Celebrate spring in Northern Michigan with guided morel hunts, gourmet morel dishes, a craft beer block party, carnival rides, an arts and crafts show and more at Boyne City’s 57th Annual National Morel Mushroom Festival May 18–21.
The festival is known for its National Morel Mushroom Hunting Championship, which will be held this year on Saturday, May 20. It’s a fierce competition among participants to find the most morels in a set amount of time, and prizes are awarded in a variety of categories. Read the official rules and register for the event here.
If you’ve never hunted for morels, don’t worry. Go on a guided practice hunt at the festival on Friday, May 19 to learn what to look for (register for the practice hunt here). And check out these 6 tips for finding morel mushrooms in Northern Michigan.
“Morels taste great, they’re hard to find and it’s fun to get out in the woods and look for them,” says Jim Baumann, executive director of the Boyne Area Chamber. “It’s very satisfying if and when you find them, even if it’s only a few.”
You don’t want to miss the Wine & Dine dinner with live entertainment Friday night. This event sells out every year, so make sure to register early. Here’s a look at the 2017 Morel Fest Wine & Dine menu. There will also be games for kids, an open mic competition, mushroom seminars and the “Taste of Morels” where visitors can sample the best mushroom recipes from area restaurants. A complete schedule of events can be found at bcmorelfestival.com.
Since the National Morel Mushroom Festival is still a few weeks out, here are five morel mushroom recipes to try at home:
- Morel Burgers
- Morel Cream Sauce
- Morel Bruschetta
- Stuffed Morels
- Smoked Salmon, Morel and Scallion Pâté
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More About Morels!
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Interview with Boyne City’s Morel Expert, Tony Williams
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