3rd Annual Morel Festival April 23 – 25, 2015
~ by Mark Blackwell drawing by Joe Lee
For some folks the first evidence of spring is the arrival of the first robin. For others, it’ s the singing of the spring peepers. But for some of us down here in Brown County, it’ s the call of the wild morel. I know there are some of you who will raise an eyebrow at the assertion that a simple fungus has a voice but let me assure you I know of more than a few folks who can hear’ em. I figure they must hear’ em because I sure don’ t see’ em. There is help for those of us who are somewhat mushroom-hunting impaired— the third annual Morel Festival.
If you ask“ What is a morel?” you would be giving away that you aren’ t from around here. A morel is a mushroom. It is not your ordinary grocery store mushroom— it is special, a gift of sheer delight from Mother Nature to your tongue. If the truffle is the king of’ shrooms then the morel is the crown prince. And you don’ t have to go to Europe or rent a pig to find morels. They are found right here in Brown County!
The festival is a celebration of the emergence of these unbelievably tasty little critters and a great excuse to finally get out of the house for a reason other than snow shoveling. Morels inhabit the Brown County underworld for most of their existence, but like the native“ Groundus Hogus” they emerge from their dens in the spring to cast their shadows heralding warm and sunny days to come. It sounds worth celebrating to me.
The festival includes a great variety of activities including lectures by leading mycologists( educated mushroom fanatics), workshops on hunting and cooking the tasty little morsels, mushroom forays( guided hunts), live music on stage in the evenings, a morel auction, and more. The kids also have their own activities such as guided mushroom hunts, crafts, and a“ Kid Zone.”
The entertainment lineup includes the White Lightning Boys, the Indiana Boys, Kenan Rainwater Band, Punkin’ Holler Boys, Rusted String Swindlers, Haley Jonay, Chicago Farmer, Possum Posse( from Austin, Texas), Rusty Bladen, and more. Check the website to get the complete list.
Speakers include: Stephen Russel of the Hoosier Mushroom Society, Tom Nauman of Morel Mania, Thomas“ Mushroom King” Weipert, Jim Foreman“ ninja shroomer,”
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38 Our Brown County • March / April 2015