Vegan Corny Dogs FTW

Annual Texas Veggie Fair draws record crowd of peaceful easy vegans

Vendors at the Texas Veggie Fair sold "vegan" T-shirts.
Photo by Marc Lee
Veggie corn dog was one of the fair's most popular items.
Photo by Marc Lee
At the peak of the event, some food stands had people waiting in long lines.
Photo by Marc Lee
Speaker Carol Adams talked about the links between the oppression of women andanimals.
Photo by Marc Lee
Some of the Veggie Fair's fried items would've been right at home at the otherbig fair.
Photo by Meg Ramsey
There will always be cupcakes.
Veggie Fair
Oatmeal whoopie pies.
Photo by Julia
Pizza.
Photo courtesy of Jinx Vexx

Whether it was the picture-perfect weather, the joyful throwdown by Erykah Badu or the corny dogs – veggie, of course – the fourth annual Texas Veggie Fair was a smash hit and record-setter, too.

The fair, which took place on Sunday at Reverchon Park, continued its exponential growth, drawing a crowd of 7,000 – up from last year's 5,000, also a record setter.

This year boasted a few new features. Trinity Hall Pub hosted a popular beer garden. An extended kids' area offered more arts and games. And recycle bins were installed by Recycle Revolution, making it an eco-friendly event – an extra effort that's rare in the festival world.

The speakers' stage included author Carol Adams, who wrote the highly influential 1990 book The Sexual Politics of Meat; and activist Nick Cooney, founder of The Humane League, whose mission is to reduce the suffering of farm animals.

Vendors sold vegan T-shirts, "Eat Kale" jewelry and VitaMix blenders, the must-have gadget for those who observe a raw diet. Animal advocacy groups such as sponsor Mercy For Animals erected booths. Whole Foods hosted a demo station starring chefs such as vegan chef John Mercer and Najat Kaanache, of new Trinity Groves restaurant Souk. There was free yoga, and live music.

But the big thing was the food, all vegan, meaning no meat, dairy or eggs. Food trucks such as Nammi and Good Karma Kitchen lined up next to booths from every vegan-friendly in town and some out of town. Veggie Garden had a glistening veggie stir-fry; Be Raw sold pad Thai made from zucchini noodles. Denton Vegan Cooperative served spicy tofu curry in a wrap.

The longest lines of the day were for Austin's famed Capital City Bakery, who sold brownies, pumpkin cupcakes and a thick cheesecake with berry jam; and Tough Cookie Bakery, maker of the Corn Dawg, a vegan version of the corny dog that was just like the real thing.

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Craft Beer News

Lakewood Brewing brings Fort Worth favorite Rahr beers to Dallas

Photo by Mary Tuab/Flickr

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands.

Longtime Fort Worth craft beer name Rahr & Sons Brewing is about to surface in a new location: The brewery, which exited its longtime brewery space in Fort Worth in 2025, has entered a new partnership with another acclaimed brewery: Lakewood Brewing of Dallas.

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands, bringing together two of North Texas’ most respected craft brewing pioneers.

"Rahr Brewing has been seeking additional brewing capacity to help meet increasing Dallas demand," their statement says. "Under this new agreement, Lakewood Brewing will produce certain Rahr brands at its Dallas facility, while Rahr will continue brewing beer in Fort Worth."

As an added benefit to the new partnership, Rahr beers will be served on tap at the Lakewood Brewery taproom.

Rahr left their Fort Worth location after 20 years, with a goal to find a new home. (Their space was taken over by Blue Flag whiskey distiller.) Rahr has continued to brew their beers, maintaining their availability in restaurants, bars, and stores.

Craft beer pioneer Fritz Rahr debuted his namesake brewery in 2004, back when Fort Worth was “very much a Miller-Coors town,” as he said in 2024. They went on to establish themselves as the godfather of Fort Worth's craft beer scene, thanks to an evolving roster of beers that range from classics like Texas Red American ale to newer favorites like Dadgum IPA — earning them critical nods such as a CultureMap Tastemakers Award nomination in 2023 for Brewery of the Year.

Founded by craft beer aficionado Wim Bens in 2012, Lakewood Brewing has become one of Texas’ most recognized independent craft breweries, winning numerous awards. Their tap room on the east side of Dallas is a popular beer hound haunt.

With the new partnership, the two brands will collaborate on brewing projects, special releases, community events, and initiatives that celebrate the vibrant culture of North Texas craft beer.

“This partnership is built on friendship, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the future of Texas craft beer,” says Fritz Rahr in a statement.

“Together, we can continue to innovate while honoring the traditions that have made both of our breweries successful," Wim Bens says. “Rahr Brewing has long been a cornerstone of the North Texas brewing community. We are excited to produce some of their brands here at our brewery.”

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Celestina Blok contributed to this story.

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