Chester County mushroom growers account for fifty-four percent of total U.S. mushroom production, and the heart of mushroom country is undoubtedly Kennett Square.
This year, the town celebrates their unique heritage with the 26th Annual Mushroom Festival. Held Friday, September 9th through Sunday, September 11th, the highlights are expected to include a Friday night remembrance of 9-11 and a Saturday visit from renowned Iron Chef Jose Garces.
The festival kicks off with the community parade on Friday night at 6pm as State Street is transformed into Mushroom Boulevard. This year the float contest theme is “A Celebration of Hope: Remembering 9-11.”
“During the parade, we’re having our own tribute. The firefighters will march in front of the fire trucks,” Mushroom Festival Coordinator Kathi Lafferty said. After the parade is over there is an Oldies 98 Dance Party.
“We’ve always had two days of culinary events, but this year we’re stepping it up,” Kathi said. “We’re very excited to be having Chef Jose Garces join us this year.” The Food Network Iron Chef and Philadelphia Restaurateur will appear Saturday at 1:30 pm, where he will do a cooking presentation. Afterward, he’ll be sign copies of his books. Tickets are available for $20 online.
Earlier on Saturday morning, at 10:30am, Kristin McGuigan from Back Burner in Hockessin, Delaware appears. On Sunday, Chef Steve Latona, Instructor at the Restaurant School in Philadelphia appears at 10:30am. At noon, Chef Cynthia Goch makes an appearance. At 1:30 on Sunday, Chef Kevin Sbraga, Top Chef DC winner from season 7 will give a cooking presentation. These events are free.
The culinary events are just a part of the town-wide celebration that will take place over the weekend.
On Saturday and Sunday, the celebration of the mushroom includes a street fair with nearly 200 vendors and will include Chef Jose Garces’ famous Guapos Taco Truck, which is rumored to serve an excellent mushroom taco. Attendees at the festival can sample everything mushroom – including breaded mushrooms, mushrooms soups, skewered mushrooms, and mushrooms on a stick. For dessert? Mushroom ice cream!
Kathi Lafferty will have her own “Snack N Mushrooms” for sale during the event. Kathi is a bit of a mushroom aficionado herself, she owns The Mushroom Cap on State Street and her husband operates a family mushroom business. She’s been organizing the event for the past ten years.
“Most stands are mushroom related,” Kathi said. “With all our restaurants and food vendors, there’s maybe thirty or forty places to eat. The men at the Masonic Lodge also make a mushroom soup and they sell their soup to people who come in and sit in the air conditioning.” Some vendors stands will be selling mushroom growing kits, mushroom garden ornaments and mushroom jewelry. The Street Fair runs Saturday, 10a-7pm, and Sunday, 10am-5pm.
Other festivities throughout the weekend include mushroom farm tours and a mushroom growing exhibit. Entertainment and rides will be available for kids. Parents can also enter their kids in the “Cute as a button” Baby Photo Contest.
On Saturday, festivities include an Antique and Classic Car Show and an amateur mushroom soup cook-off. On Sunday, runners lace up their shoes for the 5K Mushroom Walk/Run. Other scheduled events include a soup and wine festival. Mushroom judging takes place at noon.
Wristband Admission is $2 for ages 12 and older. $5 parking includes a free shuttle bus to the street fair.
All proceeds benefit local and regional non-profit organizations through the Mushroom Festival Grant program. Last year, 31 local organizations received grants totaling $70,000. In the last ten years, the Mushroom Festival has given over $425,000 in grants to local charities.
The TownDish is a proud media sponsor of this year’s event. Check out details at www.mushroomfestival.org.
