Whistler’s Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival
Fall in Whistler is a time for enjoying good food, good drinks, and good company. While there’s plenty of events that showcase the amazing culinary scene in Whistler during autumn, you also have the chance to harvest during fall.
Whistler’s surrounding forests are full of traditional plants, herbs, and fungi that have been enjoyed by people in this land for centuries. This October, get involved in Whistler’s abundant forests with a variety of events, including the Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival, and the Indigenous Tour and Tea.
Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival
Back once again in Whistler this October 13th and 14th is the Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival. This 2 day event, dedicated to Whistler’s local mushroom species gives you the chance to forage for mushrooms, enjoy gourmet tastings, listen to well-known mushroom gurus, and more. This is the perfect chance to dive into the world of fungi foraging. Start with guided walks in the forest accompanied by mushroom experts and end with a delicious sampling of wild mushrooms on Saturday. Visit AWARE Whistler to get more information on the Fungus Among Us Mushroom Festival.
Whether you’re an experienced picker or if it’s your first time looking for mushrooms there’s something for you the learn from the experience. Not only has Fungus Among Us sparked interest in mushrooms from more people but the festival also continues to identify previously undocumented fungi in the region. New species are added into the Whistler Biodiversity Project catalogue for community use, so far the total number of fungi on the list is 865. You can check out the Final Report from 2016 to learn more about how the festival has been contributing to the growing mushroom picking community in Whistler.
Indigenous Tour And Tea
Are you looking to learn more about Whistler’s forests? You should check out the Indigenous Tour and Tea at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Enjoy an interpretive forest walk guided by Cultural Ambassador, William Ritchie as you learn more about Whistler’s local flora and fauna.
You’ll get to explore traditional territory of the region, listen to stories, familiarize yourself with local flora used for medicinal purposes, and sample traditional teas and bannock at a Longhouse. You’ll also receive a tea sample and informational booklet for you take home after the tour.
The Indigenous Tour and Tea will happen 3 times throughout October on the 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 3 to 5 pm. You can head over to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre website to learn more about this and other events happening soon.
Photo Credits: Joern Rohde Courtesy of Whistler Naturalists
