Brookfield's vegan street fest is back for round two. Vegan on Broadway returns this Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at Brookfield Shops.
An Encore After a Sold-Out Debut
It's an encore because the first Vegan on Broadway, held Oct. 3 at Brookfield Shops and along Broadway Avenue, apparently left an impression. The event's return, and the growing appetite behind it, was detailed by the local outlet rblandmark.com.
At that inaugural fest, organizer Valerie Vedral said all three hot-food vendors sold out around 3 p.m., while the three baked-food vendors nearly or fully sold out as well, per the same account. Vedral also said the crowd wasn't just local: the fest drew people from Brookfield, the suburbs and Chicago, including some who took the train in and walked over, according to the outlet's report.
Vedral’s festival grew out of an existing local-market circuit: before opening at Brookfield Shops, she sold Vulgar Vegan baked goods at markets in Brookfield, Riverside and Chicago, and was part of the inaugural Berwyn Shops cohort in 2022. The Berwyn program offered another nearby model for emerging retailers, while her Brookfield storefront gives the bakery a place to test demand beyond pop-up events. Vedral’s earlier market experience helps explain how a vendor’s following can develop into a recurring public event.
What's New This Time
One change for Saturday's second installment: mixed-drink sales have been approved. Beyond that addition, the setup looks similar, with the fest scheduled for the same noon-to-4 p.m. window at the same Brookfield Shops location.
Alcohol service at a festival on village-controlled land involves a separate licensing step, not just an event organizer’s decision to add drinks. Brookfield’s licensing materials describe a Class 8 license as temporary permission for on-site alcohol sales at short-duration events, with a Class S3 license covering sales on public property such as a village park. The village’s event guidance also says events selling or providing alcohol need a temporary liquor license. Brookfield’s licensing framework puts the mixed-drink addition within that event-specific process.
The Retail Incubator Behind the Scenes
Brookfield Shops itself is a relatively new fixture in town. Cook County Arts describes it as a retail incubator that debuted in 2025, and the group notes the site hosted an unveiling of new art and renovations on June 12. Vulgar Vegan bakes vegan cupcakes.
The Shops are designed as a launchpad, not simply a row of permanent storefronts: six entrepreneurs operate small shops from May through December, with mentorship and workshops intended to help them develop their businesses. The program also links retail to public programming; Cook County Arts says grant-supported upgrades added public art and improved the courtyard, while a small outdoor stage was planned for performances. That mix makes the site a venue for both merchants and community events such as Vegan on Broadway. Cook County Arts’ description of the incubator outlines the program’s business and community goals.
Saturday's fest follows an October event at which food vendors sold out or nearly sold out; mixed-drink sales have been approved for the return.
