Fungus Fair 2014 - General Information
Friday, January 10: 3pm - 7pm
After-hours event 7 - 10pm
Saturday, January 11: 10am - 5pm
After-hours event 6 - 9pm
Sunday, January 12: 10am - 5pm
LOCATION
Louden Nelson Community Center
Map & Directions
ADMISSION
Friday admission - $5
Saturday / Sunday admission - $10
Students & Seniors (60+) - $5
Kids under 12 - free
Come to Santa Cruz and explore the Kingdom of Fungi! Learn about the hundreds of beautiful and fascinating species of mushrooms found in the Santa Cruz/Monterey and Bay Area. Find fungi on display 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. Initiated by David Arora in 1973, this year's fair represents 40 years of keeping the "fun" in fungi. Join the fun!
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...
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 vs. plastic is not an environmental rant — paper allows fungi to "breathe" and keeps them fresher!
Nationally and locally renowned speakers will present talks on a wide variety of topics, including cooking demonstrations with wine pairings, in the Main Lecture Room (Room 3) and the Mushrooms 101 Room (Room 1). See Program Schedules for details.
The habitat display area will present hundreds of mushroom species commonly found in the Santa Cruz/San Francisco/Monterey Bay area.
We will be conducting a class specifically designed for students to be held from noon - 1pm both Saturday and Sunday mornings in the Teen Center at Louden Nelson.
Visit the Kid's Room for mushroom activities such as clay sculpture, water colors, face painting, mushroom art and making mushroom dyed fabric. Peruse the fungus exploration area and look at spores through a microscope.
After Hours Mushroom Dinner
Friday, January 10, 7:00 - 10:00 pm
Louden Nelson Community Center, Room 3
Join us for the 3rd Annual After-Hours Mushroom Dinner! This over-the-top event features a catered dinner, world-class wines and live music.
The meal will be catered by Eric Carter of Cabrillo College, Director of Pino Alto Restaurant at the historic Sesnon House. Wine will be poured by Eric Baugher, Winemaker at Ridge Vineyards' Montebello Winery. Ridge has been producing exceptional single-vineyard wines since 1962.
Music will be provided by Fernando Lezama and his Latin Jazz Band sound!
Joining in on the fun are mycologists Christian Schwarz and Noah Siegel, who will answer your questions about mushrooms and lead private tours of the Fungus Fair mushroom displays. Stay tuned for the Menu it will be posted at a later date.
Get all the details and make your reservation here!
Admission $75 FFSC members, $80 non-members.
Includes tax and gratuity.
A list of paid reservations will be at the door
40 Years of Fun(gus) Fair Celebration Party
Help us keep the Fun in Fungus - come celebrate 40 years of Fungus Fairs! We're celebrating in Room 3 at Louden Nelson Community Center Saturday, January 11th with food, music and, of course, mushrooms. Get your tickets early, as we anticipate high demand!
Music
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DJ Zachary Mazi and “The Helvella Experience” presented by DJ Critical Cass
Food and Drink
By Chef Bob Wynn of Bob & Doreen's, the Penny Ice Creamery and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard; menu below.
- Trumpet Pasta with Shitake, Porcini, and Crimini Mushrooms in Cream Sauce $5.00
- Porcini and Shitake Mushroom Quinoa Soup $4.00
- Organic Micro-Green Salad with Truffle Oil Vingarette $3.00
- New York Cheesecake with Candy Cap Glaze $4.00
- Candycap Cookies - $1.00
- Soda, Tea, and Coffee - $1.00 each
- Your favorite Penny Ice Creamery flavors & Candy Cap Ice Cream - $3.75 per scoop
- Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard wines - $5.00 per glass
Get all the details and make your reservation here!
Admission $20, payable in advance or cash at the door.
Throughout the three day event, Fungus Fair attendees 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!”.
Publicity
Want to spread the word? Feel free to email or print this 2014 Fungus Fair flyer . Press release and images for media can be found at http://ffsc.us/fair/2014/publicity
Volunteering
Would you like to help before or during the Fair? See our Volunteer page for details.
40th Anniversary Poster
Longing for your own Fungus Fair 40th Anniversary poster? Printed on heavy stock, the 18 x 24" poster features Christian Schwarz's images of Central Coast mushrooms. It will be available for purchase at the Fungus Fair and other FFSC events for $10.
Lodging
The Mission Inn, 2250 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, has graciously offered a discount for fair attendees and vendors. Contact the Mission Inn at 800-895-5455 and let them know you are attending the Fungus Fair when you make reservations. Ask about convenient late-evening (8pm) checkout with this offer.