Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival

Festival in Morgan Hill, California
37°7′35″N 121°38′59″W / 37.12639°N 121.64972°W / 37.12639; -121.64972CountryUnited StatesYears active43InauguratedOctober 18, 1980 (1980-10-18)FounderBradley Ross SpencerMost recentMay 26, 2024 (2024-05-26)ActivityMushroom dishesOrganized byMorgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc.Filing status501(c)(3)SponsorsLocal mushroom farmsWebsitemhmmg.org/home

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.

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.[7] 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[8] and 2021.[9] In 2023, it was postponed after numerous safety concerns were raised regarding the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting.[10] The festival raises scholarship money for high schoolers within the Morgan Hill Unified School District.[11][12]

2024 rebranding

In 2024, the event was rebranded as the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival.[1][13] Unlike previous festivals, a twenty dollar admission was implemented[14] to pay for costs and scholarship funds.[13]

Activities

Customers may visit booths preparing dishes made from mushrooms. Other activities include arts-and-crafts, museums, live music, and scholarship award ceremonies.[15] Wine tasting was added in 2016.[8][15] A Mushroom Expo in the rose garden of the Community and Cultural Center showcases the use of mushrooms.[13]

The festival is usually hosted in May.[8][15]

Notes

  1. ^ Since 2005, it has been held at Morgan Hill's downtown area.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Breaking news: Mushroom Festival 2023 is coming back this spring with big changes". Morgan Hill Life. January 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival Postponed". NBC Bay Area. April 5, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Cheek, Marty (February 9, 2023). "Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival can inspire Gilroy residents to not give up on the Garlic Festival". Gilroy Life. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Cheek, Marty (May 26, 2014). "Record 80,000 attend Mushroom Mardi Gras". Morgan Hill Life. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras". Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  6. ^ "Bradley Ross Spencer July 6, 1942 - July 2, 2015". Gilroy Dispatch. July 7, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Sharma, U.R. (2005). Images of America: Morgan Hill. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 9780738529776.
  8. ^ a b c Cheek, Marty (April 28, 2022). "Entertainment: Mushroom Mardi Gras will entertain with great food, music, vendors". Morgan Hill Life. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "Mushroom Mardi Gras canceled for 2021". The Morgan Hill Times. February 3, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Hase, Grace (April 7, 2023). "Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival canceled after security company pulled out". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  11. ^ Airoldi, Robert (January 24, 2024). "Breaking news: Mushroom Festival 2024 announced". Morgan Hill Life. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Hansen, Louis (May 27, 2018). "Mushroom Mardi Gras draws families, fun to Morgan Hill". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Zavoral, Linda (May 22, 2024). "Morgan Hill's Mushroom Festival returns this weekend for 43rd year". East Bay Times. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mushroom Festival is this weekend". The Morgan Hill Times. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Bay Area LIFE: Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras is fun for whole family!". ABC 7 News. May 15, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2023.

External links

  • Official website (archived)
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