Guerneville is going wild for mushrooms. The first-ever Russian River Fungi Fest arrives February 21st and 22nd to boost winter tourism and celebrate local ecology.
According to the Press Democrat, the festival will take over downtown Guerneville with foraging expeditions, expert speakers, and a market featuring over 100 vendors. Local restaurants are even joining in, switching to entirely mushroom-themed menus for the weekend.
Following a recent spike in mushroom poisonings across the state, organizer Nick Schwanz says education is the event’s core mission. Experts will be on hand to teach vital safety protocols and identification skills. With vendor applications already maxed out, organizers expect this “peak mushroom season” celebration to become a new annual tradition.
