Makanda Mushroom Festival - October 1-3, 2021

We are proud to announce, the Makanda Mushroom Festival will be held on October 1-3, 2021. We aim to offer a wide variety of educational opportunities to learn about fungus and the natural world around us.

Fall is a great time to view a wide variety of species fruiting in and around southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. The festival will feature workshops about culinary and medicinal mushrooms, fermentation, wellness, outdoor crafts, and more. We will also host a Juried Artist Market + Mini Farmers Market, and host several local bands Friday and Saturday evenings. For now, tickets will only be available at the gate so we can honor those who have already purchased tickets initially. Three-day passes include camping, access to workshops and artist/farmers market, live music, and more!

Makanda Mushroom Festival - April 17-19, 2020

Join us for the first annual Makanda Mushroom Festival held in the gorgeous Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. During the weekend of April 17-19, 2020, Camp Manitowa at Cedar Point in Makanda, IL boasts a gorgeous backdrop for mushroom foraging hikes, food and fermentation workshops, a mushroom dinner with chef Anne Millard, live music from incredible local talent, art, vendors, camping, cabins, and much more. Stay tuned for more details. Perfect for families and people of all ages! Enjoy spring with us here in the Shawnee, we cannot wait to see you in April!

Find us on Facebook here!

I recently took on a fun, new project. I am helping to coordinate a new, local festival here in southern Illinois. Myself and the two owners of Flyway Family Farm have embarked on a journey towards something they have dreamt of for years and years. I’m thrilled with the community that has some out of everywhere to support the Mush Love movement, so I can only imagine how incredible this will be.

Below, you can check out a few photos of the camp. It’s going to be so amazing!

Early Bird Tickets NOW AVAILABLE!!

Gates open at 3pm on Friday, April 17, 2020.

Festivities run Friday - Sunday.

Checkout Monday, April 20, 2020 12:00pm.

Purchase Tickets Here!
http://bit.ly/Makanda-Mushroom-Fest-Tix

Adult tent camping:
$80.00

Child 12 and under tent camping:
$40.00

4 person hogan cabin - includes festival ticket
(only 20 available):
$150.00

I’m excited that we will be offering guided hikes, and with the foraged edible mushrooms and other wild edibles we find, we will then be hosting a Forage and Fermentation Mushroom Dinner. This will be so wonderful, and I am going to be very excited to get to use my love of food photography to likely capture the event!

Festival Decor will also be so fun!!! I cannot wait to create a whimsical and elegant look for the camp.

The Camp also offers free kayaks and canoes to camp attendees for the festival, which is one of the best ways to enjoy this area, boating around on Little Grassy Lake!

See you in April!!!