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(s) | Downtown Morgan Hill[a] |
| Coordinates | 37°7′35″N 121°38′59″W / 37.12639°N 121.64972°W |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 44 |
| 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 | mhmmg |
History
editFounder 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
editIn 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
editCustomers 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]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival Postponed". NBC Bay Area. April 5, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d Cheek, Marty (May 26, 2014). "Record 80,000 attend Mushroom Mardi Gras". Morgan Hill Life. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras". Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ "Bradley Ross Spencer July 6, 1942 - July 2, 2015". Gilroy Dispatch. July 7, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Sharma, U.R. (2005). Images of America: Morgan Hill. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 9780738529776.
- ^ "How Mushrooms Put Us on the Map". Morgan Hill Historical Society. January 4, 2019. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Mushroom Mardi Gras canceled for 2021". The Morgan Hill Times. February 3, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Airoldi, Robert (January 24, 2024). "Breaking news: Mushroom Festival 2024 announced". Morgan Hill Life. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Mushroom Festival is this weekend". The Morgan Hill Times. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ 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
edit- Official website (archived)