Bizerkeley Food Fest expanded from a one-day event in 2021 to a week of vegan-focused events running Sept. 1–7. Events include a documentary screening, social mixers, a fireside chat with plant-based chefs, a VIP pick-up party, and the main food festival at the North Berkeley BART station. Founder Erika Hazel launched the festival in 2021 and organized out-of-town vendors to engage the Bay Area community. The festival aims to move vegan products from niche to mainstream and has grown from roughly 1,000 attendees in 2021 to 6,000 in 2024.
Erika Hazel, a Berkeley resident and vegan entrepreneur who has produced events, recipes, and articles, and goes by Bizerkeley Vegan on social media, launched the food festival in 2021. "We have vendors coming in from Miami, New Orleans, Texas and other places, and they were really asking for more opportunities to interact with the Bay Area community," Hazel said about the motivation behind expanding the event to multiple days this year.
The festival kicks off Labor Day, Sept. 1, with a screening of the documentary "They're Trying To Kill Us" at the Berkeley Sports Basement and closes with the vegan food festival on Sept. 7 at the North Berkeley BART station. Website: bizerkeleyfoodfest.comTickets: Evenbrite "They're Trying to Kill Us" documentary screening with director Bad Ass Vegan (aka John Lewis); Sports Basement Berkeley, 2727 Milvia St., Berkeley; 3 p.m., Sept. 1 Stop Light Party Social Mixer with Bay Area Speed Dating and Vegan Chula: 51 & Tel, 5018 Telegraph Ave., Oakland; 7 p.m., Sept. 3 Fireside chat with plant-based chefs and food creators: The Butcher's Son Vegan Deli & Bakery; 1954 University Ave., Berkeley; 6 p.m., Sept. 5 Pre-Order & VIP Pick-Up Party: North Berkeley BART station; Sacramento Street at Delaware and Virginia Streets, Berkeley; 6 p.m., Sept. 6 Fifth Annual Bizerkeley Food Fest: North Berkeley BART station; Sacramento Street at Delaware and Virginia Streets, Berkeley; 12-6 p.m., Sept. 7
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