Mushroom Fest coming back Memorial Day weekend

Annual MH Mushroom Festival returning Memorial Day weekend

Gilroy Life File Photo

By Staff Report

The beloved Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival is set to make its long-awaited return in downtown Morgan Hill May 25-26. The family-friendly event was approved by the city of Morgan Hill and police department after a multi-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Organized by the nonprofit Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, the 43rd annual festival is dedicated to all that’s fun about fungus. It aims to provide entertainment while fundraising for local students. MHMMG awards scholarships to high school seniors in the Morgan Hill Unified School District from the festival’s proceeds, in addition to supporting school groups, clubs, youth sports teams, and other nonprofits through monetary donations.

“Even though the festival was canceled and replaced with a benefit concert, the board of directors was able to approve $10,000 in scholarships this year thanks to the continued support of 2023 sponsors,” said MHMMG Board President Dan Keith. “To date, the festival has awarded $1.5 million in scholarships and more than $550,000 to local organizations.”

The 2024 mushroom festival is slated for the Downtown Amphitheater and surrounding Community Center and will be fenced. It will feature 145 arts, crafts and food vendors, two live music stages, mushroom chef demonstrations, and educational mushroom exhibits.

Mardi the Mushroom, the mascot of the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras.
Photo by Sunday Minnich

As the Mushroom Capital of the Western United States, the star of the show is the mushroom. Visit the festival’s Mushroom Exhibition including chef demonstrations by local and celebrity chefs, mushroom vendors and educational exhibits, samples and giveaways. The Food Court will boast mushroom inspired dishes that can be tasted in soup, stuffed, sandwiched, deep-fried, marinated, atop rice and even mushroom ice cream.

Headliners on the Downtown Amphitheater stage include Hotel California, an Eagles tribute band, and San Francisco party band The Party Starters. Local artists will also perform on the acoustic stage as well as performers providing strolling entertainment.

Advance discount tickets are available this month. It takes place Memorial Day weekend: May 25-26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Entry is $15 in advance or $20 at the gate, with free admission for children younger than 12. Additional discounts apply for multiple day admission. Look for special $5 off discount coupons for advance ticket sales.

People interested in donating to the scholarship fund or becoming a marketing partner to help support the festival, please call (408) 778-1786, email [email protected] or download the sponsor benefits packet at www.morganhillmushroomfestival.org.

“We are confident you will find our marketing and partnership benefits are well worth the exposure to your business,” Keith said.