Tucson's biggest vegan market is getting ready for their largest event yet

Hannah Hernandez was recently shopping at a grocery store when someone approached her to let her know how excited they were for her upcoming market.

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, the Vegan Night Market was being held for the first time in the courtyard outside the Owl’s Club.

In the 15 months since their big debut, the market has had to upgrade to two other locations to appease their growing audience. Vendors from Phoenix and Texas make the trip to Tucson just to attend. People look forward to the market so much, they stop Hernandez while she tackles her errands.

Hernandez and Tucson Foodie are the masterminds behind the seasonal Vegan Night Market, Tucson’s biggest vegan market that features plenty of tasty treats, live music and tattoos. The next event takes place 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave.

You may recognize Hernandez as Tucson’s ultimate vegan guide, who started her vegan journey because of her love for animals. On Instagram as Death Free Foodie, she posts videos of all the vegan meals and snacks you can find in town, making even non-vegans' mouths water while they watch her Reels.

It all started when Shane Reiser, Tucson Foodie’s head foodie, approached Hernandez about hosting more markets. Although there have been smaller vegan pop-ups around town, there hasn’t been a bigger event for vegans — one where they can enjoy the food without having to ask whether the treats are vegan or not. 

In June 2023, they held their first market in the courtyard outside the Owl’s Club. Hernandez expected to see 20 people stroll by throughout the night; that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

The courtyard was packed the whole night with an estimated 1,500 people in attendance. Hernandez and Reiser received the feedback every event planner wants to hear: you need a bigger space to keep up with the crowds.

So they did just that. The two expanded the market to the Children’s Museum lawn. But even with the whole lawn, the crowds and lines were still too large for the space.

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This past June, exactly a year from their first event, they moved the market to the Rillito Park Farmers Market Food Pavilion.

“It flows nicer,” Hernandez said. “I think that people are flowing through instead of being spread out a little too much like at the other spot. People can just walk in and walk out smoothly.”

At their upcoming market, 62 different vegan vendors will be featured, making it the biggest event yet. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, the vendors have you covered for whatever vegan treat you feel like enjoying that day.

You’ll see some local favorites at the event including Chez Peachy, Ducky’s Pineapple Banana Bread, Substance Diner, Ensenada Street Food, Espressoul and Selena's Salvadorian. 

While every vendor brings their A game, Hernandez is excited to see what P.A.R.M. Italia will whip up. According to their Instagram, P.A.R.M Italia, a vegan Italian food truck from Phoenix, will be serving meatless meatball sandwiches.

“I love Italian food and I never really get to enjoy it unless I make it myself so I’m very excited for that,” Hernandez said.

She is also excited to try out The Aloha Menu, which specializes in homemade Hawaiian-inspired food — and it’s all vegan, of course.

Seeing the community's support for local vegan businesses is why Hernandez loves putting on this plant-based celebration. From the long lines to families enjoying good food together, the Vegan Night Market brings everyone together over what we all love the most: food.

“A lot of the people that go to the Vegan Night Market are not vegan and I love that,” Hernandez said. “There's just a ton of people who bring their whole family and their dogs and everybody is just eating food that just happens to be vegan.”

The Vegan Night Market’s next event will be 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4502 N. First Ave. For more information, visit their Instagram page.