BOYNE CITY — In the woods of Northern Michigan, the morel mushroom is more than just a delicacy — it’s a legend.
For 65 years, Boyne City has celebrated the arrival of these wild spring mushrooms with the National Morel Mushroom Festival, drawing visitors from across the country to hunt, taste and toast the region’s most elusive natural delicacy.
This year’s festival runs May 15–18, bringing four days of festivities to downtown Boyne City and Veterans Memorial Park. From gourmet tastings and live concerts to carnival rides, crafts and a competitive mushroom hunt, the event promises something for everyone.
A premier culinary and cultural experience
The festival’s crown jewel is the National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt, taking place Saturday morning. Hundreds of mushroom enthusiasts will be bused to a secret location and set loose to forage for the most morels. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at Boyne City High School, with the hunt running from 9-11 a.m.
For those more interested in tasting than foraging, the Taste of Morels from 12–2:30 p.m. on Saturday is not to be missed. Chefs from around the region will prepare morel-infused dishes, competing for top honors from a panel of celebrity judges. Entry is $10, with tasting tickets available for purchase.
Other highlights include the Morel Wine & Dine on Friday evening, a seated culinary experience at the Beach House Restaurant featuring gourmet morel dishes and wine pairings ($115 per person), and the Great Morel Giveaway, a quirky tradition where attendees can enter to win a pound of morels or local gift certificates at participating businesses downtown.
Live music, art and all-ages fun
This year’s festival kicks off Thursday, May 15, with the return of Schmidt Amusements Carnival (3–10 p.m.) and a Battle of the Bands (6–10 p.m.) hosted in a heated tent at Veterans Memorial Park. Admission is $5.
Friday also brings the opening of the Arts & Crafts Show and Food Truck Court (12-6 p.m.), as well as a free morel seminar with five-time hunt champion Tony Williams (3–4:30 p.m.).
Music lovers can enjoy Derailed, a fan-favorite Northern Michigan rock band, performing Friday night (7–10 p.m., $10 admission, 21+ only). On Saturday night, the Motherload Bash returns with country-rock band The Family Tradition from 7–11 p.m. ($10 admission, 21+).
Other activities throughout the weekend include:
The carnival continues daily through Sunday and is open to all ages.
Festival with a purpose
Proceeds from the festival go toward scholarships for area high school students pursuing degrees in biology, natural science, hospitality or culinary arts — a mission that blends community investment with celebration.
Plan your visit
Full details and updates are available at bcmorelfestival.com.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at 231-675-0099 and adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City readies for 65th annual National Morel Mushroom Festival
Reporting by Annie Doyle, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
