Berkeley Ca USA
Written By Sason Bishope Parry
Photography by Jeffrey Littman
Berkeley knows how to do things a little differently, and on a beautiful, sun-soaked Labor Day weekend Sunday, Sept. 6, that independent spirit shone as thousands gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park for the sixth annual Bizerkeley Food Festival. What began in 2021 as a celebration of plant-based food has grown into something much bigger in 2026: a lively gathering of food lovers, local businesses, artists, wellness advocates, animal organizations, families, and plenty of curious newcomers sharing one park and one seriously good vibe.
Founded and hosted by Erika Hazel, better known as The Bizerkeley Vegan, the festival has become one of the Bay Area’s standout vegan events. This year’s theme, “Healthy People, Healthy Communities,” was evident throughout the afternoon as more than 70 food, beverage, retail, and wellness vendors transformed the heart of downtown Berkeley into a colorful showcase of the diversity and creativity of vegan culture.
And, of course, the food was a major draw. The aroma alone was enough to pull festivalgoers from one side of the park to the other, with an impressive lineup offering everything from indulgent comfort food and savory street eats to international flavors, sweets, refreshing drinks, and healthier plant-powered options. Featured names such as Cena Vegan, El Compa Vegano, Oakland-based Fungi Foods, and Maya’s Cookies were joined by vendors including Cocobreeze Caribbean Restaurant, Donna’s Tamales, Jollof Kitchen, That Hausa Vegan, YoSoyCeviche, Mad Vegan Co., Green Flour Bakery, Cinnaholic Berkeley, PineappleWHIPS, and plenty more. With so much variety packed into one park, deciding what to eat first may have been one of the day’s toughest challenges.
That variety is one of the things Bizerkeley does best. It challenges the tired idea that vegan food is somehow limited, bland, or built around sacrifice. Walking through the festival told a very different story, with cultures, flavors, cooking styles, and culinary personalities represented throughout the park. Here, vegan food wasn’t trying to imitate a lifestyle people were missing out on; it was showing just how exciting plant-based eating can be on its own. Whether someone arrived as a longtime vegan, a curious omnivore, or simply a hungry foodie looking for something delicious, there was plenty to discover.
But Bizerkeley has never been only about what’s on the plate. Music, movement, and entertainment kept the energy flowing throughout the day, with athletic demonstrations, yoga, cultural dance performances, local hip-hop and rock artists, and DJ Pee Dot Scott adding to the soundtrack. Rather than feeling like rows of vendors with a stage attached, the festival had the easygoing atmosphere of a community block party, people eating on the grass, wandering between booths, catching performances, discovering new businesses, reconnecting with friends, and simply enjoying an unusually warm and beautiful Berkeley afternoon together.
Wellness also played a larger role this year. A dedicated health and wellness zone brought practitioners, organizations, and demonstrations together, reinforcing the festival’s broader message that plant-based living can be part of a much bigger conversation about personal and community well-being. It was a natural fit for this year’s theme, linking what people put on their plates to movement, self-care, education, and healthier communities. Mind, Body, Spirit alignment is, of course, what Wellness is all about, and when that mindset meets veganism, it’s a Lifeforce on so many levels.
For attendees seeking a more hands-on culinary experience, VIP chef demonstrations and tastings featuring Chef Evette, Chef Whitney, and the Midnight Chef added another dimension to the day. Instead of simply tasting finished dishes, guests could get closer to the creativity behind plant-based cooking and see how chefs continue to push vegan cuisine forward. The festival also welcomed four-legged ambassadors. Emotional support alpacas from Alpaca Academy brought plenty of smiles, while animal welfare organizations, including California Pit Bull Rescue, Herd & Flock Animal Sanctuary, Little Hill Sanctuary, and Rancho Compasión, helped connect the celebration of vegan food with the animals at the heart of the movement.
That connection gave the day more substance than a typical food festival. California Pit Bull Rescue served as this year’s nonprofit beneficiary, creating a natural bridge between enjoying plant-based food and supporting organizations that work directly on behalf of animals. It reminded everyone that compassion can be celebrated in many ways, from what we choose to eat to how we support animals and organizations in our communities.
Families and younger festivalgoers had plenty to keep them engaged, including the Bizerkeley Scavenger Hunt and activities throughout the park. The mix helped create an event that felt welcoming rather than exclusive. You didn’t need to arrive knowing everything about veganism, nutrition, or animal advocacy. You could simply show up, grab something delicious, listen to music, meet people, learn something new, and enjoy the experience.
And perhaps that is where Berkeley succeeds most. Vegan festivals can certainly educate, but the best ones don’t feel like lectures. They let people experience the lifestyle firsthand, whether or not they are vegan, through great food, music, conversation, culture, compassion, and community. Of course, the goal would be to convert more people to going vegan. On this sunny Sunday in Berkeley, the experience felt less like an argument for plant-based living and more like an invitation to see how enjoyable, colorful, and inclusive it can be.
Six years later, Erika Hazel and the Bizerkeley team have created more than an annual vegan food event. They have built a gathering where entrepreneurs can introduce their creations, chefs can showcase their talent, wellness practitioners can share knowledge, animal organizations can connect with new supporters, artists can entertain, and thousands of people can come together around a shared desire to eat well, feel good, support local businesses, and make more compassionate choices.
As the afternoon gave way to evening and festivalgoers squeezed in one last bite, visited one more booth, or caught another performance, the spirit of “Healthy People, Healthy Communities” felt especially fitting. Bizerkeley showed that building healthier communities doesn’t have to feel
serious or complicated. Sometimes it can look like thousands of people gathered under the Berkeley sunshine, enjoying incredible vegan food, supporting local businesses, celebrating animals, dancing to music, and sharing seriously good vibes.
After six years, the Bizerkeley Food Festival isn’t just returning each year; it’s growing alongside the community it helped build. And judging by the energy in the park, Berkeley is still hungry for more.
For more info go to: www.bizerkeleyfoodfest.com
