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Morel Mushroom Festivals in Michigan

Mycophiles flock to Michigan each year to participate in festivals that showcase the morel mushroom and offer the chance to scour woods to pick fresh morels. The distinctive shape of the morel features a tall, narrow cap. Varieties of morels include the sponge morel mushroom and the beefsteak morel mushroom. Mushroom hunting remains a spring ritual relegated to the Midwestern states bordered by the Great Lakes where the soil and air moisture levels encourage morel growth. At least four festivals offer morel hunting, morel sales and cooked morel treats along with entertainment.

National Morel Mushroom Festival
- Located in Boyne City, the National Morel Mushroom Festival occurs yearly during the first weekend post-Mother's Day in May. A four-day event, the festival starts on a Thursday and concludes on a Sunday. The celebration offers carnival rides, seminars on cooking morel mushrooms and a guided hunt through local forests for fresh, wild morels. For $10 (as of 2011), both novice hunters and seasoned hunters get to ride buses into the forest where a festival staff member gives tips on recognizing and locating morels.
  
  A food showcase, known as "Taste of Morels," ranks as the festival's main attraction, according to organizers. Chefs from local eateries serve gourmet morel treats in tents for an admission price of $2.
Osseo Morel Festival
- This one-day festival in the small, unincorporated Michigan community of Osseo features pancakes, barbecue and crafts, followed by a morel hunt in a state wildlife preservation area. Those who do not hunt have the opportunity to purchase collected morels at an evening auction. Hunters who find the smallest and largest morels receive awards at a nighttime closing ceremony. The person who collects the most morels also receives a prize. Organizers require a $10 fee (as of 2011) for those vying for mushroom-picking prizes. The Osseo Heritage Society sponsors the event.
Mesick Mushroom Festival
- The Lions Club in Mesick presents the three-day Mesick Mushroom Festival during the first weekend of May each year. The festival features sports, crafts and contests in addition to mushroom hunting. Mushroom picking kits that cost $6 (as of 2011) provide tools to help mushroom hunters find morels in the woods. These tools include a mesh bag and a map.
Lewiston Morel Mushroom Festival
- The southern Michigan town of Lewiston sponsors the Lewiston Morel Mushroom Festival yearly in early May. This one-day fest offers attendees the chance to taste morel mushrooms and hunt for them. Other activities include a poetry contest in honor of Mother's Day and a crafts show.

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