Thousands Show Up for World’s First All-Vegan Music Festival, Circle V

Yesterday, thousands of people lined up around the block to attend the world’s first-ever vegan music festival, Circle V, in Hollywood, California!




A collaboration of music icon Moby, No Doubt’s legendary Tony Kanal, Goldenvoice (Coachella, Desert Trip), and Mercy For Animals, the all-day Circle V festival celebrated animal rights and showcased the best of the best vegan food vendors, fun retail popups, and a lineup of speakers featuring the most prominent animal advocates and experts in the movement. All proceeds from the event benefited MFA.


The day kicked off in the early afternoon. A DJ was spinning as festivalgoers arrived at the famed Fonda Theatre, its parking lot transformed into a vegan village.


Ramen Hood served cruelty-free ramen featuring a vegan egg. Having won a vegan taco contest just the day before, Taqueria La Venganza boasted a line the entire day as people raved about their tacos, and Donut Friend and Clara’s Cakes dished out decadent sweets.



Retail popups also lined the village and included playful designs by Beet x Beet and Vegetaryn. But the talk of the day was an elegant vegan beauty bar by Kat Von D Beauty. A slew of makeup artists delighted attendees with lip and eye makeovers using Kat Von D’s 100 percent vegan makeup line. The exquisite experience came complete with chandeliers and a coffee bar. Ms. Von D was also in attendance greeting her fans and posing for photos.


Circle V’s speaker tent was standing room only the entire day and featured some of the most notable leaders in the animal rights movement. Vegan racecar driver Leilani Münter and Cowspiracy director Keegan Kuhn appeared on a panel detailing the effects of animal agriculture on our environment. None other than journalist and activist Jane Velez-Mitchell moderated. Next up, “Plant-Based Dietitian Julieanna Hever and PCRM founder Neal Barnard discussed veganism and its health benefits with Kathy Freston.


Later in the day, NBA all-star John Salley, Olympic medalist Dotsie Bausch, and Beyond Meat’s founder Ethan Brown all spoke.


The most-attended panel of the day was by far the one on animal rights as the next great social justice movement. The panel included Mercy For Animals founder Nathan Runkle, PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk, and Farm Sanctuary co-founder Gene Baur. Kat Von D also joined the panel to hoots and hollers from the overflowing crowd.


As festivities wound down outside around dusk, things were just getting started in the theater next door. The floor and the balcony of the Fonda Theatre were packed as The Gaslamp Killer spun sick beats. Next fans raised the roof over sets by Cold Cave and Blaqk Audio.


Between musical acts, prolific activist Jamie Kilstein performed stand up that roused the room. Nathan Runkle and Tony Kanal also addressed the cheering crowd.


The truly legendary Moby closed out the evening with a show that brought the house down. In his only live show this year, Moby performed some of his biggest hits, including “South Side, “Porcelain, and “Honey.


Circle V concluded around midnight, leaving attendees inspired, hopeful, and full of delicious vegan foods. This inaugural festival will set the tone for years to come as Circle V grows and becomes a beacon lighting the way for a kinder and more compassionate future.