2020 Mushroom Festival canceled

Posted by Press Release on April 18, 2020

Concerns over COVID-19, as well as the economic toll the disease has caused, has now claimed the annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square. In a press release issued late Friday night, the festival's Board of Directors announced there would be no festival this year. It was planned for Sept. 12 and 13.

"The mushroom industry has been hurt significantly, so it was very difficult for us to ask for sponsor money from our friends in the industry," said Executive Director Kathi Lafferty in the release. "We've also found out that the normal events that our vendors participate in have also been canceled, so although it was difficult, we came to the decision that it would just be best in everyone's best interest — and health and safety — to just come back even stronger next year."

Despite the cancelation of its 2020 event, the impact of the Mushroom Festival will continue to be strong in the community this year, the release said. The festival's directors have announced that $25,000 in grants raised from the proceeds of the 2019 festival will be disbursed throughout the Kennett Square community to help fund the efforts of those individuals and organizations who are assisting in the fight to slow the rate of the coronavirus. Contributions will also be made to local fire companies and first responders.

The festival will also still sponsor a Mushroom Soup and Wine Evening, planned for on Oct. 15, as well as hold the annual New Year's Mushroom Drop event on Dec. 31.

The festival, which was to celebrate its 35th year in 2020, began in 1986 when a small group of mushroom enthusiasts wished to hold a public event to celebrate the impact of mushroom growing and mushroom product distribution in Kennett Square, long known as "The Mushroom Capital of the World." From those beginnings – which encompassed a two-block distance, the Mushroom Festival has grown to a mile-long venue that draws an average of 100,000 visitors to Kennett Square on the second weekend in September, as well as a full line-up of events, exhibits, contests, children's entertainment and more than 250 vendors.

Facilitated by its volunteer organizing committee, the Mushroom Festival has donated more than $1 million of its proceeds since 1986 to a wide variety of charities and organizations that benefit the residents of Kennett Square and the surrounding communities.