Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival
Festival in Morgan Hill, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[a] It is hosted by the nonprofit organization Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc.[5] The festival was established in 1980 by Brad Spencer,[4] and several sponsors supply mushrooms to create mushroom-themed dishes.
| Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival | |
|---|---|
Logo as of 2024 | |
 People attending the festival in 2011 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Mushroom festival |
| Begins | Memorial Day weekend |
| Ends | One day after |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Community and Cultural Center |
| Location | Downtown Morgan Hill[a] |
| Coordinates | 37°7′35″N 121°38′59″W |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 45 |
| Inaugurated | October 18, 1980 |
| Founder | Bradley Ross Spencer |
Most recent | May 26, 2024 |
Activity | Mushroom dishes |
| Organized by | Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc. |
| Filing status | 501(c)(3) |
| Sponsors | Local mushroom farms |
| Website | morganhillmushroomfestival |
History
Founder and fire chief Bradley Ross Spencer (July 6, 1942 – July 2, 2015[6]) 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.[7][8] On October 18, 1980, the first festival was held, attracting 30,000 visitors.[4]
In 2014, 80,000 people attended the Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival, setting a new record.[4] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was cancelled in 2020[9] and 2021.[10] In 2023, it was postponed after numerous safety concerns were raised regarding the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting.[11] The festival raises scholarship money for high schoolers within the Morgan Hill Unified School District.[12][13]
2024 rebranding
In 2024, the event was rebranded as the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival.[1][14] Unlike previous festivals, a twenty dollar admission was implemented[15] to pay for costs and scholarship funds.[14]
Activities
Customers may visit booths preparing dishes made from mushrooms. Other activities include arts-and-crafts, museums, live music, and scholarship award ceremonies.[16] Wine tasting was added in 2016.[9][16] A Mushroom Expo in the rose garden of the Community and Cultural Center showcases the use of mushrooms.[14]