FFSC mushroom experts will be available throughout the fair to identify the mushrooms you’ve found. Bring yours, ideally stored in a paper bag rather than plastic. Paper allows fungi to "breathe" and keeps them fresher!

The habitat display area will present hundreds of mushroom species commonly found in the Santa Cruz/San Francisco/Monterey Bay area.

Visit the Kid's Room for mushroom activities such as clay sculpture, water colors, face painting, mushroom art and making mushroom dyed fabric. Peruse the fungus exploration area and look at spores through a microscope.

Schedule Of Events

Jan 10,2025
Room 1 Talks:
No extra fee, no reservations.  General Admission stamp still required.

2:30 pm-3:30pm - Alan Rockefeller

Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Fungi:

These types of mushrooms are both beautiful and scientifically fascinating.  This presentation has hundreds of high quality photos and photography tips for both types of glowing mushrooms, and includes information on using a UV light to identify mushrooms.

5:30 pm-9:00pm - After Hours Mushroom Dinner - separate admission
Chef Chad Hyatt presents the 11th After Hours Mushroom Dinner with wine pairings by Jeff Emery, vintner of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard

Room 1 Talks:
No extra fee, no reservations. General Admission stamp still required.

2:30 pm-3:30pm - Chef Bob Wynn

Tips and Techniques for Cooking with Mushrooms

4:00 pm-5:00pm - Phil Carpenter     

An Introduction to Mushroom Identification

Jan 11,2025

Room 3 Talks:

9:30 am-10:30am - Christopher Hobbs, PH.D.

The Magic Mushroom Talk:

Psilocybin mushrooms are renowned as spiritual guides and tools for dissolving the ego, helping to overcome trauma, limiting beliefs, and mental blocks and clinical research shows they can effectively treat anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD. In this talk, we'll explore the transformative potential of psilocybin through recent science and practice.

11:15 am-12:15pm - Christian Schwarz

Fungi of New Zealand: The Ecology of a Young Land

Aotearoa — the land more commonly as New Zealand is young in many ways: In recent geologic history, it nearly drowned after splitting off from the Australian continent, and it was the last bit of Earth’s land to be inhabited by human beings. This island nation is a wild and wondrous place — very different from anything familiar to a resident of the Northern Hemisphere. We’ll talk about the holistic ecology of the place, using fungi as a lens to understand the bigger picture.

1:00 pm-2:00pm - Bill Schoenbart

Medicinal Mushrooms - Science and Traditional Usage

Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. They have also been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years. This talk will review the traditional functions and indications of turkey tail, reishi, cordyceps, and lion's mane, and we will discuss clinical studies and research into these incredible gifts from nature.

2:45 pm-3:45pm - Noah Siegel

Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast

From towering redwoods to live oak woodlands, northern California has diverse habitats which host a dazzling array of fungi. From the worlds largest chanterelle, to massive Porcini, or a rainbow of tiny waxy caps in the redwood duff, this talk will introduce you to the mushrooms of the Redwood Coast

4:30 pm-5:30pm - Henry Young

What You Need to Know About Poisonous Mushrooms:

We will explore the intersection of poisonous mushrooms and people who accidentally or purposefully eat them. Toxic fungi from the deadly to the lose your lunch bunch and their impact on humans will be covered.

Room 1 Talks:

10:00 am-11:00am - Vellany Pierce

An Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation

11:30 am-12:30pm - Henry Young

A Discussion of Poisonous Mushrooms

1:00 pm-2:00pm - Douglas Smith

Top Ten Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms

2:30 pm-3:30pm - Shannon Adams

From Saucepan to Science: Foraging, Feasting and Phylogeny

4:00 pm-5:00pm - Phil Carpenter

An Introduction to Mushroom Identification

Jan 12,2025

Room 3 Talks:

No extra fee, no reservations. General Admission stamp still required.

9:30 am-10:30am - Noah Siegel

Adventures of a Mycohobo

Ever wonder what mushrooms occur in the jungles of tropical Africa and South America, or the dripping, moss covered Antarctic Beech forests of New Zealand, or across North America? We will take a photo safari of some of the places I have been working, and highlight my favorite mushrooms and ecosystems.

11:15 am-12:15pm - Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D.

Magic Mushroom Microdosing

Magic mushroom microdosing is gaining global attention, with growing scientific research and personal testimonials highlighting its benefits for cognitive health, brain plasticity, neurogenesis, and enhancing brain immune function. This talk will explore the emerging science and practical applications of microdosing, led by a speaker with 40 years of experience.

1:00 pm-2:00pm - Thea Chesney

Fungal Range Maps: How We Build Them and Why They Matter

Understanding where an organism lives, and why, is an essential part of understanding its life history and ecology, yet we have been lacking in data for the geographic distribution of many fungi in our rapidly changing world. We will discuss the historical and current state of knowledge, as well as recent efforts to improve these data and discoveries that are both helping and sometimes confounding our understanding of fungal species distribution.

2:45 pm-4:00pm - Chad Hyatt and Jeff Emery

A Mushroom Tasting with Wine Pairing:

Chef Chad Hyatt will demonstrate his cooking techniques and his creations will be paired with exquisite wines provided by vintner Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vinyard. There will be a small extra fee to cover the cost of ingredients. All ages are welcome, but you must be over 21 to taste the wine.

4:30 pm-5:30pm - Christian Schwarz

Two Years of the California Fungal Diversity Study: What Have We Learned?

Over the past two years, the CA FUNDIS organization has undertaken a remarkable effort to get to know the mushrooms of California more deeply. We’ll talk about the results of this effort by reviewing some of some of the discoveries made by this dedicated crew, and talk about how this non-profit organization has accomplished so much in such a short time. We’ll end by discussing how you can help support us, or even get involved directly. You’ll come away with a sneak peek at some cutting-edge knowledge about the mushrooms in our amazing state

Room 1 Talks:
No extra fee, no reservations. General Admission stamp still required.

10:00 am-11:00am - Alan Rockefeller

Decoding the Forest Floor: The Art of Mushroom Recognition

11:30 am-12:30pm - Bill Schoenbart

Medicinal Mushrooms – Traditional Usage and Modern Science

1:00 pm-2:00pm - Douglas Smith

Common Mushrooms of the San Francisco Bay Area

2:30 pm-3:30pm - Phil Carpenter

An Introduction to Mushroom Identification

4:00 pm-5:00pm - Kyle Garrone

Mushroom Cultivation

Date : Jan 10-12,2025

Location :London Nelson Community Center - 301 Center Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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