Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival

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.[lower-alpha 1] 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
StatusActive
GenreMushroom festival
BeginsMemorial Day weekend
EndsOne day after
FrequencyAnnually
VenueCommunity and Cultural Center
Location(s)Downtown Morgan Hill
Coordinates37°7′35″N 121°38′59″W
CountryUnited States
Years active43
InauguratedOctober 18, 1980 (1980-10-18)
FounderBradley Ross Spencer
Most recentMay 26, 2024 (2024-05-26)
ActivityMushroom dishes
Organized byMorgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc.
Filing status501(c)(3)
SponsorsLocal mushroom farms
Websitemhmmg.org/home

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. "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. 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. 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. 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. "Bay Area LIFE: Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras is fun for whole family!". ABC 7 News. May 15, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
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