Mountain Mushroom Festival

32nd annual
City of Irvine Mountain Mushroom Festival
Founded 1991
“Where the Bluegrass Kisses the Mountains”

Saturday, April 27    9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (booths)

and 9:30 p.m. (grandstand entertainment)

​

Sunday, April 28     10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location:   Latitude:  37.70026     Longitude:  -83.97518

• The festival area is in the downtown area of Irvine on Court Street and Broadway. 

• The KY Agate, Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show will be held at the Estill County School Central Office gym, 253 Main Street, Irvine.  Enter at the back of the building.

• The Kruzers Car Club Show will be at the corner of Main Street and Mack Street, Irvine.

• The Morey Mullet Contest will be in the Courthouse side yard facing Broadway.

• The Pancake Breakfast will be at the Masonic Lodge, 221 Broadway & Lilly Avenue, Irvine. 

• The Student Art Show and Photography Contest display will be at the Courthouse Annex (former BB&T), 119 Broadway, Irvine.

Description: 

The Mountain Mushroom Festival is a celebration of the Appalachian culture:  the morel mushroom, KY agate (state rock of Kentucky), arts and crafts, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky River, and mountains.  The festival’s mission is to share the cultural heritage and traditions of our community and support area groups (mushroom hunters, agate hunters, local crafters, artisans, and civic organizations) and businesses to foster community pride and stimulate economic development. A local volunteer committee partners with the community to present a variety of activities and provide educational opportunities. The festival provides a weekend of free activities and entertainment for everyone. 

Activities: 

• Mushroom theme activities include a morel market with morels for sale brought by the local hunters.
  The availability is dependent on the amount that the local hunters bring to the mushroom tent.   Even when a late spring or dry spell makes morels scarce, morels can be tasted after the cooking demonstrations.  Other activities include prize money for most mushrooms and largest, educational panels on mushroom hunting, interviews with hunters on the foodways stage, mushroom photo stand, Morey Morel mascot, natural habitat terrarium for displaying the native morel, morel/shiitake/oyster cooking demonstrations, shiitake log inoculation demonstrations, Window Decorating, Fungus 5K & 2K run/walk, Parade, and sale of festival t-shirts. 

• Agate activities include agate hunts in the creeks of Estill County and a KY Agate, Gem, Mineral, and 
  Fossil Show.  The show features KY agates, gems, minerals, fossils, and rock displays, and vendors selling everything from agates to rocks to jewelry from the local area to around the world. 

• Arts and crafts are promoted through artisan booths, heritage craft demonstrations, bicentennial train 
  display, Photography Contest display, and High School Student Art Show.

• Heritage activities include the Estill County Historical Society Museum, Fitchburg Furnace display, 
  Daniel Boone National Forest display, and demonstrations.  

• Grandstand Live Entertainment on the stage will include live performances by a variety of groups performing different genres of music.  

• Other activities will include a Car Show, Mullet Contest, Oleika Shriners train, food court, games, Kids activities, and inflatables.
   

Admission to the festival is free.  All events are open to the public and handicapped accessible.  No pets please.

​

Hold the Date!!  Hope to see ya’ at the 32nd annual Mountain Mushroom Festival, April 27-28, 2024.  It is held during the last full weekend of April.