whether that’s stonebaked Italian pizza, warming Thai noodle & rice bowls, or indulgent American junk food treats. The great thing about camping for the weekend is getting to try a huge variety of dishes, with the toughest decision each day being what to eat next.
Each year, the VCO team scouts out the best vegan vendors in the country and releases a star-studded list just before the festival takes place. So if you’re planning on going this year, make sure to keep your eyes peeled on their social media for this year’s lineup. They also boast that typically over half of the vendors each year will have gluten-free options, making it accessible for all dietary requirements.
In alignment with the festival’s green credentials, a plastic-free policy is in place for all vendors. So expect to get your food in cardboard boxes and bowls, with wooden cutlery and recycled napkins. It really is the little things like this, in my opinion, that make the festival so truly special.
For drinks, they have several bars, all of which are pretty reasonably priced – definitely the fairest prices I’ve found at a festival. Of course, you can also bring your own drinks into the campsites (although this is prohibited in the arena). The festival organisers ask that you only bring vegan products into the grounds, so whether you’re a strict vegan or vegan-curious, make sure you double-check the ingredients list of the food & drinks you’re bringing with you.
Activities
Like most festivals, there is an abundance of music here, and the great thing is that no matter what your taste is, there will be something for you. One of the things I really love about VCO is their huge range of genres all in one place. I find most other music festivals tend to stick to one or two genres, but here they really have it all: from pop to heavy metal, to country, reggae, rap and more. By day, you’ll find a range of performers doing live shows, and by night, you’ll find DJ sets playing great tunes well into the night.
Now, if you head to the Main Stage, you’ll find my favourite part of the festival – the talks. Expect to see various passionate speakers, activists and pillars of the vegan community here to speak about their experiences, inspirations and meaningful work. The guest speakers they have had on this stage over the years have been incredible, and you can best believe you will leave feeling utterly inspired. They often have comedians at the main stage too, which is a great way to keep things fun and light-hearted.
Head over to the Mind & Body stage where you’ll find yoga, meditation, and fitness & health classes. And make sure to check out the Education Stage if you’re looking for interactive talks and workshops. But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll also find stalls selling clothes, jewellery and homeware; a spa, funfair rides, a skate ramp, and so much more. Some of the highlights for me last year were the drag shows, speed dating event, and line dancing! So please trust me when I say, this is a festival you can truly never get bored at.
The brilliant thing about the performers and speakers here is that they only invite vegan people! So whether it’s a singer, artist, comedian or activist, you know they’re also a plant-based warrior. I think this is so special and in keeping with the community feel of the entire festival.
Camping
As I mentioned previously, I opted for the solo camping area, but they also have general camping, family camping (for those bringing children), quiet camping, accessible camping, motorhome camping and VIP camping. And if you’re not prepared with the right equipment, you can either make use of the pre-pitched or glamping tents.
Maybe you’ve got a tent but realise you’re missing something essential, or maybe you brought a blow-up mattress, and it’s got a hole in it (which you realise at 3 am when you wake up on the cold, hard ground). Well then Circular Camping has you covered. Circular Camping are partnered with VCO and are responsible for salvaging tents, sleeping bags and other essential camping gear to be re-purposed and re-used for many festivals to come. Essentially, they collect donated and discarded camping gear from festivals all over the country, saving them from going to landfill and giving them a new lease of life after a thorough quality check. And once you’re done with them over the weekend, if you don’t have the space or capacity to take them home, you just donate them back to the shop so they can be reused again!
In my experience, the camping area is where you can make the best connections. My best advice is to bring a camping chair (or buy one from circular camping!) and when possible, sit outside your tent rather than in it. Don’t be afraid to get chatting and you might just end up with a wholesome little campsite where you can all sit round chatting and laughing.
VCO offers the opportunity to purchase an extra day, meaning you come on the Thursday instead of the Friday. I did do this when I went last year as I was feeling anxious about finding a pitch but please know this is totally not necessary. Sure, it’s lovely to have an extra day/evening enjoying the festival and getting stuck in, but there’s still plenty of room to pitch your tent, whether you come Thursday or Friday.
Other Things to Note
They also do an awesome initiative where they offer free tickets to non-vegan friends. So if you’re really struggling with the idea of coming alone, you can sign up your non-vegan friend for a free ticket. The organisers only ask that they haven’t been before and they’re not vegan already. The idea is that perhaps a lot of people are unsure, sceptical, or uneducated in the world of veganism. But being immersed in a place with truth, compassionate leaders, community, and good food could be the push they need to open their eyes and heart to veganism. I really think this is a great way of helping people make the transition on their own terms and with the support of their friends.
One thing that struck me as really incredible about this particular festival (coming from someone who has been to many over the years) is how clean and tidy both the campsites and arena are. I suppose that’s the benefit of being surrounded by people who care about not only animals, but the environment too. Along the same lines, VCO is also partnered with Eco Waste & Recycling who sort through all the bags of rubbish at the end of the festival, to separate recycling from trash. Anything that can’t be recycled is used to power their facilities or produce refuse-derived coal replacement fuel. I think very few festivals across the world can boast such dedication to environmental well-being!
When I look back now, I feel sad for all the years I missed out on Vegan Campout, for worry of going alone and not having the full experience. When in reality, I had the best experience I could possibly have hoped for. Being on your own forces you out of your comfort zone and thrusts you into being social. Something that may initially seem scary, but is truly freeing and exciting when you give into it. My advice? Take the leap, and go alone. I promise you won’t regret it.
If you’ve been to Vegan Campout, or thought about going, I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences below.