will take place in Greenwich Village, New York City, on May 18, 2008. The procession will begin at 12 Noon in the Old Meat District (where 9th Ave., Gansevoort St., Greenwich St., and Little West 12th St. intersect). It will culminate in Washington Square Park (Eastern end), where a festival of rock music, speakers and exhibitors will take place.

Up-and-coming vegan rock star Cheryl Hill will rouse the crowd with hits from her latest EP, Let Love In. Some may remember Cheryl as the wise woman of Vegan Wellness, Public Access TV, Manhattan Cable.

Parade participants are encouraged to dress up in costumes and to wear sign boards announcing their pride in their vegetarian lifestyle. Local restaurants will represent themselves with banners.

Marchers may be animal-rights activists, environmentalists, or just concerned with their health. But on May 18, 2008, all will come together with one voice, one expression, of veggie pride.

At 2 p.m. on stage at the post-parade rally in Washington Square Park, the winners of a costume and poster-slogan contest in various categories will be announced.

PeTA's Chris P. Carrot

There is a special page within the Veggie Pride Parade Web site outlining how restaurants can get involved, and how both individuals and businesses can place a sponsorship ad in the official program/ad booklet. Contingents from all walks of life are encouraged to get involved.

The U.S.-based parade was inspired by (but is not affiliated with) the Veggie Pride Parade in Paris. The Parisian parade was the first of its kind ever to take place in the world and has been taking place annually since 2001.

Click image at left to view, printable map of the route for the Veggie Pride Parade, NYC.