KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Fried mushrooms, cooking showdowns, live music and more than 220 vendors will fill the streets of Kennett Square as one of Chester County’s signature community traditions returns for a full weekend celebrating the crop that made the borough famous.
The Mushroom Festival will take over Kennett Square on Sept. 12 and 13 under this year’s theme, “Growing Together for Generations,” bringing two days of food, farming, entertainment and family activities to the heart of Southern Chester County.
Visitors can sample everything from fried mushrooms and festival mushroom soup to dishes created by local chefs, then get a firsthand look at how mushrooms make the journey from spore to harvest.
The celebration also carries a larger community mission. Revenue, sponsorships, and community participation help fund the Mushroom Festival Grant Program, which provides financial support to nonprofit organizations serving Southern Chester County and the surrounding region.
The festival’s mission combines promoting mushrooms and their health benefits with encouraging tourism in Southern Chester County and supporting local and regional charities.
Food Takes Center Stage
Mushrooms will naturally dominate the menu, but they will also inspire some friendly competition.
Jeff Kurkjian of 92.5 XTU will host the Fried Mushroom Eating Contest, challenging contestants to put their appetites to the test in one of the festival’s crowd-favorite traditions.
Creative cooks will face a different challenge during the signature Mushroom “Chopped” competition. Contestants will receive mystery-basket ingredients and compete to create dishes featuring mushrooms.
The Culinary Stage will offer additional mushroom-focused programming throughout the weekend, while festivalgoers can sample mushroom dishes from vendors lining the streets.
From the Mushroom Farm to State Street
For visitors curious about why Kennett Square is so closely associated with mushrooms, the Growers Exhibit will offer a look behind the scenes.
Guests can learn how mushrooms are grown from spore through harvest and meet growers who work in the industry that has become part of the community’s identity.
Away from the culinary attractions, more than 220 vendors will offer arts, crafts, handmade goods, specialty foods and mushroom-inspired creations.
Families will find a Kids Zone with bounce activities, shows, hands-on experiences and appearances by Fun-Gus, the festival’s mushroom mascot.
Live bands, street performers and roaming entertainers will add music and unexpected performances throughout the weekend.
Event Details
- What: The Mushroom Festival — “Growing Together for Generations”
- When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Downtown Kennett Square, PA
- Cost/Tickets: $5 per person for admission to both festival days; attendees receive a wristband that must be worn for admission. Cash and Venmo only.
- More Info: https://mushroomfestival.org/
Music Extends the Fun Saturday Evening
The festival will add a special musical event at 6 p.m. Saturday with an acoustic performance by Corey Glover and Vernon Reid at the Liberty Place Music Stage.
The performance follows a day that will also include a 9/11 Tribute Fire Truck Show, mushroom cooking competitions, fresh mushroom sales and entertainment throughout downtown.
At its heart, however, the Mushroom Festival remains as much about community as it is about food.
Through its grant program, money generated by the celebration is returned to nonprofit organizations and programs serving the area, allowing a weekend built around Kennett Square’s best-known crop to have an impact long after the tents come down.
For longtime festivalgoers, it is another chance to celebrate a tradition deeply rooted in Southern Chester County. For newcomers, it offers an introduction to why mushrooms, growers and Kennett Square have been connected for generations — preferably with something fried, sautéed or simmered in a bowl of mushroom soup in hand.
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