Mushrooms in Whistler have a good sense of timing - they're popping up just in time for the Whistler Naturalists' annual Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival, taking place Oct. 16 and 17.
The event kicks off with a screening of Larry Evans's Know Your Mushrooms , a story of how the filmmaker and friend Gary Lincoff hunt for wild mushrooms and the deeper experiences that come along with seeking them. A talk will follow the screening at Myrtle Philip Community School. It starts at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 and admission is $8 for members and $10 for non-members.
October 17 also brings an opportunity to learn about wild mushrooms growing in your own community. Participants will go into the woods to get first-hand knowledge on fungi from experts. Guides will include Andy MacKinnon, Larry Evans, Juliet Pendray and Anne Leatham.
Fungus walks will be split into small groups to allow a more intimate experience with nature, with a first walk aimed at younger mushroom lovers.
Anyone interested is asked to meet outside Myrtle Philip school at 8:45 a.m., rain or shine, and to leave collecting buckets at home. The walks will come back to the school at about noon and guides will put on display the fungal collections from all field trip locations. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.
The festival concludes with wild mushroom gourmet tastings. Chef Ophra Buckman is planning dishes such as curried mushrooms, chanterelle stuffed croissants and wild mushroom salad. Tastings are at Myrtle Philip from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and admission is $20 for members and $20 for non-members.
For ticket information contact Bob Brett at 604-932-8900 or by e-mail at bob@snowlineresearch.ca.
