Kyle Garrone of Far West Fungi, pictured May 25, 2019 at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, hosted a vendor booth dedicated to mushrooms and their importance to the region's agricultural economy.
The 40th annual Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras drew thousands of locals and visitors to the city’s downtown Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26. Despite a scattering of raindrops Sunday, revelers enjoyed plenty of food, live entertainment, dancing, children’s rides, arts, crafts and beverages throughout the two-day event.
The non-profit Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival is an annual fundraiser that, throughout its history, has provided more than $1 million worth of college scholarships to high school seniors who reside within the boundaries of the Morgan Hill Unified School District. Funds raised by the festival also provide mini-grants to local elementary and middle schools, and monetary donations to local nonprofit clubs and organizations.
Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras attendees Cazhmir Vallacqua and Gloria Lally opted for oysters, among other food choices, at the art, food and music festival May 25. Photos by Robert Eliason.Chefs Ian and Bruce Porter flame up some giant skillets of shrimp and mushroom scampi Saturday, May 25 at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras.Rayen Garcia, a fifth-grader at Rod Kelley Elementary School, joins celebrity chefs Sam Bozzo and Gene Sakahara (together known as SakaBozzo) on stage at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Saturday, May 25. Garcia won second place in the Gilroy Unified School District’s Future Chefs competition.Young Mushroom Mardi Gras reveler Benjamin Burton, 2, and Debbie Allen take a spin on the teacup ride at the festival in downtown Morgan Hill May 25.Malti and Raj Upadhyoya enjoy fried mushrooms at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras festival May 25.Dawnie Lynn of Gilroy competes in the Blended Burger Mushroom Cook-Off at the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras May 25.
