Far West Fungi Hosts the Very First Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival in California

Calling all mushroom lovers! Far West Fungi, the Bay Area’s leader in gourmet mushroom cultivation and culinary experiences, invites you to join a celebration that showcases the beauty and utility of fungi on May 4-5 in Felton, CA.

“We have been growing mushrooms for over 40 years at Far West Fungi, and one of the most rewarding aspects of our work has been the rich mycological community we’ve become part of and helped to build along the way,” said Kyle Garrone, Production Manager at Far West Fungi. “Our upcoming festival is an exciting chance for us to tap into that community and help share their expertise and passion with fellow fungi lovers. We look forward to bringing some of the best and brightest minds in the mushroom world to the Santa Cruz mountains this May.”

With a lineup featuring the biggest names in the mushroom world—from top chefs and researchers to foragers and cultivators—this debut event is set to deliver an extensive exploration of all things fungi. 

Some of the highlights of the festival include:

Cooking demos and taste testing: Witness the alchemy of mushrooms with culinary geniuses like Chad Hyatt, author of The Mushroom Hunter’s Kitchen, and Eric Tucker, chef and co-owner of Millennium Restaurant.

Educational talks: Learn more about the therapeutic benefits of medicinal mushrooms with expert herbalist and mycologist Dr. Christopher Hobbs.

Guided nature walks: Join foraging masters like Dr. Gordon Walker through the forest to discover the local edible and medicinal plants and fungi.

Artisan exhibits: Mingle with creative minds, where creators like Stephanie Jarious and Liminal Space Collective showcase the intersection of mycology and art through hands-on crafts and unique exhibits.

Cultivation panels: Dive into the art of mushroom growing with cultivation specialists like Field and Forest.

Mushroom hunting stories: Sit back and enjoy captivating tales from David Arora, acclaimed mycologist and author of “Mushrooms Demystified” and “All That the Rain Promises and More.”

Children’s activities: Bring your kids along to enjoy the wonders of mushrooms and several fun activities, including face painting, henna, a bounce house, an archery range, and so much more!

And what’s a festival without food, drinks and music? Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of mushroom-centric dishes and snacks from popular eateries like Funky Bean Tempeh, Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant, SC Eatery, Vegan Hood Chef, and Far West Fungi. Beverage options will include wines from Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Quinta Cruz, and Beauregard Vineyards, mushroom mocktails by Curious Elixers, locally brewed Kombucha, as well as candy cap mushroom beer from Fox Tale Fermentation.

Head on over to one of the several music stages to groove to the beats of local musicians, including Alison Steele, The Crate Diggers, Papiba & Friends, The Apricots, and Mokili Wa.

The festival will be held at Roaring Camp Railroad, situated amidst the towering old-growth Redwood groves adjacent to historic Henry Cowell State Park. Single-day and weekend passes are now available for purchase. Come build community through fungi and join us for a mushroom extravaganza unlike any other!

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit https://scmmfest.com/.

Get the latest updates by following @scmmushroomfest and @farwestfungi on Instagram.

For interviews with festival organizers or featured speakers, please reach out to Ashley D. Owen at ashleydrewcommunications@gmail.com.