Calling all lovers of fungus and forest ecology! The 5th Annual Cumberland Fungus Fest is about to bloom! On October 3rd, 4th and 5th, mycophiles from across the Salish Sea will converge for any interdisciplinary celebration of all things fungus. This 3-day event features guided walks, workshops, presentations, panels, conversation circles, specimen tables, kids activities, fungus themed art and crafts, film, music and more. Presented by the Cumberland Community Forest Society, Cumberland’s Fungus Fest has grown from its humble origins as a virtual event back in 2020 and now welcomes hundreds of visitors to the Village of Cumberland for a deep dive into the wonders of the forest!
This year’s Fungus Fest kicks off with an after school art program, early-bird guided walks and the infamous Fungus Fest Science Pub on Thursday evening October 3rd! Organizers are mashing up an epic roster of knowledge holders and subject matter experts for a night of nerdy fun! On theme beverages, moody lighting and fabulous presenters make this a perfect way to sink into the fungus fest vibe and get a taste of the programming on offer for the rest of the weekend!
Friday’s program includes a rich selection of talks, walks and panel discussions ranging from medicinal mushrooms, cedar trees, and foraging ethics to natural burial and the role of fungus is ecosystem restoration! Participants are invited to take part in a Death Cafe conversation circle or wander the forest to discover slime molds, fungus connections, or hidden clues about Cumberland’s logging and mining history. Friday Night features the annual Fungus Bazaar where artists and crafters join musicians and storytellers for an evening exploring the cultural side of the fungus universe.
Saturday is another incredible day of knowledge sharing! Attendees can take part in family crafts and forest walks, or learn from experts about eating wild mushrooms, working with invasive plants, the mysteries of lichens and the role of fungus is death and decomposition. Join in on the fun filled Fungus fest Round Up Saturday afternoon and check out what we gathered and what we learned! Then Saturday evening head over to Weird Church Cumberland for a screening of ‘First We Eat’ – an incredible film about putting food security to the test in the far North of Canada.
The full schedule with detailed descriptions of all presentations, panels and walks can be found at www.cumberlandforest.com/fungus-fest/. Weekend passes are only $40 ($20 for youth) and weekend pass holders are also first in line to register for the guided walk series (for an additional fee) while limited spots last!
2024 presenters include science communicator and nature nerd Ross Reid of Nerdy About Nature, rock star forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon, lichenologist Natasha Lavdovsky, indigenous foragers and knowledge sharers Vanessa Sharky and Cory Cliff, herbalist Phillipa Joy, forester and founder of the mid island mycological society Heather Soo, and SO MANY MORE. For a complete list of presenters and their backgrounds visit www.cumberlandforest.com/fungus-fest/fungus-fest-presenters/
Local pubs and restaurants will also be offering fungus themed specials throughout the Village so be sure to explore all that Cumberland has to offer while you’re there! Volunteers are also welcome to make this event a success. Message heather@cumberlandforest.com to sign on as a volunteer! Cumberland’s Fungus Fest is presented by the Cumberland Community Forest Society and is proudly sponsored by Harmonic Arts, Tree Island Yogurt, Experience Comox Valley, Jason Kapalka Family Foundation, Cumberland Guesthouse, Elevate, and Cumberland Brewing Company.
Whether you are an experienced fungus seeker and forest explorer or looking for new discoveries and deeper exploration into the wonders of nature, the 5th Annual Cumberland Fungus Fest is for you!