Celebrating Shrooms

May 13, 2023

No, not those kinds of shrooms…morel mushrooms, of course! The 63rd annual National Morel Mushroom Festival returns to Boyne City this weekend, running May 18-21. This beloved event pays homage to northern Michigan’s favorite fungus with morel tastings, a mushroom hunt, seminars, an arts and crafts show, concerts, and more! Signature events include Friday’s Morelfest Wine & Dine dinner at Beach House Restaurant ($95); Saturday’s Taste of Morels ($10 admission with tasting tickets for purchase), where local chefs compete for the top dish as voted by local celebrity judges; and, of course, the Saturday National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt ($30). There’s also a carnival that runs from 3-10pm Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5pm Sunday. Festival proceeds go to area high school students for college scholarships entering the fields of biology, natural science, hospitality, or culinary arts. For a full schedule of events, details, and tickets, head to bcmorelfestival.com.