The 46th Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

Announcing the 46th Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

January 10, 11, 12, 2020

Presented by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz

Web Site http://ffsc.us


Friday January 10, 2 pm – 6pm

Saturday and Sunday, January 11 &12, 10 am – 5 pm

Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA

Admission: General $10, Seniors (60+)/Students $5, Kids under 12 free with adult admission

Friday Admission: $5 for everyone


Come to Santa Cruz and explore the fascinating world of Mushrooms. Learn interesting and fun facts about the hundreds of beautiful and fascinating species of mushrooms found in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area. Fungi will be beautifully displayed in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition features three days of fantastic fun, informative speakers and demonstrations, with fungal activities for the whole family


Featured speakers include Dr. Christopher Hobbs, renowned author and medicinal mushroom expert and Dr. Roo Vandegrift, a National Geographic Explorer grant recipient for his continuing biodiversity and conservation research of the threatened Andean cloud forest reserve.

The FFSC actively promotes the study of mushrooms, and is dedicated to encouraging an avid interest in the fungal kingdom. We hunt mushrooms for scientific interest and for the table. We encourage a sense of wonder with regard to one of the least understood segments of our global environment. We are fungiphiles, and you just might be one, too...

ACTIVITIES

FFSC mushroom experts will be available throughout the fair to identify the mushrooms you’ve found. Bring yours, ideally stored in a paper bag rather than plastic. Paper allows fungi to "breathe" and keeps them fresher!

Nationally and locally renowned speakers will present talks on a wide variety of topics in the Main Lecture Room (Room 3) and the Mushrooms 101 Room (Room 1). See Program Schedule for details.

The Habitat Display Area will present hundreds of mushroom species commonly found in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area.

Visit the Kid's Room for mushroom activities such as clay sculpture, water colors, face painting, mushroom art and making mushroom dyed fabric. Available Saturday and Sunday.


Visit the Vendor Rooms to find a phenomenal assortment of food, books, fresh and dried wild mushrooms, growing kits, artwork, mushroom-dyed silks, jewelry and more. Also food vendors are located throughout the venue.


Attend the After Hours Mushroom Dinner, a catered, multi-course sit down dinner with live music. Each course will be paired with wine. Always a sell-out, separate Admission is required. See website for details.

Throughout the three day event, Fungus Fair attendees will be able to learn more about local mushrooms, view remarkable mushroom arts and crafts, taste unusual and exceptionally good fungal fare, and be a part of the FFSC’s overriding mission – “We Keep the Fun in Fungi!”

For more information and bios please visit our website (http://ffsc.us) or contact the Publicity Coordinator. Heather Troy: [email protected]



The purpose of the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is to expand the understanding and appreciation of mycology (study of mushrooms) and to assist the general public, related institutions, and societies to further this goal. The annual Fungus Fair is a major contributor to this important educational process and thousands benefit from this activity every January. Many continue the learning process throughout the year at monthly meetings and activities open to the public.