46th Telluride Mushroom Festival: Full Schedule

SCHEDULE LAUNCH IS JUNE 21st, 2026

Welcome to the largest wild mushroom happening in North America, the 46th Annual Telluride Mushroom Festival! This program of the Telluride Institute, a 501c3 non-profit, offers a plethora of events ranging from foray and mushroom ID sessions, to hands-on demonstrations and lectures—all led by regionally, nationally, and internationally-known experts, (and we cannot forget the wide variety of social and cultural events offered, along with the famous Mushroom Parade!) there is plenty for everyone, every day.

On this website, you can filter your search by events, venues, presenters, etc. Each year the Mushroom Festival features many wonderful presentations on “all things fungi.” Presentations on similar topics are grouped together at the same venue so that attendees interested will be able to spend more time learning and interacting, and less time walking between venues. See who else is interested in each event and interact with our extended Mushroom Family.

See you soon!

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7:30am MDT

Foray with Sebastian Tabibi

Saturday August 15, 2026 7:30am - 1:30pm MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Where Aspen Meets Alpine: Exploring Telluride's Fungal Biodiversity with Sebastian Tabibi
While the soaring subalpine peaks hold their ancient giants and the low river valleys cradle lush riparian life, the true alchemy of the San Juan Mountains unfolds in the spaces between—where these distinct worlds collide. Join mycologist Sebastian Tabibi to decode the region’s fungal biodiversity as we explore its rich, transitional "edges." Here, sun-drenched aspen groves, vibrant montane meadows, and dense coniferous forests weave into a high-contrast tapestry, creating environmental ecotones that serve as absolute hotbeds for fungal life.
We will track how fungal communities shift across these ecological boundaries, training our eyes to read the topography and tree associations that dictate exactly where prized and unusual fungi emerge. Throughout the trek, Sebastian will break down each find through five core pillars:

Taxonomy & Morphology: Mastering subtle physical characteristics to confidently separate choice edibles from toxic lookalikes.
Understanding Ecological Roles: Fungi are the primary architects of the ecosystem, operating behind the scenes to sustain forest health. In this segment, we move beyond identification to explore the critical functions that fungi perform in the wild.
Toxicity & Dangerous Species: Learning to recognize the critical toxic mushrooms of the region and identifying the specific species that foragers must strictly avoid. In this segment, we focus on safety by breaking down the physiological effects of fungal toxins and the key warning signs of dangerous lookalikes.
Phenological Rhythms: Learning to interpret the language of the mountains—from the slope's exposure to the sun to the moisture in the soil—to decode the hidden timing of the forest's flushes.
Benefits to Humans: Exploring the historical and modern uses of fungi, from traditional wilderness utility to contemporary wellness.

Our exploration culminates in a curated Specimen Table Talk. By conducting a side-by-side comparative analysis of our collective finds, we will sharpen your critical field-identification skills and ground you in the interconnected rhythms of nature.
Come prepared to slow down, observe the subtle shifts in the landscape, and follow the path of being a "spore in the wind."

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 7:15AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

All foray groups will have a First Aid–certified volunteer present.

Pre‑Sign Up Online
Space is limited — secure your spot online before festival week or at the Sign‑Up Tent the day before.
During sign‑up, you’ll acknowledge our Release from Liability, Photo Release, and Code of Conduct.

Each person may register for one foray and one special event.

Speakers

Sebastian Tabibi

Foray Leader, North Texas Mycology

Sebastian Tabibi is a passionate amateur chef and highly regarded mycologist raising awareness on the crucial role fungi play in our ecosystem. Based in North Texas, Sebastian has been delving into the world of fungi, particularly fascinated by their medicinal properties and cataloging... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 7:30am - 1:30pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

8:00am MDT

Foray with Nickolas Rajtar

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Wandering for Wild Fungi: A Polypore‑Forward Foray Part 2 with Nick Rajtar

Join Nickolas for a relaxed, exploratory foray designed for everyone — from total beginners to seasoned mycologists. This walk embraces curiosity and the natural rhythm of the forest. Participants are encouraged to wander, explore at their own pace, and follow whatever catches their eye.

While Nickolas has a special love for polypores, they’re skilled in identifying a wide range of mushrooms, and the focus of the day will simply be whatever the forest chooses to offer.

During the final 30 minutes, the group will reconvene for a collaborative show‑and‑tell, sharing finds, comparing notes, and learning together. This foray is perfect for anyone who enjoys discovery, community learning, and letting the woods lead the way.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 7:45 AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

Speakers

Nickolas Rajtar

Foray Leader

Nick Rajtar is a forest pathologist and a mycologist who received his PhD at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities under his advisor Dr. Robert Blanchette in 2024. Rajtar currently is a post-doctoral researcher at UMN where his work focuses on the biosurveillance of invasive forest... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00am - 12:00pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

8:30am MDT

Conscious Alliance: Community & Connection Foray with Clarissa Arana

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:30am - 11:45am MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Conscious Alliance: Community & Connection Foray with Clarissa Arana

Join Clarissa Arana and Skyler Fly Wilson for a community-centered mushroom foray focused on connection, belonging, and shared exploration. This walk welcomes BIPOC attendees, LGBTQ+ participants, allies, first-time festival attendees, and anyone seeking a supportive environment to learn about fungi while building meaningful relationships with fellow festival participants.
Inspired by the interconnected nature of mycelial networks, this foray invites participants to slow down, explore the forest together, share stories, and cultivate community through a shared love of fungi and the natural world. Whether you are new to mycology or have years of experience, all are welcome to join in curiosity, learning, and connection.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 8:15AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

Speakers

Clarissa Arana

Foray Leader

Clarissa Arana is a Colorado-based mycologist, foray leader, and passionate citizen scientist with over a decade of experience in mushroom identification, ecology, and community education. She serves as the Founder and President of the Front Range Mycological Society (FRMS) and works... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:30am - 11:45am MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

9:00am MDT

A Plant Meditation with Ceremonial Cacao

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Integration Space - Elks Park @ W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Join us for a gathering of connection and community among plants and people guided by the heart-opening medicine of Cacao. Cacao has been revered for centuries for its ability to deepen our connection to ourselves and the world around us. In this gathering, we'll come together to honor the ancient tradition of cacao ceremonies, learn about the nahual of the day and explore the transformative power of this beloved plant. Through a guided meditation, Caro will lead us into connecting to the spirit of Cacao, facilitating deeper inner connection and spiritual insight. We will dive into a plant meditation with cacao and start building a relationship, or deepen our existing connection to this ally. Join us as we embark on a journey of self-discovery and insight with this special plant.

This event is first come, first served and limited. Please show up early to ensure a spot.

Speakers

Caro Arevalo

Artist, Festival Wellness

Caro is a Peruvian visual artist based in Woodstock, NY. Her artwork explores the plant and fungi kingdoms as seen with our naked eyes and through the microscopes. From her Amazonian heritage, Caro embraces the interconnectedness of all beings, the significance of rituals and ancestral... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Integration Space - Elks Park

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass)

9:00am MDT

Medicinal Lichens: Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Pharmacology

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Sheridan Opera House @ 110 N Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435

Members of the Fungi Kingdom, lichens have unique structure and chemistry. Their use for food, shelter, clothing and medicine has led to discovery of natural compounds useful for chronic health conditions and synergistic activity with various chemotherapy drugs and drug resistant bacteria and fungi.

Speakers

Robert Dale Rogers

Professional Herbalist, Elder Herbalist of Canada, Author, Adjunct Professor

Professional Herbalist, Elder Herbalist of Canada, Author, Adjunct Professor

Robert Dale Rogers is one of North America's most accomplished and respected authorities on plant and fungal medicine. A Professional Herbalist and Elder Herbalist of Canada, Robert brings over two decades of clinical experience to his practice, and more than 26 years of teaching
... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Sheridan Opera House

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass), General Mycology

9:00am MDT

Foray with Anthony Corbin

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Reading the Forest: A Habitat‑Based Mushroom Foray with Anthony Corbin
Join Anthony Corbin for a foray focused on learning to read the landscape as deeply as the mushrooms themselves. Anthony’s teaching style centers on understanding habitat, indicator species, and the plants and trees that host the fungal partners we’re often searching for. Rather than chasing a single target mushroom, this walk teaches you how to recognize the environmental clues that lead you to them.

Throughout the foray, Anthony will share practical tools for observing forests: how to spot allies and indicators, how to interpret the conditions that favor certain fungi, and how to use host plants as guides. These skills aren’t just useful for this outing — they’re designed to help you confidently explore any environment in the future.

Participants will also learn key features and identification traits commonly used in field guides, building a foundation that supports both beginners and experienced foragers alike.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 8:45AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 1:00pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

9:00am MDT

Costume Creations for the Mushroom Parade

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 1:30pm MDT

Ah Haa School - Curiosity Shop @ 155 West Pacific Avenue, Telluride, CO, USA

In this free crafting session, create your very own wearable fungus with usual and unusual art supplies with the internationally renowned wearable sculpture artist and two-time Telluride Mushroom Festival Costume Competition winner Riitta Ikonen.

Pop in and make a quick-fix fungal suit for the parade, meet your soulmates who also want to play the parts in the life cycle of dung-loving fungi, or bring your half-finished caps and we’ll help you fill them with sporulating spores. Bring along anything from fishing poles to bicycle helmets and turn them into all-immersive cordyceps bodystockings, head covering caps, trailing-mycelium, and full-body wearable microscopes.

After this fantastic fungi festivity, you will be ready to march Telluride Main Street in the Mushroom Parade or even win this year’s gold medal at the Telluride Mushroom festival’s costume competition.

NEW THIS YEAR, we will have a pet costume contest sponsored by Real Mushrooms. While pets are not allowed in Ah Haa, get their costume ready!

Supplies and comfortable assembly location will be provided by Ah Haa Art School but space s limited.
Ah Haa School for the Arts

Speakers

Riitta Ikonen

Costume Queen

Originally from the deep eastern Finnish forests, Riitta Ikonen’s many interdisciplinary collaborations look at contemporary human’s belonging in the natural world. The four time TMF Costume Competition winner's first book (with Karoline Hjorth) 'Eyes as Big as Plates' was nominated... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 1:30pm MDT
Ah Haa School - Curiosity Shop

FREE - Open to public, art

9:00am MDT

Mushroom ID Tent

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Elks Park & Oak Street Park @ S Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Mushroom ID Tent: Located in the middle of Elks Park.

We will have experts helping define and talk to you about all the mushrooms found around the San Juans during the days. These stations will be led by our lead mycologists, Foray Leaders and some of the festival founders. ID Staffed most days around 12pm and goes until 3pm. It is variable with forays and weather.

Times:
Mushroom ID Tent
Thursday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm
ID Staff Hours - 12pm - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm
ID Staff Hours - TBD

See you there!

Speakers

Linnea & Lee Gillman

Mushroom ID Tent Managers

Linnea and Lee Gillman have been with the Telluride Mushroom Festival from the beginning and running the Mushroom ID Tent over the years.

Linnea has an MS in mycology from Virginia Tech, is retired from the USDA Forest Service where she worked on mycorrhizal fungi, and is a co-aut... Read More →

Nickolas Rajtar

Foray Leader

Andrew Wilson

Denver Botanic Gardens

Andrew Wilson is the Associate Curator of Mycology in the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi at Denver Botanic Gardens. His research studies the patterns and processes that shape mushroom diversity, where he has traveled the world to document and describe new species. As a curator he... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Elks Park & Oak Street Park

FREE - Open to public, Vendor Village

9:00am MDT

Registration & Information Desk + Festival Merch!

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Elks Park @ 123 South Oak Street, Telluride, CO 81435

Welcome to the 45th annual Telluride Mushroom Festival. Join us in Elks Park, located in the middle of Telluride off Main Street for registration pick-up. On this day (Saturday) we will have a normal time slot for attendees who arrived late to Telluride to pick up their festival wristband. We also be distributing pre-ordered shirts if you have purchased a TMF shirt.

Registration - Festival Pass Wristband Pick-up
- Please bring QR code from email for expedited wristband / t-shirt pick-up
- If multiple pass pick-ups please make sure order has extra passes attached or each attendee has a pass order print out
- Come knowing what T-shirt color and size you have if pre-purchased
- If you purchased a T-shirt before color options were available, you will get a choice
- Download this SCHED app to access the whole festival program

Festival Merch
- Please bring QR code from email for expedited wristband / t-shirt pick up to the merch and registration tent.
- Pre-ordered tees can be picked up with registration, all other merch shopping will be done in the merch tent this year.
- Items this year include 2025 fest tees, special edition tees, hats, stickers, posters, books, and other fun donated items from brands and businesses we love!

Again, welcome to Telluride! We have the biggest, most in depth and unique festival yet waiting for you. Start scoping out all the possible sessions you wish to attend on Sched and build your wishlist schedule! NOTE: signing up on SCHED does not reserve your space. It is simply a way for festival organizers to track popular programs that could sell out, and also serves as a way for you to print your wishlist schedule and carry it with you at the festival.

Speakers

Mariah Grimes

TMF Marketing and Sales Manager, Telluride Institute

Mariah is a freelance creative, website designer, and social media manager who has been working with the Telluride Mushroom Festival since 2022. Before divinely stumbling into her work with TMF, Mariah worked in hospitality/events working for various boutique hotels and wedding venues... Read More →

Ashley Coady Smith

TMF Festival Executive Officer, Telluride Institute

Ashley Coady Smith joined the Telluride Mushroom Festival in 2019 and currently serves as Festival Executive Officer. Working alongside the Program Director and Creative Director, she helps steward the festival's vision by guiding bigger picture operations, budgeting, fundraising... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Elks Park

FREE - Open to public, Registration and Will Call

9:00am MDT

Vendor Village

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT

Elks Park & Oak Street Park @ S Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Vendor Village:
Located under both sides of the main banner in Telluride main street at the town malls. We will have a food vendor in Elk's Park, Pretty as Plants, serving up a mushroom based vegetarian menu.

Stop by and shop from local artisans, mushroom businesses, and all things fungi! From medicinals to dried mushrooms, cultivation use, to some cool TMF swag and a whole lotta unique crafts. Vendor Village is a must stop and shop for all people in and around Telluride.

Vendor Village hours:
Thursday - Friday 9 - 5PM
Saturday 9am - 5PM, with vendors having the option to close at 3PM
Sunday 9am - 2pm

See you there!

Speakers

Jackson Schneider

TMF Vendor Coordinator

Jackson has been assisting the TMF operations team as a year-round volunteer since 2025. This year will be his first year in the Vendor Coordinator role.

Rebecca Roberts

TMF Business Development & Operations Manager, Telluride Institute

Rebecca's first Telluride Mushroom Festival was 2018, the next four years she volunteered until eventually being hired at TMF's Partnership Manager. After 3 years in the role, she was promoted to Business Development & Operations Manager and co-leading the festival. She's spent the... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm MDT
Elks Park & Oak Street Park

FREE - Open to public, Vendor Village

9:00am MDT

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 8:00pm MDT

Elks Park & Oak Street Park @ S Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Foray & Workshop Sign‑Up Tent
This tent is where festival pass holders can sign up for Forays and Workshops the day before they take place. All forays and workshops can also be RSVP’d online before festival week. ONLY ONE Foray and ONE Workshop can be RSVP'd for online pre-sign ups.

Workshops take place at various venues throughout Telluride, and signing up online ahead of time guarantees your spot.
A few “Hop‑In” Forays will be available on the day of, and some forays may still have space if the group hasn’t reached the max of 25 participants.

If you’d like to switch, cancel, or check availability, volunteers at the Sign‑Up Tent can help with everything.

Most forays depart from the Carhenge Parking Lot. Volunteers will be there to check you in by scanning your QR code, connect you with your group and leader, and provide directions to the foray location. Carpooling is recommended to help keep groups together.

Relax, learn, enjoy the outdoors, and make new friends.

Speakers

Chris Grimes

TMF Operations & Volunteer Coordinator, Telluride Institute

When Chris Grimes isn’t foragin’ for vintage western wear somewhere in Appalachia, he’s likely off in the woods hunting mushrooms. A TMF volunteer since 2023, Chris returns for his sophomore year as Operations & Volunteer Coordinator, better known around camp as the Lead “Soft... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 8:00pm MDT
Elks Park & Oak Street Park

FREE - Open to public, Vendor Village

9:05am MDT

Yoga: Wild & Free with Lauren Norton

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:05am - 10:05am MDT

Wilkinson Public Library- Downstairs Terrace @ S Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

What does true authenticity look like? How can you share your unique gifts with the world?
Restore your wild through connection to nature, your body, breath, and simple joy.

Bring your mat, water, and any comforts for your practice. We may have limited mats available for those who do not have them on a first come first served basis.

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:05am - 10:05am MDT
Wilkinson Public Library- Downstairs Terrace

FREE - Open to public, Yoga

9:30am MDT

Foray with Alex Merryman

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Foray with Alex Merryman

A foray in the beautiful San Juan mountains. We'll be on the hunt for a variety of mushrooms and fungi, edible and less-edible alike.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 9:15AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

Speakers

Alex Merryman

Foray Leader

Alex Merryman is an experienced foray leader with the Colorado Mycological Society. Having lived in Colorado for much of his life, he is well-versed in Rocky Mountain fungi, trees, and terrain.

Alex is a contributor to Falcon Guides' "Foraging Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountains," published in 2024. He helped organize a group to advance Agaricus julius (the "Emperor Mushroom") as Colorado’s official state mushroom; it was signed into law in 2025. Alex has been invited to... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

9:30am MDT

Foray with Christopher Vinci

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:30am - 1:30pm MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Alpine Ascent Foray: Waterfalls, Fungi, and High Country Views with Christopher Vinci

This moderate foray combines a scenic alpine hike with hands on field learning focused on fungi, lichen, and high elevation ecology. We will hike approximately one mile into a beautiful mountain setting, moving through changing terrain that offers both striking views and diverse microhabitats to study along the way.

As we make our way to the site, we will take time to observe how shifts in elevation, moisture, and substrate influence what we find. Participants will be introduced to practical field identification techniques for common mushroom species as well as lichen, with an emphasis on recognizing key visual traits, growth patterns, and habitat associations.

Once we reach the main area, we will slow down and spend time working through specimens together. This is an interactive and collaborative experience where participants are encouraged to engage, share observations, and build confidence in their identification skills. We will also cover how to properly document findings using iNaturalist, including taking useful field photos, recording key details, and contributing observations that support broader citizen science efforts. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how their time in the field can contribute to real ecological data and ongoing research.

Once we reach the main area, we will slow down and spend time working through specimens together. This is an interactive and collaborative experience where participants are encouraged to engage, share observations, and develop confidence in their own identification skills.

This foray is ideal for those who want more than just a hike. It offers a balance of movement, education, and immersion, giving participants a deeper understanding of the organisms around them while still enjoying one of the most visually rewarding environments in Telluride.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 10:15AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

Speakers

Christopher Vinci

Foray Leader

Christopher Vinci is a Colorado based field mycologist, educator, and community builder dedicated to bringing people into direct relationship with fungi through hands on learning and shared field experience. He is a graduate student at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:30am - 1:30pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

10:00am MDT

(Special Event) Wild Food Walk and Magical Tea Party with Gabrielle Cerberville (Limited to 15, sign up required)

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm MDT

Mountains in and around Telluride @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Foray Description.
Join Gabrielle (Chaotic Forager) and Betsy (Miss Wondersmith) for an edible and medicinal wild plant walk, followed by a magical tea party complete with delicious foraged treats. In the spirit of our dear TMF friend and plant champion Katrina, this walk will be full of joy, plant love, and encouragement, providing a rare opportunity at TMF to learn about the botanical world! This walk will be fully wheelchair accessible and taken at a leisurely pace, with plenty of time for questions, plant conversation, and, of course, lots of nibbling.

This special TMF experience is limited to 15 participants.

Sign Up Required HERE

Where to Meet.
This foray meets at Elks Park at 8:45am. We invite you to arrive a few minutes early to get acquainted with your fellow foragers! TMF does not provide transportation. We encourage all participants to carpool as much as possible!

Be Prepared!
A friendly reminder to come prepared for inclement weather with good footwear, properly hydrated, with snack and stories to share. A basket, reusable grocery bag, old shirt, paper bag, or tupperware help collect mushrooms. For a full list of recommended foray gear, please see our TMF Foray Checklist (click here).

Speakers

Gabrielle Cerberville

The Chaotic Forager

Gabrielle Cerberville, otherwise known as Chaotic Forager and sometimes as the Internet’s Mushroom Auntie, is a celebrated foraging educator, community mycologist, and climate advocate based in the Charlottesville area. Known for her informative, funny, high-energy social media... Read More →

In Memory Of Katrina Blair

(1970-2026), Turtle Lake Refuge

In Memory of our beloved Katrina Blair.
"Rest In Weeds"

Katrina Blair began studying wild plants in her teens when she camped out alone for a summer to focus on eating wild foods. She later wrote “The Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants of the San Juan Mountains” for her senior project at Colorado College. In 1997 she completed a MA at... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 1:00pm MDT
Mountains in and around Telluride

Special Event - Extra Ticket Required, Foray

10:00am MDT

Women's Foray with Jennifer Bell

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm MDT

Carhenge Parking Lot @ 700 W Pacific Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

2nd Women's Foray with Jennifer Bell

Join Jennifer Bell, former president of the Pikes Peak Mycological Society and the first woman certified by the State of Colorado as an edible mushroom expert, for an engaging exploration of high‑altitude fungi and the places they thrive. This is Jennifer's 5th year leading the Women's Foray. Jennifer will guide you through the essentials of mountain foraging — from what to wear to how to stay safe “where the wild things are.”

This is a women’s foray, but kids of all kinds are welcome and encouraged to join the adventure. Along the way, you’ll take photos, make iNaturalist observations (think Instagram for nature lovers), and learn how to document your finds. Any unique or hard‑to‑identify specimens will be carefully packaged and labeled for the festival’s ID Table.

Come ready to explore, learn, and connect with the alpine world of fungi through Jennifer’s expert and welcoming guidance.

Where to Meet
This foray meets at Carhenge Parking Lot at 9:45AM. We encourage you to arrive a little early to meet your foray leader and your fellow foragers. TMF does not provide transportation, so carpooling is encouraged to help groups stay together.

Be Prepared
Please come ready for changing mountain weather with:

Good footwear
Water and snacks
Layers or rain gear
A basket or paper bag for collecting mushrooms

Speakers

Jennifer Bell

Foray Leader, Pikes Peak Mycological Society

Jennifer Bell loves to get high—running up mountains in the summer and skiing down them in the winter. Splitting her time between southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, she thrives where the air pressure is low. She has walked across Spain and Portugal on a 30‑day, 300‑mile... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm MDT
Carhenge Parking Lot

Foray - Signup Required (included in Festival Pass), Foray

10:15am MDT

Rainforest Conservation and the Search for New Shamanic Medicines

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Sheridan Opera House @ 110 N Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435

TBD

Speakers

Mark Plotkin Ph.D.

2026 Keynote

Mark Plotkin, Ph.D., is an ethnobotanist who has been working in and on the Amazon for over four decades. He is an ethnobotanist known for his work in the Neotropics and for advocating rainforest conservation. After early field experience at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Sheridan Opera House

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass), General Mycology

10:30am MDT

Katrina Blair Memorial with Turtle Lake Refuge

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm MDT

Elks Park Workshop Tent @ Elks Park, South Oak Street, Telluride, CO

TBD

Speakers

Art Goodtimes

Telluride Mushroom Festival Co-Founder. Festival Cultural Coordinator, Steward and Poet-in-Residence, Telluride Institute

Art Goodtimes is an Italian-American poet, activist, basketweaver, non-profit administrator and politician in Colorado, as well as a driving force of the Telluride Mushroom Festival since its beginnings in 1981.

He grew up in California where he was a member of the Mycological Society of San Francisco. He attended St. Joseph's Seminary for six years but graduated from San Francisco State University in 1970, doing post-graduate work at UC Berkeley Extension where he obtained a lifetime California... Read More →

In Memory Of Katrina Blair

(1970-2026), Turtle Lake Refuge

Turtle Lake Refuge

Our mission is to celebrate the connection between personal health and wild lands.We manifest this goal through educating and practicing sustainable practices. A few examples of our work include growing and preparing local, wild, and living foods from the Turtle Lake Community farm... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm MDT
Elks Park Workshop Tent

FREE - Open to public

10:30am MDT

Integration Space - Closes at 10PM Saturday Night

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 10:00pm MDT

Integration Space - Elks Park @ W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Rooted in a harm reduction model, the Integration Space is an inclusive, grounded space for anyone in need of support, reflection, or rest during the festival. Whether you're looking to process a powerful experience or simply recharge, our team of licensed therapists and coaches trained in integration are here to hold space with compassion and care.

Speakers

Rebecca Joy

Mycelia Transformation

Andrea López Boetsch

Casa Micelio

Jennifer Pressey

TMF Integration Space Practitioner

Jenn holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) as well as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the state of Colorado. She has experience working with diverse populations and is passionate about supporting... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 10:00pm MDT
Integration Space - Elks Park

FREE - Open to public, Integration

11:30am MDT

Chris Hobbs on Medicals or Psychedelics

Saturday August 15, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Sheridan Opera House @ 110 N Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435

Speakers

Chris Hobbs

Speaker

TBA

Saturday August 15, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Sheridan Opera House

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass), General Mycology

12:00pm MDT

Rewild with Movement Play, A Grown Up Recess

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT

Wilkinson Public Library- Downstairs Terrace @ 110 N Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435

This workshop invites you to rediscover movement as play. Through curiosity, experimentation, and connection, folks will explore patterns their body may have forgotten and awaken the kind of joyful movement most last experienced on a playground. Expect laughter, exploration, and a little bit of challenge as participants unwind the body and nervous system through partner games, upside down movements and by tapping into a uniquely human form of play by mirroring and improvising movement patterns. No experience required, just curiosity and a willingness to play.

Speakers

Gerard LaBonte

Chef/Owner, LaBonte Nutrition

Gerard LaBonté is an ever-evolving non-ordinary wellness coach. Gerard started his career coaching physical movement, Crossfit, rugby, wrestling coach, and personal training. His next evolution as a coach incorporated real food nutrition and hormone understanding. By combining his... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
Wilkinson Public Library- Downstairs Terrace

FREE - Open to public

1:00pm MDT

Book Signings with Art Goodtimes and Lesley Wheeler

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT

Between the Covers- Bookstore @ 214 W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435

Join Art Goodtimes and Lesley Wheeler for poetry and signings. Lesley Wheeler will be signing copies of her brand new, highly-acclaimed MycoCosmic.

Speakers

Art Goodtimes

Telluride Mushroom Festival Co-Founder. Festival Cultural Coordinator, Steward and Poet-in-Residence, Telluride Institute

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Between the Covers- Bookstore

FREE - Open to public

1:00pm MDT

Mushroom ID Tent Discussion: "What's Been Coming In?"

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT

Elks Park Workshop Tent @ Elks Park, South Oak Street, Telluride, CO

Join our mycologists at the Workshop Tent at Elks Park for some periodic "what's been coming in" talks. Learn more in depth what people are finding out foraging in the mountains. You may learn new species, common edibles, identifying techniques and foraging locations for specific mushrooms. All this and more will be happening throughout the festival. Times may vary day to day depending on mycologist availability.

Speakers

Nickolas Rajtar

Foray Leader

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Elks Park Workshop Tent

FREE - Open to public, General Mycology

1:00pm MDT

Panel Discussion: Latest Research from the World of Functional and Medicinal Fungi

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Sheridan Opera House @ 110 N Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435

Speakers

John Michelotti

Catskill Fungi

John Michelotti is the founder of Catskill Fungi which empowers people with fungi through outdoor educational classes, cultivation courses, mushroom art, and mushroom health extracts. John is a former President of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association (MHMA) where he co-founded... Read More →

Julie Daoust

Om Mushroom Superfood

Julie Daoust is the Chief Science Officer at Om Mushroom Superfood. Dr Daoust received her PhD in natural product chemistry from the University of British Columbia and has since worked in the nutraceutical industry with a focus on plant-based products. Her research has been centered... Read More →

Steve Farrar

Renowned Mycologist, Co-Founder of Om Mushrooms and M2 Ingredients, Om Organic Mushrooms

Renowned Mycologist, Co-Founder of Om Mushrooms and M2 Ingredients

Steve Farrar is one of the most consequential figures in the modern functional mushroom industry, a mycologist, cultivator, and entrepreneur whose work over more than 40 years has helped define what quality, integr
... Read More →

Robert Dale Rogers

Professional Herbalist, Elder Herbalist of Canada, Author, Adjunct Professor

Mark Plotkin Ph.D.

2026 Keynote

Chris Hobbs

Speaker

TBA

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Sheridan Opera House

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass)

2:00pm MDT

Book Signings with Rob Silver and Britt Bunyard

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Between the Covers- Bookstore @ 214 W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435

Speakers

Britt Bunyard

Program Director, Telluride Mushroom Festival

Britt Bunyard, PhD, is the founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of the mycology journal Fungi, in print since 2008. Britt is a former university professor and has published over 100 academic and popular science papers. He has served as an editor for mycological and entomological... Read More →

Dr. Robert Silver

integrative and holistic veterinarian

Dr Rob Silver is an integrative and holistic veterinarian who has included the use of functional mushrooms in his clinical work for 20 years., along with many other holistic and conventional modalities. He has authored the book: "There's a Mushroom for That!" describing the use of... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Between the Covers- Bookstore

FREE - Open to public

2:00pm MDT

Fearless, Sleepless, and Deathless

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Wilkinson Public Library- Downstairs Terrace @ 214 W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435

Maria Pinto will read from and sign her book of lyric essays, Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies, and Black Survival.
Pro tip: pick up a copy of her book at the Between the Covers bookshop in town and bring it for the author to sign!

Speakers

Maria Pinto

Myco Author & Speaker

Maria Pinto is an author and educator living in the Boston area whose work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Longreads, Necessary Fiction, and Arnoldia. She has led workshops and given lectures for mycological societies around the country, and she leads regular forays at Harvard’s... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Wilkinson Public Library- Downstairs Terrace

FREE - Open to public, General Mycology

2:00pm MDT

Sign-Making Workshop

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm MDT

Elks Park @ 123 South Oak Street, Telluride, CO 81435

Make a sweet sign for the parade that promotes your favorite mushroom message. We will provide markers, paints, cardboard, and other materials onsite at the Workshop tent.

Saturday August 15, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Elks Park

FREE - Open to public, art

4:00pm MDT

PARADE + DRUMMING + DANCING

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:00pm - 6:30pm MDT

Telluride Main Street @ 123 South Oak Street, Telluride, CO 81435

"Each year hundreds of Festival attendees, visitors and extraterrestrials dress up like mushrooms and parade down Main Street in Telluride exclaiming "WE LOVE MUSHROOMS" / "AMAMOS A LOS HONGOS!" to hundreds of onlookers.
This year the parade will include an African Drum Crew. Bring your own drum to join in on the fun."

Sign Making @Elks Park starts at 2:00pm-4pm

Festival attendees don’t take the parade lightly, and many spend months planning their elaborate costumes.

The parade will start at 4pm and march all the way down Colorado Ave. to Town Park where then fungi fanatics will join in dancing and drumming with West African Drummer, Etienne Tolno and Friends until sunset.

Speakers

Etienne Tolno

Parade Drum/Dance Lead

Etienne Tolno is a professional musician from Guinea, West Africa. His area of expertise is in percussion but also dance and song! He has been practicing music since he was sixteen years old, playing with various professional companies such as Sole Africa, Kissidugu Ensemble, Samato... Read More →

Britt Bunyard

Program Director, Telluride Mushroom Festival

Tradd Cotter

Mycologist, Blue Portal

Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and retired landscape designer, who has been cultivating mushrooms both commercially and experimentally for more than thirty years.

Tradd is the author of the best-selling book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation (2014) and has won numerous awards for his work including the prestigious Clemson University Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2013), the EPA GRO-U Fellowship Award (2011), including the Gary Lincoff... Read More →

Giuliana Furci

Fungi Foundation de Chile

Giuliana Furci is a Chilean-British-Italian field mycologist, speaker, author, and founder of the world's first non-profit organization dedicated to fungi, Fundación Fungi or Fungi Foundation. She is a Harvard University Associate, National Geographic Explorer, author of a series... Read More →

Art Goodtimes

Telluride Mushroom Festival Co-Founder. Festival Cultural Coordinator, Steward and Poet-in-Residence, Telluride Institute

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:00pm - 6:30pm MDT
Telluride Main Street

FREE - Open to public, Parade and Costumes

5:15pm MDT

Costume Awards

Saturday August 15, 2026 5:15pm - 5:30pm MDT

Town Park @ 500 E Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Festival attendees don’t take the parade lightly, and many spend months planning their elaborate costumes.
When the parade ends at the Town Park with the Drum Circle we will also pause to announce our costume award winners onsite.

We've heard rumors this year there will be some mighty wild costume creations and we look forward to seeing your and selecting winners for various costume categories.

NEW THIS YEAR, we will have a pet costume contest sponsored by Real Mushrooms. The winner will receive a prize from Real Mushrooms!

Speakers

Britt Bunyard

Program Director, Telluride Mushroom Festival

Giuliana Furci

Fungi Foundation de Chile

Saturday August 15, 2026 5:15pm - 5:30pm MDT
Town Park

FREE - Open to public, Parade and Costumes

8:00pm MDT

The Puff Ball: A Costume, DJ Dance Party

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - Sunday August 16, 2026 12:00am MDT

Sheridan Opera House @ 110 N Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435

Let’s get psily and celebrate Colorado’s historic liberation of plant medicines. Wear Fungattire, fluorescent spores and glowing caps for a dance party. Come bearing costumes, Peace, Love, and Transformative community.

Donation based. All proceeds go to a small business vendor scholarship.

Time 8PM-12PM at Sheridan Opera House.

Saturday August 15, 2026 8:00pm - Sunday August 16, 2026 12:00am MDT
Sheridan Opera House

Passholder Event (included in Festival Pass), Parade and Costumes

10:00pm MDT

Live Music! Night Cap at the Alibi w/ Thom LaFond and DROS

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00pm - Sunday August 16, 2026 1:00am MDT

Alibi @ 121 S Fir St, Telluride, CO 81435, USA

Want to taste the Festival Telluride Brewing Company MycoBeer and NEW THIS YEAR Fenceline Myco-CIDER? Join Telluride Mushroom Festival with live music and MUSHROOM BEVERAGES! $1 for every beer or cider purchased is donated to the Telluride Mushroom Festival, thanks to TMF sponsor and partner the Alibi. Thank you to Halo Extracts for infusing the beverages.

Thom LaFond | 9:30PM-11:30PM

DROS | 11:30PM-1AM

TMF pass holders receive $5 off tickets at the door or buy tickets ahead of time here.

Speakers

Tradd Cotter

Mycologist, Blue Portal

Dros

Musician

TBA

Thom LaFond

Thom LaFond, currently based in Colorado, is known for his distinctive spoken style of lyrics and full-spectrum sonic arrangements. As a multi-instrumentalist and producer, he weaves compelling narratives through music, adding a fresh dimension to the broader musical landscape. Thom... Read More →

Austin Quattlebuam

TMF Onsite Production Manager, Folk and Forage

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Quattlebaum grew up with the slow rhythm of the South seeping into his bones. He found his musical roots early, drawn to the banjo's haunting twang, the Southern Appalachia song traditions, and the funky sounds of New Orleans.

Quattlebaum's cr... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:00pm - Sunday August 16, 2026 1:00am MDT
Alibi

Other, Poetry