'Midnight in the Square' mushrooming

‘Midnight in the Square’ mushrooming

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on December 26, 2014

The giant fungus will drop from a crane into the middle of the intersection of Union and State Streets.

What do an oversized red shoe, a mammoth potato-chip bag and a massive Kennett Square mushroom have in common? They all made USA Today's recent list of the 12 most unusual drops on New Year's Eve.

The 700-pound, stainless steel spore will light up Kennett Square's sky.

Capping the success of its debut last year, a fancifully festive fungus will illuminate the sky above the Mushroom Capital to usher in 2015. The lighted, 700-pound, stainless steel spore - a hefty 8 feet by 7 ½ feet - will descend 80 feet from a crane during the Second Annual Midnight in the Square.

Kathi Lafferty, the lead organizer who also spearheads the Mushroom Festival, said attendees would see a few changes, all designed to enhance the experience. For example, Bob’s Crane Service will orchestrate the descent of the mushroom into the center of the intersection of State and Union Streets rather than its corner, a way to make the spectacle more visible from down the block.

Festivities, including live music by the Funsters and other entertainment, will begin at 9 p.m. Lafferty said vendors, ranging from Dunkin Donuts to Hood's BBQ and Deli, will line State Street, possibly spilling onto Union Street. In addition, Michoacana Grill, a Mexican BYOB restaurant located at 201 South Union, will be open.

Between 3,000 and 5,000 people watched the inaugural drop in 2014. Photo by Peter B. Kaplan — Between 3,000 and 5,000 people watched the drop during the inaugural event. *Photo by Peter B. Kaplan*

Lafferty said the 3,000 to 5,000 people who attended the inaugural event had a great time and said they would return. She said she expects word-of-mouth to make this year’s crowd even larger.

Admission to the family-friendly event requires a non-perishable item or canned good. All donations will be given to the Kennett Area Community Services' food cupboard. Last year, people contributed more than a ton of food, Lafferty said. This year, volunteers will be on hand to load the donations into waiting trucks for better efficiency and more breathing room.

Parking will be available at Kennett High School and at the Exelon parking lot. Free shuttle bus service will run to and from the downtown area.

By the time the organizers cover the shuttle buses, insurance, entertainment, police and security costs, the price tag for Midnight in the Square nears $25,000, Lafferty said, expressing gratitude to the event’s funders. They include the Kennett Area Restaurant and Merchants Association, in conjunction with the Mushroom Festival; To-Jo Mushrooms, which donated the massive spore; Bob’s Crane Service, which will do the heavy lifting; Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania, and a host of others.

To help defray costs, Lafferty said the merchants’ association is raffling off two baskets worth $3,500, and merchants will be selling a New Year’s Eve ornament for $12 each. Raffle tickets, selling for $5 apiece or three for $10 – are available at most Kennett Square retailers. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kennett food cupboard. Winners to be announced New Year’s Eve

“It’s amazing how much everything costs,” Lafferty said. “But it was a lot of fun, and everyone’s looking forward to making it even better this year.”

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/midnightinthesquare or its Web site: http://midnightinthesquare.com.