HEALTH & SAFETY
Veggin’ Out T he 8th Annual Northeast Florida Veg Fest returns Saturday, March 2.
addition to the kids zone, there will be cooking demonstrations every hour, on the hour to learn how to make healthy vegan meals at home.
Grab your kids, your neighbors, friends and family because the Northeast Florida Veg Fest returns The speaker tent will also be corralled in the for its eighth year Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. entertainment zone. The speakers will have to 6 p.m. at Riverside Park in Jacksonville! 45-minute presentations on a variety of subjects including one from Tiffany Bess, Apple Rabbit The Northeast Florida Veg Fest is annually Compost founder. Bess will present a composting presented by The Girls Gone Green – a local 101 session for beginners or for attendees who nonprofit group devoted to environmental, animal have questions about recycling their food waste. and health issues in Northeast Florida and beyond – with the goal of aligning the best local Throughout the day will be a scavenger hunt sustainable, eco-friendly, compassionate, organic, where festival-goers who sign up can have a healthy and humane organizations and busichance to win prizes by saying a special keyword nesses for a day of education, enlightenment and to various tables. socialization. Another popular fixture is the annual pie-eating “We have presented the Northeast Florida Veg contest. Participants are chosen at random to Fest for eight years with each one showing take the challenge of who can eat a vegan pie the tremendous success and growth,” Julie Watkins, fastest. executive director of The Girls Gone Green said. “We truly feel that the very first Veg Fest brought But one of the main components of the festival is together a community interested in the three the food. Ever wanted to try vegan food? There things we stand for: a healthy planet, animal will be plenty of opportunities at the NEFL Veg compassion and a healthy lifestyle.” Fest. From local favorites like The Hot Dog Party to out-of-town treats like Chicago-based These The 2018 festival was the largest to-date, and it’s Wingz, there’s truly something for everyone. growing. Everything at the NEFL Veg Fest is 100 percent Flying Saucer Presents - a long standing, vegan – from the food vendors to the cooking independent, area promoter - is delighted to have demonstrations and even the beauty products joined up with The Girls Gone Green to provide and other items for sale. music artists for this year’s festival. The festival is also dog-friendly for those who The Saucer says he has "chosen fun bands want to bring their well-behaved, leashed best groups with big time chops - acts for all ages friend. Adoptable dogs will be on site from area with a strong variety of sounds. The bands on rescue organizations. Sanctuaries and other board for this year’s festival are boss – they’ll animal rescue groups will be present with catch your ears and your eyes.” information about their causes and how to get involved. The headliners include the bluesy sounds of Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, the alternative “We have seen positive change being made in beats of Speedy Ortiz, the ultimate recycler and our community since 2010 as people continue to one-man-band, The Suitcase Junket – who plays build happier and healthier lives based on what’s on instruments made from reclaimed, thrifted or presented at each festival,” Watkins said. “We recycled materials to create a unique sound – hope to see everyone March 2!” and OHMME, the duo of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart, multi-instrumentalist singerFor more information about the Northeast Florida songwriters. Veg Fest, visit www.nfvegfest.org. j Vendors are a mixed bag of nonprofit, for profit, food vendors and animal rescue organizations. The family-friendly event features a kids zone where children can make free eco-friendly crafts or bounce and play on the giant, inflatable slide. This year, the kids zone, sponsored by Jax4Kids, will be part of the “entertainment zone” planned for the open field of grass located adjacent to the John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park. In
Carrie Resch, Associate Director The Girls Gone Green www.thegirlsgonegreen.com www.nomeatmarch.com www.vegjax.com www.nfvegfest.org
Spartan Kids Race S partan is the leader in global obstacle course racing (OCR)- one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Spartan Kids is designed to build upon the popular adult races.
recommended for 10-13 yr old. Race heats are scheduled throughout the day so that parents can schedule their children’s race to best fit their schedule when they register online. www.spartankids.com.
Much like it’s adult counterpart, Spartan Kids was built with the aspiration of reinforcing the importance of a modicum of physical fitness and heathier eating in the lives of children and their families. As importantly, Spartan Kids creates the possibility of a bolstered self-esteem, confidence and sense of accomplishment all wrapped up in a truly fun experience. Studies show that kids are less fit and active today than their parents were as kids. We are dedicated to helping make HEALTHY the new normal for the next generation. Active kids benefit from better physical health, are at lower risk of developing depression and earn higher grades than their less active piers. Spartan believes that kids should run, climb, jump and get muddy.
Young athletes will earn a Finisher medal, a Finisher t-shirt and be given a numbered head band with matching parent / guardian wristband and 2 free spectator passes with each kid’s entry purchase. We’re bringing it back to basics.
Oriented to the 4-13 year old age demographic the Spartan Kids race is broken into three distances: half mile; recommended for 4-6 year old, 1 mil; recommended for 7-9 year old, and 2 mile;
The Spartan Kids Race will be held February 23rd and 24th at WW Ranch Motocross Park, 1439 Otis Road, Jacksonville, FL 32220. Register at www. spartankids.com. j
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2019 • Jax4Kids.com • Page 13