February 2020 Wild Mushroom Fair
Sunday, February 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
This event is free after paying for admission to the Arboretum. Find price information for the Arboretum here.
Schedule (subject to change):
9:00 a.m.
Morning Mushroom Walk
10:00 a.m.
Mushroom Growing Demonstration
11:15 a.m.
Cooking Demonstration
1:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
2:30 p.m.
Mushroom Growing Demonstration
4:00 p.m.
Fair closes
Morning Mushroom Walk:
Tour different parts of the arboretum to look for mushrooms. Learn about the mushrooms and the key features that help identify what type they are.
Mushroom Growing Demonstration:
Peter McCoy will be giving demonstrations on how to grow your own mushrooms at home!
Cooking Demonstration:
Chef Jerry Su of Eagle Rock Public House in Los Angeles. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America in the heart of Napa Valley. He worked at Bouchon Bistro, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, Del Dotto Vineyards, and was sous chef at Son of a Gun. He loves mushrooms and will prepare some dishes with samples for everyone to try.
Art and Photo Contest:
Art submissions were 2-dimensional pieces of mushroom art. Photo submissions were natural images of fungi/mushroom in the So Cal area.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Britt Bunyard, editor of Fungi Magazine
Program: "Edible, Dangerous, and Notable Wild Mushrooms of California"
An overview, with beautiful photos, of wild mushrooms you should know, and information on how to know them. For edible species, information on how to preserve and prepare them. This discussion is for all audiences, with no prior knowledge of biology or wild mushrooms.
Fair activities (all day):
- Mushroom ID - bring in mushrooms and have experts identify them. The experts can explain what key features help determine what kind of mushrooms you have.
- Mushroom Display - view recently foraged wild mushrooms that have been identified. Learn about the different types of mushrooms and how they function in nature.
- Mushroom Art - view recently created sculptures, diagrams, and art contributed by some of our artistically minded members.
- Children's Booth - kids can have fun coloring mushroom pictures, learning mushroom origami, and experimenting with homemade mushroom ink and a stamp pad.
- Vendors - will be selling mushroom growing kits, oils, books, clothing, bags, magnets, jewelry and more.
- Membership Booth - here you can join LAMS and start receiving our newsletter, announcements of forays, and access to our beginner and intermediate mushroom class.