Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival Explained

Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival
Logo Alt:Three drawn, brown mushrooms are below two brown, curvy lines. The words "Mushroom Festival" are below the cartoon mushrooms.
Status:Active
Genre:Mushroom festival
Begins:Memorial Day weekend
Ends:One day after
Frequency:Annually
Venue:Community and Cultural Center
Location:Downtown Morgan Hill
Country:United States
Founder Name:Bradley Ross Spencer
Activity:Mushroom dishes
Organized:Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc.
Filing:501(c)(3)
Sponsors:Local mushroom farms

The Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival (rebranded as Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival for 2024)[1] [2] is an annual festival held in the downtown area of Morgan Hill, California. It is hosted by the nonprofit organization Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc.[3] The festival was established in 1980 by Brad Spencer, and several sponsors supply mushrooms to create mushroom-themed dishes.

History

Founder and fire chief Bradley Ross Spencer (July 6, 1942 – July 2, 2015[4]) first conceptualized the festival when he wanted to raise money for his local fire department, the Morgan Hill Fire Department, after it was affected by Proposition 13.[5] [6] On October 18, 1980, the first festival was held, attracting 30,000 visitors.

In 2014, 80,000 people attended the Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival, setting a new record. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was cancelled in 2020[7] and 2021.[8] In 2023, it was postponed after numerous safety concerns were raised regarding the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting.[9] The festival raises scholarship money for high schoolers within the Morgan Hill Unified School District.[10] [11]

2024 rebranding

In 2024, the event was rebranded as the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival.[12] Unlike previous festivals, a twenty dollar admission was implemented[13] to pay for costs and scholarship funds.

Activities

Customers may visit booths preparing dishes made from mushrooms. Other activities include arts-and-crafts, museums, live music, and scholarship award ceremonies.[14] Wine tasting was added in 2016. A Mushroom Expo in the rose garden of the Community and Cultural Center showcases the use of mushrooms.

The festival is usually hosted in May.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-01-29 . Breaking news: Mushroom Festival 2023 is coming back this spring with big changes . 2023-04-30 . Morgan Hill Life . en-US.
  2. Web site: April 5, 2023 . Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival Postponed . 2023-05-01 . NBC Bay Area . en-US.
  3. Web site: Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras . 2023-04-30 . Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2015-07-07 . Bradley Ross Spencer July 6, 1942 - July 2, 2015 . 2023-05-01 . . en-US.
  5. Book: Sharma, U.R. . Images of America: Morgan Hill . . 2005 . 9780738529776 . Charleston, South Carolina . 125.
  6. Web site: January 4, 2019 . How Mushrooms Put Us on the Map . https://web.archive.org/web/20210116211005/https://www.morganhillhistoricalsociety.org/post/how-mushrooms-put-us-on-the-map . January 16, 2021 . June 30, 2024 . Morgan Hill Historical Society.
  7. News: Cheek . Marty . April 28, 2022 . Entertainment: Mushroom Mardi Gras will entertain with great food, music, vendors . Morgan Hill Life . October 22, 2023.
  8. News: February 3, 2021 . Mushroom Mardi Gras canceled for 2021 . . October 22, 2023.
  9. News: Hase . Grace . April 7, 2023 . Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival canceled after security company pulled out . . dead . October 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407220322/https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/04/07/morgan-hill-mushroom-festival-canceled-after-security-company-pulled-out/ . April 7, 2023.
  10. News: Airoldi . Robert . January 24, 2024 . Breaking news: Mushroom Festival 2024 announced . April 11, 2024 . Morgan Hill Life.
  11. Web site: Hansen . Louis . May 27, 2018 . Mushroom Mardi Gras draws families, fun to Morgan Hill . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527074110/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/05/27/mushroom-mardi-gras-draws-families-fun-to-morgan-hill/ . May 27, 2023 . June 5, 2024 . The Mercury News.
  12. Web site: Zavoral . Linda . May 22, 2024 . Morgan Hill's Mushroom Festival returns this weekend for 43rd year . June 5, 2024 . East Bay Times.
  13. Web site: Mushroom Festival is this weekend . June 5, 2024 . The Morgan Hill Times.
  14. News: May 15, 2016 . Bay Area LIFE: Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras is fun for whole family! . . October 22, 2023.

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