The Northern Vegan Festival returns to Manchester on Saturday April 23, and this year sees a bigger and better line up of animal-friendly activities.

The vegan celebration promises over 200 vegan and animal welfare and rights stalls, dozens of films and presentations, live music, cookery demos and children’s activities.

From their base at Sacha’s Hotel in the Northern Quarter , the festival will take over Manchester, with events popping up in four other venues across the city.

The Methodist Church, Gullivers, The Castle Hotel and the Thirsty Scholar will all host a full day of vegan activities.

With five venues and hundreds of events, their bumper line up could be a little too much to digest all at once, so we’ve picked out five of our favourites.

Even the most hard-core carnivore will find something of interest - so ditch the dairy and maybe try veganism for a day?

Read more: Eight of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Manchester

VEGAN FARMERS MARKET

Hate to break it to you, but if you thought your meat-free morals were safe just eating a carrot then you're wrong. Traditional farming practice uses animal blood, ground up fish and bone meal - not exactly animal friendly. Visit the Vegan farmer’s market at Sacha’s Hotel - boasting five stalls of completely vegan produce.

Sacha’s Hotel, Tib Street, 10am-6pm

RAW FOOD FAIR

Among the 105 stalls at the Sacha Hotel will be a mini Raw Food Fair. The Manchester Raw Food Company will be on hand to provide information and coaching on raw food diets, and the chance to sample some raw cakes from vegan bakery V-GD.

Sacha’s Hotel, Tib Street, 10am-6pm

VEGAN CAT FOOD TASTING

No, not you - it's the cats that do the tasting. Purrfect (stop) for the vegan pet owners - free samples of vegan cat food will available to take away for your furry friends. Samples are strictly take away only, cats will not be allowed inside the venue.

Gullivers at 109, Oldham Street, M4 1LW, 12pm-6pm

FESTIVAL TALK: Understanding Vegan Transition by Dr. Richard Twine

In 2013 sociologist (and vegan) Richard Twine interviewed 40 people in Manchester, Glasgow, and Lancaster about their transition to veganism. Come and hear what he found from their stories - with pointers for new vegans and the vegan curious, and how we might grow veganism generally.

Methodist Church, Lincoln 2 (first floor) 12.30pm

COOKERY DEMO - Eggstraordinary alternatives to eggs

Reckon you can’t make an omelette without breaking any eggs? Think again. Jane Easton, Food & Cookery Coordinator at Viva! will demonstrate how to make a Vegan Omelette with egg substitute.

Sacha Hotel, Crompton’s Bar, 1.30pm - 2.15pm

Northern Vegan Festival, Saturday 23rd April 2016, admission £3, under 16s free.

For more information check out their Facebook page.