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Categories: Festivals - Mushrooms

A Lovely Shroom

A beautiful growth of mushrooms on a fallen tree in my backyard



While enjoying some unseasonably warm days here in Western Kentucky recently, I began to daydream about the coming of spring and all it will bring. As I thought of lovely new flower blossoms and tiny infant bunnies hopping and sniffing on my lawn, I came across this photo, taken by my husband sometime last year, in our backyard. As I thought about these delicate looking mushrooms (shrooms they are often called) in the photo, I began to wonder if people celebrate and gather to share and talk about the growth of their mushrooms.

I found out that they do. One such place that celebrates in the spring is Boyne City, Michigan. There at the most Northern tip of the state of Michigan is a festival... The Morel Festival in May.

The MOREL (Michigan Outdoor Recreational Experiences and Living) FESTIVAL

always takes place the weekend after Mother's Day.

This year it begins on Thu, May 17th and festivities, competitions etc. continue through Sun, May 20th, 2012. 

With carnival rides, crafts and a build your own "morel" car race (they even sell kits there to build them) there is sure to be lots of zany fun, seeing racers deck out their ride with "shroom accessories." A guided mushroom hunt and "Taste of Morels" premiere event includes famous morel dishes created by guest chef, Rick Coates.

One of the main events is the "Morel Competition," with award categories for:

First mushroom on the pole, the largest and the smallest mushroom, Best of show mushroom, Best dressed mushroom and finally the longest distance travelled to pick mushrooms. 

Other family activities for this amazing weekend include...

•   Free tours at the Boyne City Historical Musuem
•   Softball Tournament
•   Disc Golf Tournament
•   Farmer's Market
•   Live Music

For more information about the Morel Festival Click here. On the website you can even listen to the "Mushroom Waltz."

You may also be interested in some of the Amazon books about mushrooms, edible plants and wildflowers that you can click on the side bar, to the right, above Bella B Bowsand see a sneak peek of at what's inside the book.