Step into the magical world of fungi at our first ever Mushroom Festival! Get ready to be captivated by the wonders of mushrooms as we bring together a diverse array of educational, retail, and food vendors. Delve into the fungal kingdom with hands-on activities for kids. Join us for enlightening walk and talks, where you’ll discover the secrets of foraging and IDing mushrooms. Be inspired by vendor presentations showcasing the versatility and benefits of mushrooms. Get ready for a fungi-filled day of discovery, exploration, and celebration at the Mushroom Festival!

View the full agenda

9AM-10:30AM – Walk & Talk with Tradd Cotter (pre-registration required)

11AM-11:20AM – Tidewater Mushroom Co. speaking on mushroom cultivation

12PM-12:20pm – Capstone Mushroom

1PM-2:30PM – Keynote Speaker: Tradd Cotter speaking on mushrooms, molds, and mycorrhizae

3PM-3:20PM – Enchanted Nature Tours speaking on the introduction to mushroom IDing

4PM-5:30PM – Walk & Talk with Tradd Cotter (pre-registration required)

Presentations taking place inside Rose Garden Hall

Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and retired landscape designer who has been cultivating mushrooms both commercially and experimentally for more than thirty years. He is the author of the best-selling book  Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation  (2014) and has won numerous awards for his work.

Register online for a private walk and talk with Tradd Cotter! Learn about our speaker Morning walk and talk – SOLD OUT Register for the afternoon walk and talk Our public tram will depart from the front of Baker Hall on the top of the hour from 10:00AM – 4:00PM! All trams will whisk you away into the Enchanted Forest to discover our summer exhibit, Funky Fungi: Nature’s Curious Creations.

Bear House Coffee

Spicy Latina Cuisine

Ben and Jerry’s

Smoothie Stand

Over the Moon Pizza

Duck Donuts

Earthy Child  

DecayDecor  

Nissa’s Nik Naks  

Enchanted Nature Tours  

VisitNorfolk  

Blue Heron Pottery  

Tidewater Mushroom Co

Jimmy Potters  

PartiPups LLC  

Small Farms Outreach Program  

Tradd Cotter  

Tidewater Compost  

Capstone Mushrooms  

Mystic Fruit  

Butterfly Society of VA  

Pastiche Treasures  

VA Urban Agriculture Initiative  

Happy Heart Designs  

HARDLUG  

Cliff & Cindy Guard

J’arrive

Art by Meb  

Nature’s Goodness

Bayside Clay  

Eco Maniac Company

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