The Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival, now in its 38th year, is turning Memorial Day
Weekend into a celebration of the mushroom. The annual two-day festival brings in more than 70,000 people. This year’s entertainment will include Saturday’s headliner James Durbin performing with his band The Lost Boys. The Santa Cruz native was among the top four finalists on American Idol’s 10th season in 2011.
Event coordinator, Sunday Minnich expects people will enjoy the entertainment lined up for the weekend.
Festival goers can groove to the sounds of Santana tribute band, Carvanserai, playing on Sunday as well as other bands playing high energy, blues and funk throughout the weekend. While getting down with the live entertainment, the festival will have arts and crafts, a mushroom educational exhibit, cooking demonstrations, strolling musicians, street performers, vendors and plenty of opportunity to try the famed fungus—with 35 gourmet food booths dedicated to all things mushroom, including burgers, mushroom scampi, mushroom quesadillas and mushroom tacos.
Minnich says the festival is designed with family fun in mind and Disney characters Elsa and Anna from Frozen will be seen letting it go throughout the festival grounds with more music and activities in Munchkinland.
Festival proceeds benefit students in the Morgan Hill Unified School District.
For more information, visit mhmmg.org.
By Laura Barreras
