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, after it was affected by Proposition 13.[7][8] On October 18, 1980, the first festival was held, attracting 30,000 visitors.[4]
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]
