This weekend, which celebrates the Memorial Day holiday, will feature the family-friendly 36th annual Mushroom Mardi Gras food, art and wine festival in downtown Morgan Hill.
At the Community & Cultural Center and spread throughout the downtown area, the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras will welcome thousands of residents and visitors. More than 80,000 people flooded last year’s festival over two days, according to Mardi Gras organizers.
The festival, which raises funds for college scholarships for local high school students, will feature two days of food (with many vendors showcasing local and regional mushrooms), shopping and entertainment. Three stages throughout the festival grounds will perform a variety of live music and performances.
In 2014, the Festival distributed $77,500 in scholarships, mini-grants and other donations. Over the last three decades, the Mushroom Mardi Gras has issued more than $860,000 in scholarships, $29,500 in mini-grants and $420,000 to participating school groups.
The Mushroom Mardi Gras and participating vendors will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 24. It will take place at the Downtown Morgan Hill Amphitheater and Community Center grounds, and along Depot Street between Dunne Avenue and Second Street.
Downtown streets on the east side of Monterey Road will be closed during the event.
Parking is available at a number of lots surrounding the festival venue, including at the Butterfield Boulevard Park and Ride lot, which is a short walk across the railroad tracks from the Mushroom Mardi Gras. For a $5 donation to the Live Oak Emerald Regime Band, attendees can park at the large lot on the corner of Church Street and San Pedro Avenue with a free shuttle ride to and from the festival.
For more information, visit the festival website at mhmmg.org.