There will be fun and fungi in Rockwood this fall with the introduction of a new festival on Sept. 20.
At its July 14 meeting, Guelph-Eramosa council designated Rockwood Mushroom Fest a community festival, citing it as another great opportunity for the promotion of local food and culture.
There was initial concern expressed by council due to the event’s affiliation with members of the Concerned Residents Coalition, but organizers assured council the festival stands alone as a separate entity, with any profit to be directed back to the community through an existing charity.
Mayor Chris White said the festival will be great for the community.
“This is going to be quite an interesting festival because it ties in with what the county’s been working on for a number of years, and that is Taste Real,” White said. “As they try to expand local foods … bringing stuff like this into the township is the kind of thing we want to promote.”
The event, which is to be held on the grounds of St. John’s Anglican Church and adjacent Guelph Street, promises fun for the whole family.
Menus created by expert chefs will feature original recipes, along with a variety of mushrooms to eat, savour and compare. Attendees will be able to sip a selection of Ontario wines or learn about the nutritional, medicinal and culinary qualities of mushrooms. There will also be a variety of children’s games and activities, regional musicians, an art gallery, crafts, souvenirs and a mushroom emporium.
Tickets ($5 for adults, free for children 12 and under) can be purchased at Music in the Wood, 122 Main St. S., Rockwood. For information visit rockwoodmushroomfest.ca.
