Thanksgiving
**VSDC hosted a spectacular Thanksgiving celebration - with numerous COVID safety precautions implemented - that was attended by over 130 people on November 25, 2021! We sincerely THANK all the volunteers, Hyatt staff, sponsors, and so many of you who came out and made it such a wonderful success. Please stay tuned for information in late summer on our 2022 Thanksgiving celebration on this webpage.**
The Veg Society of DC (VSDC) Vegan Thanksgiving Celebration is a festive, annual gala that brings together vegans, vegetarians, and non-vegetarians alike in a wonderful social setting.
Sign up now to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in real life, enjoying a gourmet, plant-strong, whole food, all-vegan feast - our 47th annual celebration! Advance payment is required and absolutely no walk-ins are allowed. A cash bar is also available. This event is only for people who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. See below for details.
See planned menu for 2021 here.
COVID-19 Precautions:
All guests will need to provide ID, proof of vaccination, have a temperature check, and answer DC Dept of Health screening questions.
Only people who are two weeks from their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine, will be permitted to enter the event.
The Grand Hyatt has enhanced its air flow and circulation.
Food will be served, buffet-style, by gloved, masked and fully vaccinated or recently tested hotel staff, behind plexiglass barriers.
Tables will be set with social distancing spacing in mind.
Guests will be asked to wear masks when not actively eating or drinking.
Our featured speaker this year is Bruce Friedrich, CEO of the Good Food Institute (GFI). Bruce is the founder of GFI, a nonprofit working internationally to accelerate alternative protein innovation. GFI promotes the use of plant-based meat, cultivated meat, and fermentation to mitigate the environmental impact of our food system, decrease the risk of zoonotic disease, and ultimately feed more people with fewer resources.
Bruce directs GFI’s strategic planning and execution in the United States and globally. He is a TED Fellow, Y Combinator alum, 2021 “American Food Hero” (EatingWell Magazine), and a popular speaker on food innovation. Bruce has penned op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Wired, and many other publications.
He has represented GFI on the TED Radio Hour, New Yorker Radio Hour, Ezra Klein Show, Making Sense (Sam Harris), ReCode DeCode, and other programs and podcasts. Bruce’s 2019 TED talk has been viewed two million times and translated into dozens of languages.
He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law and also holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Economics.
Bruce’s areas of expertise include: alternative proteins generally, GFI’s global programs and strategy, bicycling in heavy traffic.
Food & Supply Drive
Please bring vegan, non-perishable donations with you to the event so VSDC can distribute to the following wonderful organizations:
— The Humane Rescue Alliance. Their wish list is: http://www.humanerescuealliance.org/donate-supplies
— So Others May Eat (SOME). VSDC will collect nonperishable vegan food items for SOME’s food bank. Note: SOME requests that food donations be nonperishable with canned soups labeled low-fat, low-sodium.
Registration
Early Bird (Before Nov. 1)
VSDC, current, dues-paying member $70
Non-VSDC member - $80
After November 1:
VSDC current, dues-paying member - $75
Non-VSDC member - $85
OPTION 1: REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE
OPTION 2: REGISTER VIA MAIL-IN FORM AND CHECK
VSDC prefers online payment but will accept this mail-in form (download it here) with checks made out to “VSDC.” Your envelope must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 16 and mailed to:
VSDC Thanksgiving, PO Box 4921, Washington, DC 20008
Your registration is not confirmed until we receive your payment and send you a confirmation (preferably by email). If you have any questions, please contact thanksgiving@vsdc.org.
We look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with you!
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide refunds.