The Bizerkeley Food Festival, billed as the largest vegan fest of its kind in Northern California, will have its fourth annual showing on Sept. 1 in Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park.
The festival will feature more than 100 vendors including popular Bay Area food-and-drink pop-ups, a vegan-fashion show and a “Hot Ones”-style wings-eating contest. There’s also a beer garden, a kids’ area with games, a “petting zone” with adoptable animals and – for fans of deep cuts – an appearance by StunnaMan02, who’ll perform his single “Eat a Salad.”
Advance discounted tickets are on sale for $10, and tickets at the door will be $14.
The food festival owes its name to The Bizerkeley Vegan, aka entrepreneur Erika Hazel, who founded the event in 2021. This year, the fest will hold a silent auction with proceeds going toward Vacaville’s Herd and Flock Animal Sanctuary, which rescues and rehomes neglected farm animals.
The vendor list is too long to excerpt here – note that many are giving away free samples, including food, alcoholic and zero-proof drinks. But here is a partial list of who’ll be appearing and where in the Bay they hail from:
All Pau Berkeley
– a food pop-up that specializes in the pan-Asian flavors of Hawaii
Dr Hops Hard Kombucha, Oakland
– alcoholic beverages made with organic ingredients with flavors like Kombucha Rose, Guava Glam and Pineapple Chili
Mad Vegan Co., Oakland
– Latina-owned bakery with cookies, conchas (Mexican sweetbread) and Salvadorean pound cake
pineappleWHIPS, Oakland
– frozen Hawaiian-style pineapple desserts with fresh-fruit toppings
The Vegan Hood Chefs, San Francisco
– healthy takes on soul food and American classics
Birdsong Tea, Danville
– organic, fair-trade teas from China, India and beyond
Vegan Chula, Hayward
– a pop-up with Mexican-inspired tapas and small bites
Green Flour Bakery, Antioch
– a small-batch and allergen-friendly bakery with cookies, cakes and more
Masala Gossip, San Ramon
– curry sauces and marinades and Indian condiments
Chef J.Redd, Sacramento
– a cook known for his plant-based Shrimp Po’Boys and Fried Sushi Rolls
Fruitopia Fruit Truck, Bay Area
– organic fresh-fruit bowls with more than 10 kinds of fruit per bowl
Sweet Diane’s, Bay Area
– organic granola mixes in flavors like Orange Cranberry, Blueberry Almond and Protein Crunch
Salad Slvt, Bay Area
– paninis, salads and vegan cheese boards
Raydiant Vybes, Bay Area
– cookies, brownies, Key Lime pie and other desserts
Details: The festival takes place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 1 at 2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley; tickets are $10-$14 and available on Eventbrite. For more info visit instagram.com/bizerkeleyfoodfest.
