Photo by mushroomappreciation.com

National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City

May, 2024

Nestled along Lake Charlevoix, Boyne City is a gem in Northern Michigan’s crown of jewels. Read the stories below or go to the Boyne City destination page.

Spring in Northern Michigan means plants and wildflowers popping up from the ground–and of course, it means morel mushroom time. Northern Michigan is a fabulous place to hunt for morels and many conversations during this time of year revolve around the “secret spot” and how many pounds of the tasty mushrooms are found.

The morels are so popular in Northern Michigan that there is even a festival to celebrate them. At this Boyne City festival, hundreds of mushroom lovers from around the country come to seek that elusive delicacy-the marvelous morel. Found in nearby woods and clearings, morels are favored by those who know their mushrooms and during the festival, hunters hit to Northern Michigan woods to take home the top prize for the most mushrooms found.

During the festival, everything is all about mushrooms. Restaurants prepare exotic, morel-laden entrees, local songsters sing of the morel, secret hunting places are discussed, but not shared. Recipes are definitely shared and everyone goes hunting. In a good year, hunters can find thousands of the mouth-watering treats.

If you love morels, don’t miss this unique–and tasty–festival!

Here's the typical event schedule:

Thursday

  • 3-10pm – Schmidt Amusements Carnival, Veteran’s Memorial Park- 207 N Lake St, Boyne City
  • 5-9pm – Music, Libations, & Nibbles hosted by the Boyne Area Chamber, Heated Tent in Veterans Memorial Park

Friday

  • 12-6pm – Arts & Crafts Show at Veterans Memorial Park, Click here for a vendor application
  • 3-10pm – Schmidt Amusements Carnival, Veterans Memorial Park
  • 3:30-4:30pm – Free morel hunting seminar presented by Tony Williams, five-time winner of the “National Competitive Hunt”, Heated Festival Tent in Veterans Memorial Park
  • 5:30-9:30pm– Morelfest Wine & Dine at Beach House Restaurant- 439 E Deer Lake Rd., Boyne Falls. Tickets are $95 each, register at bcmorelfestival.com.

Saturday

  • 8-9am – Registration for 63rd Annual National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt. Register online at eventbrite.com. Boyne City High School- 1305 Boyne Ave., Boyne City.
  • 8-10am – Community Breakfast at Boyne City Eagles Hall- 106 River St., Boyne City
  • 8am-12pm – Farmers Market at Boyne City Hall- 319 Lake St., Boyne City
  • 9-11am – 63rd Annual National Competitive Morel Mushroom Hunt sponsored by Boyne City Kiwanis. Boyne City High School
  • 10am-6pm – Arts & Crafts Show with Food Trucks at Veterans Memorial Park. ​Vendor Applications available here.
  • 10am-6pm – Painting in the Park with Dan. Kids (and adults) can paint their own one-of-a-kind morel masterpiece alongside Daniel Duncan of Duncan Studios. Donations appreciated to cover the cost of materials. At Veteran’s Memorial Park behind Duncan Studios’ booth in the Arts & Crafts Show.
  • 11am-10pm – Schmidt Amusements Carnival at Veterans Memorial Park
  • 12-3pm – Taste of Morels, the festival’s premiere event, features the largest concentration of morel mushroom cooking in the world. Northern Michigan Chefs prepare morel-infused delicacies and compete for the top three winning dishes. Cash bar. $10 Admission with tasting tickets for purchase. Heated Festival Tent in Veterans Memorial Park. Find the Taste of Morels Application here.
  • 4-5pm – Great Morel Giveaway. Enter to win a pound of morels or a $50 gift certificate at multiple participating downtown businesses. Entries are free and unlimited.
  • 7-11pm – 63rd Motherload Bash featuring live music by The Family Tradition Band. 21+ older with a cash bar. $10 Admission. Heated Festival Tent in Veterans Memorial Park.

Sunday

  • 12-3pm – Arts & Crafts Show at Veterans Memorial Park
  • 12- 3pm – Paint & Sip with Duncan Studios. Create a one-of-a-kind Michigan Morel painting with detailed instruction by artist Dan Duncan, complimentary glass of wine or beer (cash bar afterwards), and hors d’oeuvres prepared by the Boyne City High School Culinary Students. $65 per person. Heated Festival Tent in Veterans Memorial Park.
    ​Pre-registration is required, plus a picture of the painting found here.
  • ​12-5pm – Schmidt Amusements Carnival at Veterans Memorial Park

Experience Boyne City

Stay tuned for information on the 2024 Morel Mushroom Festival!

For more information on the Boyne City Morel Festival, please contact the event organizer:

Boyne City Chamber of Commerce

28 S. Lake St
Boyne City, MI 49712

(231) 582-6222

bcmorelfestival.com

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